Amphiphilic hyperbranched fluoropolymer
coatings incorporating
liquid crystalline moieties and poly(ethylene glycol) cross-linkers
were found to demonstrate noteworthy anti-icing properties. A series
of amphiphilic networks was synthesized through variation of the polymer
molecular weights and hydrophilic/hydrophobic component ratios. These
innovative materials show a remarkable reduction in the free water
melting transition (T
m) temperature (−10
°C), measured by differential scanning calorimetry, and an increase
in water contact angle for dry and water-swollen systems. The addition
of this ordered parameter generated a unique coating topography, which
can be visualized via polarized optical microscopy and 3D optical
microscopy, while maintaining an overall macroscopic homogeneity.
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