Electro-Thermal Parameters of Graphene Nano-Platelets Films for De-Icing Applications

Khitem Lahbacha,Gaspare Giovinco,Antonio Maffucci,Francesco Bertocchi,Gianmarco Trezza,Sarah Sibilia,Francesco Cristiano,Sergio Chiodini

doi:10.3390/aerospace9020107

Khitem Lahbacha, Gaspare Giovinco + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace9020107

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Abstract

This paper provides a study of some relevant electro-thermal properties of commercial films made by pressed graphene nano-platelets (GNPs), in view of their use as heating elements in innovative de-icing systems for aerospace applications. The equivalent electrical resistivity and thermal emissivity were studied, by means of models and experimental characterization. Macroscopic strips with a length on the order of tens of centimeters were analyzed, either made by pure GNPs or by composite mixtures of GNPs and a small percentage of polymeric binders. Analytical models are derived and experimentally validated. The thermal response of these graphene films when acting as a heating element is studied and discussed.

Highlights

Developing efficient and cost-effective de-icing systems is a major challenge in several industrial applications, related to aerospace [1], and, for instance, in fields such as energy production [2] or energy distribution [3]
This paper has studied commercial graphene-based macroscopic strips, in view of their potential use as heating elements in de-icing systems
The electrical resistivity is found to fall in the range (8–40) μΩm at room temperature, with a negative coefficient of temperature, whereas the thermal emissivity values ranged from 0.5 to 0.8, at room temperature

Summary

Introduction

Developing efficient and cost-effective de-icing systems is a major challenge in several industrial applications, related to aerospace [1], and, for instance, in fields such as energy production [2] or energy distribution [3]. The same set-up is used to study the Joule heating effect and so the characteristics of the graphene heater To this end, currents of the same order of magnitude are used (about 1 A) and the thermocamera is used to provide the meaurement of the spatial distribution of the remperature over the whole text-fixture, both during the thermal transient and at the finale steady-state condition. Currents of the same order of magnitude are used (about 1 A) and the thermocamera is used to provide the meaurement of the spatial distribution of the remperature over the whole text-fixture, both during the thermal transient and at the finale steady-state condition This fixed current level of 1 A corresponds to a variable value of the electrical power, as the equivalent resistance of the strip varies as an effect of temperature rise. The current is provided by the DC power supply QJE QJ-3005, and monitored by a multimeter Agilent 34401A

Electrical Resistivity Evaluation

Thermal Emissivity Evaluation and Joule Heating Capability

Conclusions