Investigation of intricate, amphiphilic crosslinked hyperbranched fluoropolymers as anti-icing coatings for extreme environments

An array of films composed of a third-generation hyperbranched fluoropolymer crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol) is generated and tested as an anti-icing coating. Through variation of the hydrophilic:hydrophobic component ratios and drop-casting solvent, significant reductions in the water melting transition temperatures (-5 and -27 C for free and bound water, respectively) are achieved. The novel application of this system displays the expansion and diversity of a well-established coating that demonstrates unique water confinement and sequestration behaviors with the ability to reorganize at the surface.