Robust anti-frost surface coatings for Aluminum Eric Mazur, Harvard University, DMR 1005022
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Robust anti-frost surface coatings for Aluminum Eric Mazur, Harvard University, DMR 1005022 Ice formations on metal surfaces such as Aluminum become serious economic, and safety problems for airlines and/or refrigeration industries. To mitigate this problem, we have been developing an approach to coat the surface of aluminum with hierarchically structured material that can change the wetting properties and delay ice formation. Conductive polymers offer ample opportunities to fine tune nanoscale morphology by varying the conditions for synthesis. We have developed a one-step electrodeposition method to create nanostructured polypyrrole coating that significantly delays ice formation compared to uncoated aluminum. We have been examining our surface coatings and ice crystals formed with a variety of characterization tools such as FT-IR, FT-Raman, contact angle measurement, optical and electron microscopes, and conductivity measurement, to understand the mechanisms associated with the anti-icing behavior. This low- 10 µm SEM image of the Polypyrrole layer over Aluminum (Al 1100) (false colors are added) 2 µm uncoated Aluminum PPy coated Aluminum
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Robust anti-frost surface coatings for Aluminum
Eric Mazur, Harvard University, DMR 1005022
Ice formations on metal surfaces such as Aluminum become serious economic, and safety problems for airlines and/or refrigeration industries. To mitigate this problem, we have been developing an approach to coat the surface of aluminum with hierarchically structured material that can change the wetting properties and delay ice formation. Conductive polymers offer ample opportunities to fine tune nanoscale morphology by varying the conditions for synthesis. We have developed a one-step electrodeposition method to create nanostructured polypyrrole coating that significantly delays ice formation compared to uncoated aluminum. We have been examining our surface coatings and ice crystals formed with a variety of characterization tools such as FT-IR, FT-Raman, contact angle measurement, optical and electron microscopes, and conductivity measurement, to understand the mechanisms associated with the anti-icing behavior. This low-cost and scalable approach can potentially reduce the energy and capital cost currently used for defrosting cycles of refrigerator coils.
10 µmSEM image of the Polypyrrole layer
over Aluminum (Al 1100)(false colors are added)
2 µm
uncoatedAluminum
PPycoated
Aluminum
As a minority student, I feel very privileged to participate the REU program for two consecutive years. This research experience awarded me unmatched opportunity to explore broad areas of science and engineering and to set my career goal. This program also helped me develop leadership and eliminate barriers associated with ethnicity, culture, and scientific disciplines. This experience is a privilege that changed my life and offered me a unique opportunity to make myself immersed in an atmosphere of doing world class research. Through this program, I was able to network with people who could be potentially my academic advisor, a collaborator, or a friend in my future academic endeavor. Now I have a better perspective of the world and of myself pursuing science to become a well-appointed leader in science.
The outcome of my research through this REU program will offer new options for nanofabrication techniques, with which scientists and engineers in many areas can produce desired hierarchical nanostructures cost-effectively and reproducibly.
Robust anti-frost surface coatings for Aluminum
Eric Mazur, Harvard University, DMR 1005022
