Y. Wang
University of Massachusetts Lowell,
United States
Keywords: superhydrophobic, icephobic, nanocomposite coating
Summary:
For effective warfighter protection and Army systems, materials that can enhance performance and reduce downtime are critical. Surfaces/coatings that reduce ice build-up or have the capability to self-clean (water and dirt) extend camouflage protection and detection from rivals, reduce downtime, and increase survivability are needed. This study focused on the manufacturing processes and the performance characteristics and behavior of icephobic/superhydrophobic (SH) coatings surfaces that can be used to strategically reduce ice buildup and/or shed other contaminant materials from equipment surfaces. To characterize icephobicity, anti-icing and de-icing performance on the surface were evaluated using two different methods. To understand the relationships between icephobicity and topology, surfaces with different roughness were prepared by spray coating and lithography and their icephobicity performance was studied.