Ki-Hwan Kim
Thin Film Technology Research Center Korea Institute of Science and Technology P. O. Box 131, Cheongryang Seoul 130-650, Korea
Sung Chang Choi
Thin Film Technology Research Center Korea Institute of Science and Technology P. O. Box 131, Cheongryang Seoul 130-650, Korea
Hyung Jin Jung
Thin Film Technology Research Center Korea Institute of Science and Technology P. O. Box 131, Cheongryang Seoul 130-650, Korea
Seok-Keun Koh
Thin Film Technology Research Center Korea Institute of Science and Technology P. O. Box 131, Cheongryang Seoul 130-650, Korea
Doo-Jin Choi
Department of Ceramic Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
Chul-Hwan Kim
LG Electronics Inc. Living System Lab. Changwon Kyung-Nam 641-315, Korea
Samchul Ha
Home Appliance Research Lab., LG Electronics Inc., Gaeumjeong-Dong 391-2, Changwon, Kyoungnam 641-711, Korea
To reduce the fouling of heat exchangers, the plasma polymerized films have been applied to the heat transfer surfaces, and an effect of plasma polymerized film on fouling was investigated. Monomer and reactive gases were used as source for polymerization. Plasma polymerized films were deposited for pressure, power, and ratio of gases. The plasma polymer films served as functional layers of good wettability and high resistance to corrosion. Wettability of plasma polymerized film could be controlled by the change of the ratio of gas mixture. Hydrophilicity of plasma polymerized films on the heat exchanger in air conditioner can provide improvement in performance resulting from good water drainage, and hence a decrease of pressure drop. DC-plasma polymerized films improve resistance to corrosion which is contributing to deposit formation in heat exchangers. The difference in the build up of fouling deposits between bare substrate and plasma polymerized substrate was investigated by secondary electron microscopy (SEM). An effect of plasma polymerized film on fouling of heat exchangers was discussed in terms of surface properties such as wettability, surface chemical state.