Abrasion-resistant coating against ice
Researchers have discovered that an abrasion-resistant coating produced by initiated chemical vapor deposition can effectively delay the formation of ice crystals and reduce the adhesion of ice layers.
Ice-repellent coatings have been around for some time, but until now they have been very sensitive and easily detached from the surfaces to be protected. A research team from the Institute of Solid State Physics at Graz University of Technology has succeeded in remedying this shortcoming. They have developed an ice-repellent coating that adheres to various materials and is resistant to abrasion. The material delays the formation of ice crystals and reduces the adhesion of ice layers.
Reading tip: Functional Coatings
The European Coatings Tech Report “EC Tech Report Functional Coatings” gives you an up-to-date bundle on automotive coatings with articles, videos and other handpicked content. In addition to technical articles about the latest technical developments, this all-in-one multi-media pack is rounded off with valuable market insights and important fundamentals about automotive coatings formulation.
The researchers achieved this leap in development through the use of so-called initiated chemical vapor deposition. This makes it possible to gradually transition a strongly adhesive primer material into the ice-repellent compound. This gradual transition is achieved by applying the two materials as a changing gas mixture to the surface to be coated. Initially, the gas mixture consists purely of the primer material, while the proportion of ice-repellent material is continuously increased from zero to 100 % during application. The result is a coating with a strongly adhesive underside and a top side that does not allow ice crystals to adhere.
Source: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2024.
