Research articles
ScienceAsia 52 (2026):ID 2026027 1-9 |doi:
10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874..027
Anti-fouling performance and mechanism of a hydrophobic
polysiloxane-coated heater for heated tobacco products
Guangchao Liua, Xianglin Lia, Jianghong Qua, Hui Zhanga, Wenliang Zhanga, Jingwen Zhangb, Xi Zhoub,
Liping Huangb, Ting Feia,*, Ji-Xuan Liub,*
ABSTRACT: This study developed a methyl phenyl polysiloxane (MPS) coating that integrates high-temperature
resistance and hydrophobicity to address the challenge of surface contamination on heaters in heated tobacco
products (HTPs)-a novel tobacco product class wherein the tobacco is heated to 300?350?C, causing pyrolysis
without combustion. MPS resin was synthesized via hydrolysis-condensation and applied onto the heater surface
using dip-coating followed by high-temperature curing. The coating?s chemical structure, morphology, thermal
stability, and wettability were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy,
thermogravimetric analysis, and contact angle measurement. Anti-fouling performance was evaluated by simulating
real operating conditions with an automatic smoking machine, combined with macro-image analysis and microscopic
observation. Results show the prepared MPS coating possesses a cross-linked Si?O?Si backbone structure, presenting
a continuous and dense surface with a water contact angle of 110.84?, indicating typical hydrophobicity. During high
temperature heating, the coating showed no significant decomposition, with a high mass retention rate of 97.23% at
400?C, demonstrating excellent thermal stability. Anti-fouling tests revealed that after smoking 20 cigarettes, the
contaminated area of the coated heater was significantly reduced by 48.8% compared to the uncoated one, with
pollutants transitioning from a dense continuous layer to discrete islands at the microscopic level. This study confirms
that the MPS coating inhibits pollutant wetting and continuous deposition from the interface origin by reducing surface
energy and enhancing hydrophobicity, providing an effective material solution and theoretical support for long-term
anti-fouling protection of HTP heaters.
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| a |
Shanghai New Tobacco Product Research Institute Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201315 China |
| b |
Engineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology (Ministry of Education),
Donghua University, Shanghai 201620 China |
* Corresponding author, E-mail: feit@sh.tobacco.com.cn, jxliu@dhu.edu.cn
Received 30 Oct 2025, Accepted 25 Feb 2026
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