Study on improving self-cleaning performance of hydrophobic coating surface through freeze-thaw cycles

This study employed a freeze-thaw cycle visualization platform alongside CCD imaging technology to conduct microscopic investigations into the freeze-thaw process under typical conditions. The observations identified three distinct stages in the freeze-thaw cycle: freezing, melting and disintegration, and melting and movement. Additionally, the experiment analyzed the particle size and composition of adhesive dust, as well as the effects of freezing temperature, freezing time, and thawing temperature on the contact angle between a hydrophobic surface and dust particles. Under a combination of influencing factors (freezing temperature of −8°C, freezing time of 60 minutes, melting temperature of 40°C, particle size of 800 mesh, and an impurity ratio of 1:1:1), the self-cleaning performance of the hydrophobic surface was significantly enhanced – the contact angle increased by 39.67% compared to standard surfaces. The maximum dust removal efficiency achieved was 37.52% in a single freeze-thaw cycle on hydrophobic surfaces. These findings present a novel approach to improving hydrophobic surface self-cleaning technology, with promising practical applications.