SBIR-STTR Award

Ice-shedding clearcoats are proposed based on transparent materials having large solid-solid phase changes. Phase I develops candidate coating formulations and evaluates their performance as military topcoats for aircraft. Tests are planned to demonstrate concept feasibility. These include of elimination of ice adhesion, compatibility with current coating systems, meeting technical performance requirements for aircraft, as well as environmental friendliness. Phase II further develops those novel coatings for aircraft by characterizing service life and determining service life protocols of the developed coating on panels as well as actual aircraft surfaces.

Keywords:
Coating, Ice-Phobic, Anti-Icing, Aircraft, Lightweight, Transparent, Aircraft Safety

Novel anti-icing/deicing additives were discovered in Phase I with robust low ice adhesion properties. Coatings formulated with these additives yield smooth, durable, transparent films that control ice accretion and significantly reduce ice adhesion. These coatings are easy to apply and remove by traditional techniques, are zero-VOC and are environmentally safe. Phase II research seeks to optimize these coatings through a series of coating properties, ice adhesion and environmental exposure tests. In Phase II we will down select one or more ice-phobic coating formulations that last at least one year and meet technical performance requirements for aircraft. Toxicity testing is planned to confirm that the proposed ice-phobic coatings are non-toxic. Testing on airfoils in an icing wind tunnel is planned to achieve TRL 6 by the completion of the proposed effort.

Keywords:
Ice-Phobic Coating, Deicing, Anti-Icing, Ice Control, Non-Toxic, Aircraft Safety, Zero Voc, Aviation Safety