Oil-infused surface on galvanized iron pipes for anti-scaling in industrial applications

Abstract

Scale deposition on the surface of pipelines is a common phenomenon in industrial production. It not only decreases the heat conduction efficiency of the pipeline and increases energy consumption, but also leads to corrosion of the pipeline. Although varieties methods are developed to prevent pipeline scale deposition, these methods could not meet the requirements of harsh production conditions. This study introduces a novel oil-infused surface on galvanized iron for efficient anti-scaling in industrial pipelines. The surface of galvanized iron is firstly oxidized and modified to be superhydrophobic/superoleophilic, followed by injection of oil to form oil-infused surface. This oil-infused superhydrophobic/superoleophilic surface demonstrates excellent water repellency and superior anti-scaling performance compared to untreated galvanized iron. It may provide a promising anti-scaling option for iron-based pipelines in industrial productions.