Experiments on Freezing Water Droplets on Glass Surfaces Coated with Antifreeze Polypeptide Using a Polymer

Abstract

The adhesion of ice and frost on car windshields and traffic mirrors causes poor visibility. As a solution to this problem, the authors have focused on a method of coating grasses with antifreeze polypeptide, which inhibits ice growth in its solution. In this study, we used polyethylene glycol as a linker between the polypeptide and a silane coupling agent coated on glass surfaces. The polyethylene glycol gave the mobility of the polypeptide. Compared with the surface without polyethylene glycol, the measured contact angle was about 10 degrees lower. As a result of temperature measurement by a thermocouple, the supercooling temperature of the droplet on the surface decreased.