Durable Metallic Surfaces Capable of Passive and Active De‐Icing

Abstract

Ice accretion has adverse effects on several industrial sectors worldwide. Sparsely suspended, thin metallic sheets (buckling elastomer‐like anti‐icing metallic surfaces, or BEAMS) recently demonstrated extremely low ice adhesion strengths while maintaining durability. Here, BEAMS are designed using elastomeric suspension points shaped as channels, enabling active de‐icing by flowing air underneath the suspended sheet. The channel geometry is optimized using computational fluid dynamics by iterating through various channel dimensions and flow conditions. An experimental setup is constructed and utilized to assess BEAMS comprised of 1–4 channels. Active de‐icing is achieved by pressurizing the air within the channels to bulge the sheet outward and delaminate accreted ice from the interface. Active de‐icing is achieved by flowing room temperature air through the channels to heat the surface and melt the interface. Passive de‐icing is also observed under atmospheric icing conditions. Rime is accreted within an icing wind tunnel on multichannel BEAMS. Ice adhesion strengths <8 kPa are maintained after ten consecutive icing/de‐icing runs, demonstrating substantial durability. The active and passive de‐icing capability of channeled BEAMS makes it a promising candidate for improving the operational efficiency of infrastructure in cold environments.