Development of high-performance deicing coatings through engineered weak interfacial domains

TY - JOUR

T1 - Development of high-performance deicing coatings through engineered weak interfacial domains

AU - Han, Zhile

AU - Tian, Xinchun

AU - Peng, Yipeng

AU - Tian, Linchuan

AU - Tu, Jingyi

AU - Liu, Jiangnan

AU - Sun, Wei

AU - Xu, Zhaowen

AU - Wang, Dong

AU - Ma, Zhuang

N1 - Publisher Copyright: This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026.

PY - 2026/5/21

Y1 - 2026/5/21

N2 - The development of effective anti-/de-icing coatings remains challenging for aviation applications where complex environmental factors and dynamic icing conditions demand robust material solutions. In this work, we engineer endogenous weak interfacial domains within polymer coatings that function as stress concentrators, triggering early crack nucleation and interfacial embrittlement. This approach reduces interfacial toughness (Γice) by 96% and ice adhesion strength (τice) by 90% while maintaining sufficient stiffness (E = 1.11 MPa) through a low-cost fabrication method ($8/m−2), optimally balancing deicing efficiency with mechanical durability. The coating enables effective multi-scale ice removal, as demonstrated by low-rotational-speed ice shedding from UAV propellers under simulated flight conditions (supercooled droplets, d ≈ 0.02 mm, −6 °C). A coupled phase-field and cohesive zone model confirms the stress-focusing mechanism, establishing a universal framework for designing next-generation icephobic materials that optimize performance, durability, and cost.

AB - The development of effective anti-/de-icing coatings remains challenging for aviation applications where complex environmental factors and dynamic icing conditions demand robust material solutions. In this work, we engineer endogenous weak interfacial domains within polymer coatings that function as stress concentrators, triggering early crack nucleation and interfacial embrittlement. This approach reduces interfacial toughness (Γice) by 96% and ice adhesion strength (τice) by 90% while maintaining sufficient stiffness (E = 1.11 MPa) through a low-cost fabrication method ($8/m−2), optimally balancing deicing efficiency with mechanical durability. The coating enables effective multi-scale ice removal, as demonstrated by low-rotational-speed ice shedding from UAV propellers under simulated flight conditions (supercooled droplets, d ≈ 0.02 mm, −6 °C). A coupled phase-field and cohesive zone model confirms the stress-focusing mechanism, establishing a universal framework for designing next-generation icephobic materials that optimize performance, durability, and cost.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105036243350

U2 - 10.1039/d5ta09967f

DO - 10.1039/d5ta09967f

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105036243350

SN - 2050-7488

VL - 14

SP - 19815

EP - 19828

JO - Journal of Materials Chemistry A

JF - Journal of Materials Chemistry A

IS - 30

ER -