Ice-Shedding Polymer Coatings with High Hardness but Low Ice Adhesion

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Weak, oil-swollen polymer gels shed ice easily, but mechanically robust coatings tend to have high ice adhesion.
• There is a need for materials that combine bulk hardness with low surface ice adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize novel bilayer coatings with simultaneous high bulk hardness and low ice adhesion.
• To investigate the self-assembly mechanism and the role of surface lubrication in ice shedding.

Main Methods:

• Co-curing of a triisocyanate with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) grafted methacrylate polyols (P#-g-PDMS) and optionally methacrylate polyols (P#).
• Surface characterization of the self-assembled structure, revealing a PDMS brush layer on a polyurethane matrix.
• Measurement of ice adhesion strength (τ) before and after silicone oil lubrication, and assessment of durability over multiple icing/deicing cycles.

Main Results:

• The bilayer coatings exhibit a 10,000-fold reduction in ice adhesion (τ) after surface lubrication with silicone oil compared to unlubricated controls.
• Ice slides off under its own weight at a mere 3° tilt angle on the lubricated coatings.
• The coating matrix demonstrates hardness exceeding that of poly(ethylene terephthalate), and low ice adhesion is maintained for over 10 icing/deicing cycles, with recovery possible through lubricant replenishment.

Conclusions:

• The developed bilayer coatings effectively decouple bulk mechanical properties from surface ice adhesion properties.
• The self-lubricating nature and robust PDMS brush layer contribute to durable, low ice adhesion performance.
• This design presents a promising strategy for creating hard, ice-shedding polymer surfaces for various applications.