Icephobic Behavior of UV-Cured Polymer Networks Incorporated into Slippery Lubricant-Infused Porous Surfaces: Improving SLIPS Durability

Ice accretion causes damage on power generation infrastructure, leading to mechanical failure. Icephobic materials are being researched so that ice buildup on these surfaces will be shed before the weight of the ice causes catastrophic damage. Lubricated materials have imposed the lowest-recorded forces of ice adhesion, and therefore lubricated materials are considered the state-of-the-art in this area. Slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) are one type of such materials. SLIPS are initially very effective at repelling ice, but the trapped fluid layer that affords their icephobic properties is easily depleted by repeated icing/deicing cycles, even after one deicing event. UV-cured siloxane resins were infused into SLIPS to observe effects on icephobicity and durability. These UV-cured polymer networks enhanced both the icephobicity and longevity of the SLIPS; values of ice adhesion below 10 kPa were recorded, and appreciable icephobicity was maintained up to 10 icing/deicing cycles.