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AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsSrinivas Prasad Bengaluru Subramanyam, Gisele Azimi, Jonathan David Smith, Kripa K. Varanasi
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This invention relates generally to articles, devices, and methods for inhibiting or preventing the formation of scale during various industrial processes. In certain embodiments, a vessel is provided for use in an industrial process, the vessel having a textured, liquid-impregnated surface in contact with a mineral solution, wherein the liquid-impregnated surface comprises a matrix of features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain an impregnating liquid lubricant therebetween or therewithin, wherein the impregnating lubricant has a low surface energy density, and wherein the spreading coefficient Sos(w) of the impregnating lubricant (subscript ‘o’) on the substrate (subscript ‘s’) in the presence of the salt solution (subscript ‘w’) is greater than zero, such that the impregnating lubricant fully submerges the textured substrate.
A vessel for use in an industrial process, the vessel comprising a liquid-impregnated interior surface, wherein the liquid-impregnated surface comprises a matrix of features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain an impregnating liquid therebetween or therewithin and the impregnating liquid has a surface energy density γ (as measured at 25° C.) no greater than about 35 mJ/m2, thereby providing resistance to mineral scale deposits thereupon.
19-23. (canceled)
A method of retrofitting a vessel for improved resistance to mineral scale deposits, the method comprising modifying the vessel to produce a liquid-impregnated surface, wherein the liquid-impregnated surface comprises a matrix of features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain an impregnating liquid therebetween or therewithin and the impregnating liquid has a surface energy density γ (as measured at 25° C.) no greater than about 35 mJ/m2, thereby providing resistance to mineral scale deposits thereupon.
25-44. (canceled)
A method of using a vessel in an industrial process, the method comprising:
46-64. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.