Thermally-responsive, lubricant-infused surfaces offer scale protection
Dynamic water environments may benefit from the infused surfaces based on composite phase-change materials.
A research team from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a thermally-responsive, lubricant infused surface (TLIS) that resists mineral scaling under temperature change and water flushing conditions.
The study, led by Prof. Jingxin Meng and Shutao Wang, introduces TLIS made of two phase-change materials with different melting points, enabling the surface to enter a semi-liquid state that balances structural integrity with easy descaling.
'Lubricant-infused surfaces have been known for their anti-fouling potential, but their practical use is limited by lubricant loss in complex real-world environments,' says Professor Meng. 'Our solution employs composite phase-change materials to maintain both stability and lubrication under the environments of temperature changes and dynamic water flow.'
In testing, the TLIS reportedly achieves descaling efficiencies of over 85% in multiple test cycles.
The team conducted extensive characterisation, including scanning electron microscopy, rheometer and differential thermal scanning.
Quantitative results show high durability and minimal lubricant loss after repeated use.
Theoretical modelling of adhesion work further confirms the coating’s ability to reduce scale-surface interaction, enabling water flow to shear off deposits efficiently.
The TLIS demonstrates broad applicability say the researchers, it suppressed various scale types, CaCO₃, CaSO₄, CaC₂O₄, and MgCO₃. Read the work here.
