Understanding origins of ice-adhesion for rational design of icephobic coatings
Abstract
Icing is a ubiquitous problem across various industries and poses severe challenges for naval operations both at sea and in the airby impairing their stability, maneuverability, and safety. This project, led by Prof. Sushant Anand at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and Co-PI Prof. Sankaranarayanan (UIC, ANL) in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), NASA Glenn, and Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), aims to address the critical challenge of understanding fundamentals of ice formation, its adhesion and its accretion on various surfaces, a problem of paramount importance for naval operations. Despite longstanding efforts and advances in the field, the structure and dynamics of ice formation, especially in the presence of contaminants remain elusive. Key unknowns include the role of interfacial water in ice adhesion, the influence of contaminants on ice formation and structure, the effect of freezing rates on contaminated ice adhesion, and the characteristics of ice formed at high altitudes. These gaps pose direct challenges to developing effective mitigation strategies for icing-related risks in naval operations. Our multifaceted approach seeks to investigate ice formation at sea and high altitudes, focusing on the role of contaminants in ice nucleation, crystal structure, growth kinetics, and adhesion to surfaces.We aim to explore these micro-to-macro scale phenomena using a combination of experimental and simulation techniques to gain fundamental insights into the multiscale nature of ice formation at sea and high altitudes. We will utilize molecular simulations, synchrotron-based techniques and machine learning for studying ice structure and dynamics at the molecular level and develop new experimental setups to investigate ice growth on different surfaces at the meso/macroscale. Our multidisciplinary team comprises experts in icing experiments, synchrotron-based techniques, and advanced computational methods, including machine learning for accelerated materials discovery. The project has three primary objectives: 1) To understand the physics of ice formation in the presence of contaminants, examining the effects of contaminant chemistry, concentration, andfreezing thermodynamics on ice structure and adhesion. 2) To develop advanced, durable icephobic coatings infused with contaminantsthat can delay icing and reduce ice adhesion. 3) To measure and quantify ice accumulation rates on surfaces under various conditions, including high-altitude icing and spray-icing scenarios.PI Anand s expertise in icing and icephobic coatings will drive the experimental approach, utilizing unique setups for measuring ice formation and adhesion. Co-PI Sankaranarayanan will leverage molecular simulations and machine learning to predict ice structures, interface dynamics and growth in varied conditions. PI Anand s collaborative efforts with Drs. Lee, Benmore, Fezzaa, Struk, and Asenath will enable advanced studies in ice structure analysis, contaminant segregation dynamics, ice growth on surfaces, and testing of novel coatings. The project s outcomes have direct relevance to Naval operations. Enhanced understanding of ice formation, particularly the influence of contaminants and environmental factors, will informthe development of more effective anti-icing strategies and aid in predicting and managing ice formation on naval equipment and structures. Insights into ice adhesion characteristics will guide the creation of materials to resist ice buildup. The innovative icephobic coatings developed will directly enhance DoD capabilities, augmenting the operational readiness and safety of naval ships and aircraft. Beyond these, this research holds significant implications across various fields, including thermal science, physics, and environmental science, and is directly relevant to industries such as aviation, maritime transportation, and energy production in military and civilia
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412377
Entities
People
- Sushant Anand
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign