Grafted Polymer Surfaces for Dropwise Condensation, and Associated Methods of Use and Manufacture

Abstract

Presented herein are articles and methods featuring substrates with thin, uniform polymeric films grafted (e.g., covalently bonded) thereupon. The resulting coating provides significant reductions in thermal resistance, drop shedding size, and degradation rate during dropwise condensation of steam compared to existing coatings. Surfaces that promote dropwise shedding of low-surface tension condensates, such as liquid hydrocarbons, are also demonstrated herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing a surface of a condenser, the method comprising the step of performing hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) to graft a polymeric film on the surface of the condenser, wherein the polymeric film has a thickness no greater than 1500 nm and wherein the polymeric film has a surface with low contact angle hysteresis of no greater than 50° for water. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of performing HWCVD comprises performing initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) to produce the polymeric film grafted on the surface of the condenser. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of annealing the polymeric film by exposure to heat (e.g., to increase crosslinking density and/or degree of crystallinity of the polymeric film).