ICEphobic SURfaces for components based on polymER composites - IceSurfer

Acronym: IceSurfer
No.: LIDER/16/0068/L-9/17/NCBR/2018
Program: Lider IX
Financing unit: NCBR
Project leader: dr Rafał Kozera
Function: leader
Timeframe: 2019-2021

Ice formation and accretion present serious, sometimes catastrophic, safety issues for all kinds of industry where application of the composites components has already become common e.g. wind turbines blades, aircrafts, electric and telecommunication infrastructure as well as other composite constructions exposed to supercooled water droplets both on the ground and in the air.

IceSurfer project will offer laser surface texturing of modified polyester and epoxide based gelcoats and epoxy paints utilized for surface protection of fibres reinforced polymer composites. An attractive approach to this issue is the development of icephobic for composite components which reduce or prevent of ice accretion by means of advanced laser technologies.

Texturing will be preceded by bulk chemical and nano/micro additives modifications of polymers. In the result it is expected to develop durable and effective surfaces with icephobic features that can sufficiently reduce water and ice adhesion as well as slow down ice nucleation, so that supercooled water droplets landing on the surface can be removed effectively before freezing.

Thus, proposed developments will constitute good alternative for presently used in practise electro thermal active systems. Taking into consideration future application in industrial environments all methods will meet demands regarding economy, environmentally friendly practices and be feasible to use on large industrial scale.