Reduce Ice Adhesion Research Articles

In-depth analysis of the effect of physicochemical properties of ionic liquids on anti-icing behavior of silicon based-coatings

This study dissects the use of room temperature ionic liquids (RT-ILs) in a dynamic surface for anti-icing applications. Anti-icing properties of ILs-containing PDMS-based coatings fabricated by two different types of ILs, are evaluated to establish a relationship between the anti-icing behavior and physicochemical properties of the ILs. The surface chemistry of coatings and the existence of distinctive groups of the ILs anions on the surface of coatings characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and confirmed by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX). The 3D profiles and roughness parameter of the surfaces were investigated by a confocal laser microscopy profiler. Regarding the importance of correlation between wettability and ice adhesion, the wettability of coatings was studied. The results show a significant reduction 30–40% in sliding angle (SA) and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) in ILs-containing coatings. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), freezing delay time, push-off and centrifugal adhesion tests (CAT) served to distinguish the performance of the two ILs in regard to ice nucleation temperature and formation time, and ice adhesion strength, respectively. The 60–70% reduction in ice adhesion strength for the IL-containing coatings, obtained by push-off test, is due to the presence of strong ionic hydrogen bounded water and the formation of self-lubricating quasi liquid layer that can function at much lower temperature. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has confirmed the presence of nonfrozen water molecules at the interface. Consequently, incorporating ILs into coatings provides an effective approach to delay ice nucleation, restrict ice growth recrystallization and reduce ice adhesion strength. A comparison of enhanced anti-icing performance of ILs-containing coatings highlights the significant influence of minor changes in the chemical structure of ILs on their potential for anti-icing applications.

Sturdy oil-impregnated polyurethane coatings with long-lasting and high-efficient deicing performance

Icing on exposed surfaces can cause serious problems for aircraft, radar, highways, etc. Passive anti-icing surfaces with delicate surface structures show ultralow ice adhesion strength, but they suffer from stability and durability issues when facing the complex icing environments. Here, we show that oil-impregnated polyurethane coatings (OIPs) with gradient distribution of nanoscale oil droplets along the coating depth simultaneously exhibit reduced ice adhesion strength, improved stability and durability, and enhanced substrate adhesion compared with polyurethane (PU) coatings. This heterogeneous structure of OIPs not only leads to the formation of a stable oil/PU composite surface on the top surface but also induces slip pulse at the ice/coating interface at a lower critical shear force, both of which greatly reduce the effective ice/coating contact area. The deicing efficiency of OIPs can last >130 days without degradation, covering the whole winter in most temperate-zone countries.

Reducing Ice Adhesion by Using Nanostructured Plastic Polymer Coatings for De-Icing of Wind Turbine Blades

Reducing Ice Adhesion by Using Nanostructured Plastic Polymer Coatings for De-Icing of Wind Turbine Blades

Investigation of ice detachment by a liquid jet on various submerged surfaces for the development of ice slurry generators without mechanical scraping

Ice slurry is an alternative method to reduce the quantity and emission of greenhouse refrigerants, as well as control electrical energy consumption. However, the production of ice slurry requires the use of scraped-surface generators, which are costly to maintain and consume high mechanical energy. Therefore, studying the icephobic behavior of surfaces is of interest to significantly reduce ice adhesion and facilitate detachment without the need for mechanical scrapers. This study focuses on the growth, adhesion, and detachment phenomena of ice by liquid jets on different types of surfaces (hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and superhydrophobic) immersed in a 10 wt% ethanol/water mixture. A liquid jet is used to detach the ice layer from the surfaces, with a velocity ranging from 0 to 2.87 m s−1, and the surface temperature varies from 25 °C to approximately –9 °C. The results show that ice adheres less to hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces compared to superhydrophobic surfaces. The use of PTFE-treated aluminum surfaces (hydrophobic) reduces the required flow velocity to detach the ice layer by half compared to untreated aluminum surfaces (hydrophilic). An ANSYS® Fluent numerical model was developed to simulate the evolution of turbulent velocities of immersed liquid jets, and a semi-empirical model was designed to estimate the detachment forces of soft ice from hydrophilic surfaces (untreated aluminum). Two types of ice detachment from surfaces were identified: adhesive detachment and cohesive detachment.

Icephobic behavior of a slippery coating containing nanoporous particles as lubricant-loaded carriers

Lubricant-infused surfaces have received increased attention because of their icephobic characteristics. However, the rapid consumption of the lubricant negatively affects the life service of these surfaces. Here we introduced a novel icephobic strategy using the synergistic effect of combining three different anti-icing mechanisms, namely stress localization (matrix), slippery and the formation of unfrozen molecules. Therefore, we fabricated two lubricant-loaded carriers by incorporating silicone oil or hydroxyl‑terminated silicone oil within a hydrophobic nanoporous particles. Different quantities of lubricant-loaded carriers were then embedded into an alkoxysilane resin-dimethylpolysiloxane (PDMS) blend having optimized mechanical properties. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) method, we confirmed that both silicone oils were successfully loaded within the porous aerogels. However, the silicone oil–loaded carrier accommodated more lubricant within its structure than the hydroxyl‑terminated silicone oil, the coatings with hydroxyl‑terminated silicone oil exhibited a better anti-icing performance. This enhanced anti-icing property can be attributed to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and the hydrophilic functional groups of the oil. These coatings also reduced ice accumulation on their surfaces. The coatings containing hydroxyl‑terminated silicone oil–loaded carriers had a lower ice adhesion strength regardless of their concentration in the filler relative to those containing the silicone oil–loaded carriers. An ice adhesion strength of 15.9 kPa was achieved using 15% hydroxyl‑terminated silicone oil–loaded carriers. Reduced ice adhesion in samples containing HTSO/A stems from producing localized stress (matrix), the slippery behavior of the surface and the formation of unfrozen molecules that are hydrogen-bonded with water molecules on their surfaces. The latter mechanism helps these coatings retain stable icephobic characteristics even after 20 icing/deicing cycles.

The effect of modification of gelcoat based on unsaturated polyester resin with polysiloxanes on icephobicity, hydrophobicity and durability

Ice accumulation on aerodynamic surfaces is a well-known aspect in various industries, including wind turbines. Many solutions have been developed for several years to deal with this problem, but until now no suitable and energy-sufficient method available for industrial applications has been found. A potential solution is using hydrophobic and/or icephobic coatings, which would allow one to reduce ice adhesion to surfaces. In this study, modifications of a gelcoat based on unsaturated polyester resin with in-house synthesized polysiloxanes dual-functionalized with allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) and hexyl (HEX) or octyl (OCT) groups were used. Most of the chemical modifications used resulted in an increase in surface hydrophobicity (an increase in water contact angle and a decrease in contact angle hysteresis) and an improvement in icephobicity - a reduction in ice adhesion. The lowest ice adhesion achieved a value equal to 221 kPa (the decrease in ice adhesion was 36 % compared to the unmodified surface). The highest water contact angle exhibited a value of 96 °C. Furthermore, correlations were observed between roughness/wettability and ice adhesion: as roughness and wettability decrease, ice adhesion is reduced. The study also determined the durability of the produced surfaces after 100 icing/deicing cycles and the zeta potential surface.

Influence of surface characteristics of cement pavement on ice-concrete adhesion

Breaking the adhesion between ice- and pavement is crucial for road de-icing. This study investigates the impact of concrete pavement surface characteristics on ice-pavement adhesion. To achieve this, 20 cement concrete specimens with different combinations of 10 surface textures and 2 wettability surface characteristics were prepared. The water contact angle (WCA) and six texture parameters were determined using the sessile drop and tangent line methods, as well as the sand patch and laser texture scanner techniques. To evaluate the ice–concrete adhesion, shear strength measurements obtained through interlayer shear instrument testing were utilized. In our analysis, we examined the relationship between ice adhesion strength and several factors, including the freezing temperature (T), water wettability, and surface texture parameters. A partial least squares (PLS) model was built to comprehensively analyze the effects of different factors on ice-concrete adhesion. The results indicate that improving hydrophobicity, as demonstrated by an increase in WCA from 20.4° to 119.4°, and raising the freezing temperature were both effective approaches for significantly reducing ice-concrete adhesion. The effects of different texture parameters on hydrophilic and hydrophobic concrete were significantly different. Specifically, for ordinary concrete, the ratio of the surface area (Sr) and the mean texture depth (MTD) demonstrated a positive correlation with ice adhesion strength. For hydrophobic surfaces, the MTD exhibited the greatest correlation with adhesion, followed by Sr. However, skewness (Rsk) also had a significant effect on the ice adhesion of hydrophobic concrete, and ice adhesion preferred valley-texture concrete. Finally, the PLS model results showed that the order of influence on ice-concrete adhesion was: Sr > WCA > MTD > T > Rsk. Based on our findings, we suggest three approaches for reducing ice adhesion to concrete surfaces: implementing semicircular or trapezoidal groove textures, reducing the surface energy of the concrete, and introducing the valley texture surfaces. This study focuses on the influence of surface characteristics of concrete pavements on ice adhesion and provides guidance on designing concrete surfaces for effective road de-icing.

An experimental study on icephobicity and hydrophobicity of concrete surface with Dual crystallization Engineered topical treatment

Ice when formed on structural materials exhibits strong bonds, which poses a major challenge to many industries. To remove the ice, the creation of hydrophobic surfaces is used as a passive ice removal technique by reducing ice adhesion. Concrete surfaces treated by Pavix Dual Crystallization Engineered (DCE) material show strong water-repelling characteristics. However, the effect of such treatment on ice adhesion is yet to be studied. To quantify this effect, a series of direct shear tests were performed on concrete specimens with the top surface treated with a Pavix DCE material. TxDOT standard Class S concrete was used as control concrete and mixed at two water-cement ratios, 0.45 and 0.43. Ice-adhesion shear tests were performed on control and DCE-treated concrete disks using a customized direct shear test device at two controlled sub-freezing temperatures, −1 °C and −10 °C. In addition, water-repellent properties and contact angle were measured using a tensiometer under static and receding conditions. Results show reductions of more than 83% in ice adhesion of ice adhesion and more than 98-degree contact angles for DCE-treated concrete specimens. The measured results quantify the anti-icing benefit of DCE treatment and provide insights into understanding the anti-icing mechanism of the treated concrete.

Ice Adhesion Evaluation of PTFE Solid Lubricant Film Applied on TiO2 Coatings

Ice formation affects the performance of many industrial components, including aircraft wings, spacecraft, and power transmission cables. In particular, ice build-up on airplane components increases drag and fuel consumption. A large number of studies have been carried out to reduce ice adhesion by developing passive methods such as icephobic coatings and active ice removal approaches such as mechanical vibrations or chemical-based solutions. Despite remarkable recent breakthroughs in the fabrication of icephobic coatings, passive ice removal solutions require higher durability to resist cyclical mechanical ice detachment treatments. Functionalized TiO2 coatings, applied using the suspension plasma spray (SPS) technique, have been shown to be robust and to have dual-scale characteristics in an ice accretion analysis. In this study, the icephobicity and mechanical durability of a novel duplex coating consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) solid lubricant films on TiO2-coated substrates were evaluated. Notably, various amounts of PTFE were applied on top of the TiO2 coating to identify the ideal quantity required to obtain optimal icephobic properties. Ice was generated in an icing wind tunnel, and the amount of accreted ice was evaluated to assess the anti-icing properties. Wettability parameters, including static water contact angle and contact angle hysteresis, were measured to determine the water mobility and surface energy. Ice shear adhesion to the PTFE-TiO2 duplex coating was measured using a custom-built test rig. The mechanical durability was assessed by measuring the ice shear strength for almost twenty icing–deicing cycles, and after five cycles, the roughness parameters and images taken from the surface of the samples were compared. The combination of PTFE solid lubricant film and TiO2 coating reduced ice adhesion by 70%–90% compared to that of a bare aluminum substrate (reference material). Additionally, the results showed that the application of a uniform layer of PTFE solid lubricant film on dual-scale TiO2 coating significantly reduced ice adhesion and maintained mechanical durability for 25 deicing cycles, making this combination a promising candidate for deicing approaches.

Ice-fouling on superhydrophobic and slippery surfaces textured by 3D printing: revealing key limiting factors

Solid surfaces, subjected to subzero temperatures, experience ice-fouling that poses a substantial economic burden to various industries (e.g. energy, transportation, aviation, building). Employing repellent surface chemistry on engineered surfaces (e.g. pillar, tubular, porous) delays icing and reduce ice adhesion. However, the limiting parameters that fail the icephobic properties of "slippery" and "superhydrophobic (SH)" surfaces are not well explored. Herein, we introduce anodized and chemically modified "slippery", and "SH" surfaces textured by 3D-printing to justify their ice-phobic properties considering the influencing factors, namely surface energy and roughness, temperature and humidity gradient, and droplet-to-surface contact area. Although "slippery" and "SH" surfaces can resist ice nucleation for a few hours at moderate subzero temperatures, they fail when the temperature drops to -12°C. Despite posing ∼10 times lower adhesion strength (i.e. shear stress) than the control, "SH" surface with moisture-induced micro ice-crystals exhibited twice the ice-adhesion measured without the presence of micro ice-crystals on it. In contrast, the "slippery" sample, due to antifreeze properties, did not get affected by the presence of moisture-induced micro ice-crystals, exhibiting ∼17 times lower adhesion strength than the control substrate. The comparative aspects and explored limiting factors of icing on "slippery" and "SH" surfaces are significant for many industries that suffer from ice-fouling.

The penguin feather as inspiration for anti-icing surfaces

Understanding how to influence ice adhesion to structures and prevent icing catastrophes is a paramount research question. Conventional industrial anti-icing methods are active, requiring an energy source. However, active strategies are energy intensive. Passive anti-icing surfaces have thus become an area of engineering interest. Such strategies, like low surface energy chemical coatings, produce highly anti-icing surfaces on a lab-scale but they have not succeeded in industrial applications. They lack efficacy over repeated icing/de-icing cycles and their materials are unsuited for harsh environments. The body feather of the sub-Antarctic Gento penguin Pygoscelis papua, which ornithologists note is perpetually free of ice despite its freezing environment, serves as a compelling source of passive anti-icing biomimetic inspiration which may overcome these aforementioned deficiencies. Through studying these feathers, it has become clear that two aspects of anti-icing (water-shedding and ice-shedding) are addressed in distinct ways by the Gentoo penguin. The water-shedding functionality of the feathers is derived from an air cushion created by the wire-like microstructure of the feather and is augmented by nano-scale grooves in the feather coated in preen oil. The preen oil is necessary to maintain water-shedding functionality, however once removed the ice-shedding functionality of the feathers is maintained. The ice-shedding functionality appears to be derived from wire-like morphology of the penguin body feather barbs and barbules which induce cracks that are easily opened at the ice-feather interface. Such a design strategy shows promise in addressing the common failings of passive systems. These anti-icing strategies were then tested on metallic biomimetic substrates. The barb structure of the penguin body feather was mimicked using ultra-fine woven stainless-steel wire cloth. Some stainless-steel wire cloths were laser machined to mimic the texturing and surface chemistry of the feathers. These cloths were indeed hydrophobic like the feathers. Both stainless-steel wire cloths had significantly reduced ice adhesion strengths compared to those of the flat monolithic stainless-steel sample. The laser-machined wire cloth had an ice adhesion strength of 63 ± 10 kPa compared to 603 ± 236 kPa for the flat sample. This both indicates that the ice-shedding capabilities of the sample are imparted by the structure and further strengthens the argument that water-shedding and ice-shedding are distinct phenomena that need to be addressed with two separate design strategies.

Comment on “Vapor Lubrication for Reducing Water and Ice Adhesion on Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Brushes”: Vapor Alteration Alone Reduces Water Droplet Adhesion

A reduction in lateral adhesion of water droplets on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) brush surfaces exposed to various vapor conditionswasrecently reported. Itwassuggested that the mobility of droplets is due to swelling of the PDMS brushes. When changing the vapor surrounding sliding droplets on bare surfaces, a similar phenomenon is observed, presenting a much simpler explanation of the observed results.

Stiffening surface lowers ice adhesion strength by stress concentration sites

Mechanically softening materials have been intensively investigated to reduce ice adhesion strength based on the adhesion failure mechanism. Achieving icephobic surfaces with both low ice adhesion strength and mechanical robustness is challenging. The surface stiffening-induced stress concentration sites on elastomer should be possible to improve the mechanical robustness and lower the ice adhesion strength simultaneously, as it can build material inhomogeneity (stiffness mismatch) and geometry irregularity-induced cracks on the surface layer of elastic materials. To reveal this hypothesis, the stress concentration sites are introduced to obtain the robust low ice adhesion surface (RLAS) by implementing rigid nanocomposites with the elastic modulus of GPa scales (e.g. silica nanoparticles, SiO2NPs, ca. 68.9 GPa) into the surface layer of elastomers (e.g. polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS, ca. 2.7 MPa). The effects of the material inhomogeneity (stiffness mismatch) and geometry irregularity-induced stress concentration sites on the reduction of ice adhesion strength are revealed. The minimum ice adhesion strength of the RLAS is down to 10.5 kPa, and its ice adhesion strength remains at 13.8 kPa after 25 icing/deicing cycles. Originating from abundant potential crack initiation sites and stiff nanoparticles, our designed nano-composite materials remarkably lower the ice adhesion strength and are over 2-fold mechanically stiffer than pure elastomer. This strategy offers an unconventionally hardening surface approach for designing icephobic materials with combined durability and robustness.

Multifunctional Edible Oil-Impregnated Nanoporous Oxide Layer on AISI 304 Stainless Steel.

Slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) realized on commercial materials provides various functionalities, such as corrosion resistance, condensation heat transfer, anti-fouling, de/anti-icing, and self-cleaning. In particular, perfluorinated lubricants infused in fluorocarbon-coated porous structures have showed exceptional performances with durability; however, they caused several issues in safety, due to their difficulty in degradation and bio-accumulation. Here, we introduce a new approach to create the multifunctional lubricant-impregnated surface with edible oils and fatty acid, which are also safe to human body and degradable in nature. The edible oil-impregnated anodized nanoporous stainless steel surface shows a significantly low contact angle hysteresis and sliding angle, which is similar with general surface of fluorocarbon lubricant-infused systems. The edible oil impregnated in the hydrophobic nanoporous oxide surface also inhibits the direct contact of external aqueous solution to a solid surface structure. Due to such de-wetting property caused by a lubricating effect of edible oils, the edible oil-impregnated stainless steel surface shows enhanced corrosion resistance, anti-biofouling and condensation heat transfer with reduced ice adhesion.

Freezing-induced wetting transitions on superhydrophobic surfaces

Supercooled droplet freezing on surfaces occurs frequently in nature and industry, often adversely affecting the efficiency and reliability of technological processes. The ability of superhydrophobic surfaces to rapidly shed water and reduce ice adhesion make them promising candidates for resistance to icing. However, the effect of supercooled droplet freezing—with its inherent rapid local heating and explosive vaporization—on the evolution of droplet–substrate interactions, and the resulting implications for the design of icephobic surfaces, are little explored. Here we investigate the freezing of supercooled droplets resting on engineered textured surfaces. On the basis of investigations in which freezing is induced by evacuation of the atmosphere, we determine the surface properties required to promote ice self-expulsion and, simultaneously, identify two mechanisms through which repellency falters. We elucidate these outcomes by balancing (anti-)wetting surface forces with those triggered by recalescent freezing phenomena and demonstrate rationally designed textures to promote ice expulsion. Finally, we consider the complementary case of freezing at atmospheric pressure and subzero temperature, where we observe bottom-up ice suffusion within the surface texture. We then assemble a rational framework for the phenomenology of ice adhesion of supercooled droplets throughout freezing, informing ice-repellent surface design across the phase diagram.

Reduced Ice Adhesion Using Amphiphilic Poly(Ionic Liquid)-Based Surfaces.

Ice build-up on solid surfaces causes significant economic losses for a range of industries. One solution to this problem is the development of coatings with low ice adhesion strength. Amphiphilic poly(ionic liquid) (PIL)-based surfaces have been recently reported for antifogging/antifrosting applications. However, they have possible anti-icing properties through lowering the ice adhesion strength that have yet to be reported. Herein, we designed well-defined triblock copolymers composed of a polydimethylsiloxane component coupled with PIL segments of poly([2 (methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride) (PMETAC), which were subsequently UV-cured with an oligo(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (OEGDMA) cross-linker. The structure-property relationships of the resultant semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPNs) were investigated by varying the counterion (i.e., trimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI-)) and the content of the PIL segments and cross-linker. An ice adhesion strength as low as 13.3 ± 8.6 kPa was observed for the coating containing 12.5 wt % of PMETAC segment and 5 wt % of OEGDMA, which is one of the lowest values reported so far for the amphiphilic coatings. Characterization of the coatings in terms of surface features, wettability, and hydration states have enabled the elucidation of different deicing mechanisms. Self-lubrication due to the existence of nonfreezable bound water led to the obtained low ice adhesion strength. This work offers a new approach for the exploration of PIL-based icephobic coatings for practical applications.

A novel hybrid anti-icing surface combining an aqueous self-lubricating coating and phase-change materials

The ability of phase change materials (PCMs) to absorb and release large amounts of latent heat has led to great interest in their use in anti-icing applications. Combining PCMs and other passive icephobic strategies such as self-lubricating coatings could enhance anti-icing performance. Here, an icephobic coating is fabricated by impregnating an elastomeric matrix containing PEG-PDMS copolymers with PCM microcapsules. First, a selected mixture of n-dodecane and n-tetradecane is encapsulated within urea–formaldehyde shells using in-situ polymerization. Various concentrations of microcapsules are then added into the self-lubricated PDMS coating and 2.5 wt% of hydroxyl-terminated PEG-PDMS copolymer. Differential scanning calorimetry confirms that the PCM-embedded coating has colder ice nucleation temperatures than the self-lubricating coatings lacking microcapsules. The release of latent heat by the PCMs likely preserves the liquid-like layer for a more extended time and delays ice nucleation. The presence of PCM microcapsules can positively affect self-lubricating characteristics of the matrix containing the PEG-PDMS copolymer to further reducing ice adhesion. The presence of a liquid-like layer lowers ice adhesion strength and decreases ice accumulation on surfaces. These particular properties are further enhanced by the incorporated PCM microcapsules and their ability to release latent heat. Finally, the durability of the fabricated coatings is confirmed after multiple icing/de-icing cycles. Such PCM-impregnated coatings therefore offer potential uses for diverse icephobic applications.

Hydro- and Icephobic Properties and Durability of Epoxy Gelcoat Modified with Double-Functionalized Polysiloxanes.

Anti-icing coatings have provided a very good alternative to current, uneconomic, active deicing methods, and their use would bring a number of significant benefits to many industries, such as aviation and energy. Some of the most promising icephobic surfaces are those with hydrophobic properties. However, the relationship between hydrophobicity and low ice adhesion is not yet clearly defined. In this work, chemical modification of an epoxy gelcoat with chemical modifiers from the group of double organofunctionalized polysiloxanes (generally called multifunctionalized organosilicon compounds (MFSCs)) was applied. The anti-icing properties of manufactured coatings were determined by means of measurements of shear strength between the ice layer and the modified surface, conducted using a tensile machine. In the work, tests were also performed on the roughness, wettability, and durability of the properties in an aging chamber. It was found that the performed modifications of the coating's chemical composition by the addition of polysiloxanes enabled us to reduce ice adhesion by 51% and to increase the water contact angle by 14% in comparison to the neat gelcoat. A reduction in ice adhesion was also observed with the increasing water contact angle and with decreasing surface roughness. In addition, only one modification recorded an increase in ice adhesion after exposure in the aging chamber.

Ice adhesion to hydrotechnical structures

Mitigating ice adhesion on offshore and port structures is crucial for ensuring their safety and operational efficiency in cold climates. Ice adhesion, the molecular attraction between ice and a surface, can lead to increased structural loads, reduced stability, and restricted functionality. This work provides an overview of the different concepts, including the nature of ice adhesion, its consequences on structures, and effective strategies to minimize it. The strategies include surface coatings, surface roughness modifications, heating systems, de-icing and anti-icing systems, structural design considerations, and regular maintenance. These approaches aim to reduce ice adhesion, facilitate ice shedding, and enhance the resilience of offshore and port structures. By implementing these strategies, the integrity and performance of these critical infrastructures can be maintained, ensuring safe operations and supporting transportation and energy production in cold regions.

Fluorine‐free, highly transparent, chemically durable and low ice adhesion icephobic coatings from biobased epoxy and polydimethylsiloxane

AbstractPassive icephobic surfaces have been extensively studied by researchers due to their advantages of delaying icing time and reducing ice adhesion strength. However, icephobic materials with petroleum‐based resources and toxic fluorine‐containing chemicals, as one of the excellent icephobic materials, are very unfavorable for resource conservation and environmental protection. In this study, we report fluorine‐free, highly transparent, chemically durable and low ice adhesion icephobic coatings prepared by glycerol triglycidyl ether (GTE) derived from natural glycerin and bis(3‐aminopropyl) terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) via one‐pot method. On the one hand, PDMS with multiple methyl groups and two amine groups acts as a hydrophobic modifier to modulate the surface energy of the coatings, and also acts as a structure modifier to modulate the mechanical properties of the coatings, which allow us to design and synthesis the coating with excellent deicing performance (ice adhesion strength can reach about 16 kPa). On the other hand, GTE with multiple epoxy groups works as cross‐linker to endow the coatings with good cross‐linked networks, so that the coatings showed good durability after being subjected to different temperature treatment and different solution treatments. In additional, the transmittance of the coating is above 91.4%, which is expected to be applied to windows and sensors.