Thermal-responsive lubricant infused surface based on composite phase change materials for durable and efficient scale resistance

Lubricant infused surface (LIS) always displays efficient anti-fouling performance. However, the inherent liquid properties of infused lubricants often lead to their rapid depletion in harsh conditions such as water flushing, thereby reducing the antifouling capability of LIS. Herein, we reported a thermal-responsive lubricant infused surface (TLIS) based on composite phase change materials (CPCMs), exhibiting durable and efficient anti-scaling performance. During multicycle scaling-descaling test, the anti-scaling efficiencies of TLIS based on paraffin and vaseline can be increased to 91.4% ± 0.5% for first cycle and 85.3% ± 3.3% for sixth cycle. The paraffin acts as solid scaffolds for structural stability while the vaseline acts as liquid lubricants for anti-scaling enhancement. The universality of this surface can be revealed by suppressing various scales (e.g., CaCO₃, CaSO₄, CaC₂O₄, and MgCO₃) and varying CPCMs types (e.g., n-alkanes, ionic liquids, and fatty acids). Therefore, this study presents a promising strategy that enhances the durability of anti-scaling capability and potentially applys in heat exchange systems.