Micropatterned surface that passively suppresses frost
This technology creates a passive, self-sustaining anti-icing surface by etching microscopic water-attracting patterns onto a substrate, then pre-loading those patterns with water that is frozen into sacrificial ice. The frozen ice acts as a hygroscopic agent, meaning it draws moisture from the surrounding air toward itself rather than allowing random frost to nucleate across the surface. The overlapping zones of influence from these ice deposits effectively blanket the entire surface, suppressing uncontrolled frost formation without requiring external power, chemicals, or active heating. The surface is connected to a small water reservoir that can replenish the system over time.
What you could build
A factory-applied or retrofit surface treatment for refrigeration heat exchangers, HVAC coils, or aircraft leading edges that passively inhibits frost buildup, reducing defrost cycle energy use. Primary buyers would be HVAC equipment manufacturers, commercial refrigeration OEMs, and aerospace MRO suppliers.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based defense and aerospace contractors (e.g., suppliers to Naval Air Station Oceana or the Pentagon-adjacent aerospace supply chain) and HVAC/refrigeration equipment manufacturers in the Mid-Atlantic region would have direct operational interest.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Jonathan B. Boreyko, Saurabh Nath, Caitlin Bisbano, Grady J. Iliff, Ryan Hansen, C. Patrick Collier
- Granted
- May 26, 2020
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10661908
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.