An OH-PDMS-modified nano-silica/carbon hybrid coating for anti-icing of insulators part I: Fabrication and small-scale testing

Super-hydrophobic coatings have recently drawn a lot of attention in research and applications towards reduction of ice accumulation on insulators. This paper presents a new type of hybrid coating fabricated via self-assembly of a super-hydrophobic layer on a semi-conducting layer. Hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (OH-PDMS) modified nano-silica is used for fabrication of the super-hydrophobic layer. Fabrication procedures, hydrophobic characteristics, and flashover performances of the hybrid coating are presented. Experimental results show that the hybrid coating has a dual micro- and nano-scale hierarchical structure and a water contact angle greater than 155°. Surface resistivity, volume resistivity, temperature rise, and surface flashover voltages of the hybrid coating are also presented. Temperature distribution on the hybrid coating is simulated for further analysis. The results show that the hybrid coating is capable of improving the electrical field and surface temperature along the surface of the coating.