Evaluation method for anti-/de-icing properties of topcoat surfaces treated with deicing fluid

Abstract

This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the performance enhancements achieved by incorporating SiO2 nanoparticles into a conventional ethylene glycol-based deicing fluid and to establish a reproducible and multidimensional evaluation methodology. The modified deicing fluid was applied to polyurethane-coated CFRP substrates, and ice nucleation, growth, and deicing efficiency were systematically evaluated. The nanoparticleenhanced deicing fluid was developed and analyzed from a materials perspective, focusing on its interaction with the polyurethane surface and its role in modifying surface properties. The incorporation of nanoparticles increased surface hydrophobicity, effectively delaying ice nucleation and growth. Additionally, the formation of enhanced thermal conduction pathways further improved deicing performance. However, repeated icing-deicing cycles led to increased surface roughness and localized damage. Standardized protocols for evaluating deicing technologies remain limited, despite growing demand. This study demonstrated the benefits of nanoparticleenhanced deicing fluids and proposed evaluation criteria to improve the reliability of surface and anti-/deicing technology development. aircraft [5].