Influence of surface roughness and metal oxide nanoparticles on airframe with icephobic coatings

Abstract

Icephobic coatings represent a sustainable and cost-efficient technology for preventing hazardous ice buildup across airframe surfaces. However, commercially available icephobic coatings still lack the metrics required for aircraft applications. Cyclic voltammetry is an electrochemical analysis technique that can detect ice formation by providing a distinct oxidation current response to the phase change. In this study, the technique was used to compare individual surface temperatures at water freezing across a variety of icephobic coatings on airframe surfaces that were roughened by sand blasting with alumina and modified by zinc oxide or neodymium oxide nanoparticles. The effect of sand blasting alone on delayed water freezing was marginal due to the self-leveling properties of icephobic coatings. However, addition of metal oxide nanoparticles delayed the formation of ice on the icephobic coatings. These findings provide new insight into the mechanism governing freezing point shift for the benefit of aircraft flying under extreme weather conditions.