Abstract
Ice accretion on aircrafts or their engines can cause serious problems and even accidents. Traditional anti-icing and de-icing systems reduce engine efficiency, which can be improved by the use of hydrophobic/icephobic coatings or surfaces that reduce the amount of bleed air or electric power needed. These hydrophobic/icephobic coatings or surfaces are eroded by high-speed air flow, water droplets, ice crystals, sand, and volcanic ash, resulting in the degradation, material loss, or deterioration of the coating’s waterproof and anti-icing properties. Thus, the durability of hydrophobic micro/nanostructured surfaces is a major concern in aircraft applications. However, the mechanism responsible for material loss in hydrophobic micro/nanostructured surfaces resulting from high-speed erosion remains unclear. In this paper, hydrophobic titanium alloy surfaces with cubic pit arrays are fabricated by photoetching and tested using a high-speed sand erosion rig. Under the same impact conditions, the erosion rates of the micro/nanostructured titanium surfaces were similar to those of smooth titanium alloy, implying that the hydrophobic surface fabricated on the bulk material had erosion-resistant capabilities. The material loss mechanisms of the micro/nanostructures under different impact angles were compared, providing useful information for the future optimization of micro/nanostructures with the goal of improved erosion resistance.
Highlights
When an aircraft flies under icing weather conditions at a subsonic speed less than a critical Mach number, the windward surfaces of some components freeze due to the impact and accumulation of water droplets in the atmosphere
The mechanism responsible for material loss in hydrophobic micro/nanostructured surfaces resulting from high-speed erosion remains unclear
Under the same impact conditions, the erosion rates of the micro/nanostructured titanium surfaces were similar to those of smooth titanium alloy, implying that the hydrophobic surface fabricated on the bulk material had erosion-resistant capabilities
Summary
When an aircraft flies under icing weather conditions at a subsonic speed less than a critical Mach number, the windward surfaces of some components freeze due to the impact and accumulation of water droplets in the atmosphere. Cerro et al [20] used ultra-short pulsed lasers to generate patterns on the surfaces of hard materials with the micrometer-scale features required for achieving superhydrophobicity These surfaces demonstrated higher structural strength and lower deterioration rates compared to typical superhydrophobic coatings. Cerro et al investigated the anti-ice properties of plasma-deposited hard coatings (e.g., diamond-like carbon) in combination with laser-machined patterns These hard coatings exhibit reduced the surface energy and adjustable surface topography, which improve the erosion resistance of superhydrophobic surfaces and make them more suitable for use in harsh environmental conditions. Hydrophobic and icephobic coatings and surfaces are eroded by high-speed air, water droplets, ice crystals, sand, and other materials, resulting in the degradation, loss, or even deterioration of the waterproof and anti-icing functions. The findings provide useful information for the future optimization of micro/nanostructures with the goal of improving erosion resistance
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