Synergistic Effects of the Superhydrophilic and Superhydrophobic Components on the Antifreezing Performances of Latex Particles and Anti‐Icing Properties of Latex Films

The development of new materials for antifreezing and anti‐icing applications is a big challenge in industry and academic area. Inspired by the antifreeze proteins, latex particles with superhydrophilic zwitterionic shells and superhydrophobic cores are synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer emulsion polymerization, and the applications of the latex particles in antifreezing and anti‐icing applications are investigated. In antifreezing study, the critical aggregate temperature (CAT) of the latex particles decreases, and the separation of the melting and freezing temperature of ice increases with the particle concentration. Enzyme molecules can be cryopreserved in the particle solution, and their bioactivities are well maintained. Latex particles are casted into latex films with dynamic surfaces. Anti‐icing performances, including antifrosting properties, freezing delay time, and ice adhesion strengths, are studied; and the water‐treated latex films present stronger anti‐icing properties than other films, due to the synergistic effects of the superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic components. In addition, latex particles with zwitterionic shells and poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) cores, and latex particles with small molecular surfactant on the surfaces are synthesized. The antifreezing performances of the latex particles and anti‐icing properties of the latex films are compared. Latex particles with superhydrophilic zwitterionic shells and superhydrophobic cores are synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer ‐emulsion polymerization. The antifreezing and anti‐icing performances of the latex particles/films are investigated, and the results indicate that latex particles/films present excellent anti‐icing properties due to the synergistic effects of the superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic components.