Micro-/Nanoscale Approach for Studying Scale Formation and Developing Scale-Resistant Surfaces.

Blockage of pipelines due to accretion of salt particles is detrimental in desalination and water-harvesting industries as they compromise productivity, while increasing maintenance costs. We present a micro-/nanoscale approach to study fundamentals of scale formation, deposition, and adhesion to engineered surfaces with a wide range of surface energies fabricated using the initiated chemical vapor deposition method. Silicon wafers and steel substrates are coated with poly(1 H,1 H,2 H,2 H-perfluorodecylacrylate) or pPFDA, poly(tetravinyl-tetramethylcyclotetrasilohexane) or pV4D4, poly(divinylbenzene) or pDVB, poly(1,3,5,7-tetravinyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclotetrasilohexane) or pV3D3, and cross-linked copolymers of poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate or p(PHEMA- co-EGDA). Particles of salt (CaSO