Tubing with hydrophobic surface

Abstract

A method of forming a heat exchanger tube, particularly suited for condensing applications, contemplates cold-rolling a metallic strip to emboss a hydrophobic surface texture, to thereby form an embossed surface on the metallic strip. The method includes roll forming the metallic strip to a tubular shape, with the embossed surface on the exterior of the tubular shape, and welding the edges of the roll-formed strip to form a heat exchanger tube. Cold-rolling to emboss a hydrophobic surface texture exhibiting a contact angle of at least about 75° is contemplated, with processing including heat-treatment to minimize degradation of the hydrophobic surface texture, and roll-forming to avoid deformation of the hydrophobic surface texture,

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.