Icing phenomena are widespread in transportation, energy, and other fields, causing severe economic losses and safety hazards. To provide a reliable solution for ice protection, this paper proposes a porous PDMS-based organogel medium (GIP-PDMS) material with excellent icephobic properties. The influence of pore size on the icephobic characteristics of the GIP-PDMS material is investigated experimentally, and the icephobic mechanism of GIP-PDMS is revealed using numerical simulation methods.
GIP-PDMS materials with three pore sizes (~200 μm, ~400 μm, and ~1 000 μm) are prepared using a three-step "template precipitation-impregnation-curing" method. The internal micro-morphology of porous PDMS and GIP-PDMS is then examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. For the mechanical property testing of the GIP-PDMS material, the surface energy, elastic modulus, porosity, and contact angle are measured according to the droplet balance method with a universal testing machine, an automatic mercury porosimeter, and a contact angle goniometer, respectively. The ice adhesion strength of the materials is accurately obtained with an ice adhesion strength measurement system to characterize their icephobic properties. Static/dynamic icing experiments, surface abrasion experiments, and corrosion/contamination experiments are conducted to analyze the icephobic characteristics of different pore-sized GIP-PDMS under multiple factors, including static/dynamic icing, surface wear, acid/alkali corrosion, and oil contamination. A finite element simulation model for ice adhesion is established based on cohesive elements to analyze the icephobic mechanism of the GIP-PDMS material.
Experiments demonstrate that the ice adhesion strength of the GIP-PDMS material is significantly lower than that of porous PDMS, and its ice adhesion strength shows a positive correlation with pore size. Within the temperature range of -25 ℃ to -5 ℃ under static/dynamic icing conditions, the ~200 μm pore size GIP-PDMS material exhibits the best stability in ice adhesion strength; that is, its ice adhesion strength value remains essentially unchanged (variation of only 3.8 kPa) despite significant changes in icing temperature, while the ice adhesion strength of the ~400 μm pore size is the most sensitive to icing conditions (variation of 14.5 kPa). After undergoing 100 repeated wear experiments, the surfaces of the GIP-PDMS materials show varying degrees of wear. After 100 cycles, the degree of wear becomes more severe with larger pore sizes. Regarding icephobic properties, the ~200 μm pore size material exhibits a reduction in ice adhesion strength after wear, while the ~400 μm and ~1 000 μm pore size materials show the smallest and largest increases in ice adhesion strength, respectively. Under dynamic icing conditions with continuously decreasing temperature (-5 ℃ to -25 ℃) and increasing surface wear, the ice adhesion strength of the ~200 μm pore size GIP-PDMS material shows a decreasing trend, indicating enhanced icephobic properties. Under strong acid (pH=1), strong alkali (pH=13) corrosion, and oil contamination conditions, the ice adhesion strength of different pore-sized GIP-PDMS remains essentially unchanged. Simulation reveals that during tangential de-icing, the difference in elastic modulus between the skeleton and the gel of GIP-PDMS leads to the initiation and propagation of cracks at multiple locations on the material-ice interface, thereby achieving excellent icephobic properties.
This study establishes GIP-PDMS as a robust icephobic material, where ~200 μm pore size optimizes properties through stable air film formation and minimized solid-liquid contact area. The material maintains functionality under extreme temperature (-25 ℃), mechanical abrasion, and chemical exposure, demonstrating potential for aviation, power transmission, and cryogenic engineering applications. Future work should focus on scaling production and field-validation in real-world environments.
Key words
anti/de-icing /
ice adhesion strength /
PDMS /
porous medium /
interface crack /
icephobic mechanism
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.content}}
References
[1] HANN R.Hazards of In-flight Icing on Unmanned Aircraft[J]. Proceedings of the Flight Testing of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Segovia, Spain, 2022: 12-13.
[2] KONIECZKA R, FRĄK K. Carburetor Icing as a Source of Flight Safety Hazards[J]. Safety & Defense, 2024, 10(2): 35-42.
[3] LAMRAOUI F, FORTIN G, BENOIT R, et al.Atmospheric Icing Impact on Wind Turbine Production[J]. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 2014, 100: 36-49.
[4] 沈贺, 陈田. 风力发电机叶片结冰状况研究综述[J]. 上海电机学院学报, 2021, 24(1): 1-5.
SHEN H, CHEN T.A Review on the Icing Status of Wind Turbine Blades[J]. Journal of Shanghai Dianji University, 2021, 24(1): 1-5.
[5] LIU Q, TANG A P, WANG Z Y, et al.Exploring the Road Icing Risk: Considering the Dependence of Icing-Inducing Factors[J]. Natural Hazards, 2023, 115(3): 2161-2178.
[6] GUO X F, YANG Q, ZHENG H R, et al.Integrated Composite Electrothermal De-Icing System Based on Ultra-Thin Flexible Heating Film[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2024, 236: 121723.
[7] ZHU C X, WANG Y, ZHAO N, et al.Numerical Simulation and Experimental Verification of the Airfoil Electrothermal Deicing System Performance[J]. Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, 2021, 44(7): 608-617.
[8] PALANQUE V.Design of Low Consumption Electro- mechanical De-icing Systems[D]. Université De Toulouse: ISAE-Supaero, 2022.
[9] ENDRES M, SOMMERWERK H, MENDIG C, et al.Experimental Study of Two Electro-Mechanical De-Icing Systems Applied on a Wing Section Tested in an Icing Wind Tunnel[J]. CEAS Aeronautical Journal, 2017, 8(3): 429-439.
[10] PALACIOS J, SMITH E, ROSE J, et al.Instantaneous De-Icing of Freezer Ice via Ultrasonic Actuation[J]. AIAA Journal, 2011, 49(6): 1158-1167.
[11] CORNELL J S, PILLARD D A, HERNANDEZ M T.Comparative Measures of the Toxicity of Component Chemicals in Aircraft Deicing Fluid[J]. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2000, 19(6): 1465-1472.
[12] MUTHUMANI A, FAY L, AKIN M, et al.Correlating Lab and Field Tests for Evaluation of Deicing and Anti-Icing Chemicals: A Review of Potential Approaches[J]. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 2014, 97: 21-32.
[13] 向科峰, 尹欢, 宋岳干, 等. 受猪笼草启发的多孔微腔低冰黏附防除冰表面[J]. 表面技术, 2023, 52(10): 313-320.
XIANG K F, YIN H, SONG Y G, et al.Low Ice Adhesion Deicing/Anti-Icing Surface of Porous Microcavity Inspired by Nepenthes[J]. Surface Technology, 2023, 52(10): 313-320.
[14] WANG T, ZHENG Y H, RAJI A O, et al.Passive Anti-Icing and Active Deicing Films[J]. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016, 8(22): 14169-14173.
[15] REKUVIENE R, SAEIDIHARZAND S, MAŽEIKA L, et al. A Review on Passive and Active Anti-Icing and De-Icing Technologies[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2024, 250: 123474.
[16] 许露晴, 石珍旭, 刘祯达, 等. 基于超疏水表面的主被动复合防/除冰技术研究进展[J]. 表面技术, 2023, 52(12): 135-146.
XU L Q, SHI Z X, LIU Z D, et al.Research Progress of Active/Passive Composite Anti/de-Icing Technologies Based on Superhydrophobic Surfaces[J]. Surface Technology, 2023, 52(12): 135-146.
[17] LIN W M, SONG H N, QI H M, et al.Controllable Structure Design of an Organic Gel-Infused Porous Surface for Efficient Anti- and De-Icing[J]. Langmuir, 2024, 40(48): 25717-25727.
[18] ZHUO Y Z, CHEN J H, XIAO S B, et al.Gels as Emerging Anti-Icing Materials: A Mini Review[J]. Materials Horizons, 2021, 8(12): 3266-3280.
[19] YANG Q C, Yaqng J L, HU Y H, et al.A Skin-inspired Durable De-icing Surface with Boosting Interfacial Cracks[J]. National Science Review, 2025.
[20] IRAJIZAD P, AL-BAYATI A, ESLAMI B, et al.Stress-Localized Durable Icephobic Surfaces[J]. Materials Horizons, 2019, 6(4): 758-766.
[21] CHEN C H, FAN P X, ZHU D Y, et al.Crack-Initiated Durable Low-Adhesion Trilayer Icephobic Surfaces with Microcone-Array Anchored Porous Sponges and Polydimethylsiloxane Cover[J]. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2023, 15(4): 6025-6034.
[22] HE Z W, ZHUO Y Z, HE J Y, et al.Design and Preparation of Sandwich-Like Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Sponges with Super-Low Ice Adhesion[J]. Soft Matter, 2018, 14(23): 4846-4851.
[23] HE Z W, XIAO S B, GAO H J, et al.Multiscale Crack Initiator Promoted Super-Low Ice Adhesion Surfaces[J]. Soft Matter, 2017, 13(37): 6562-6568.
[24] HE Z W, ZHUO Y Z, WANG F, et al.Understanding the Role of Hollow Sub-Surface Structures in Reducing Ice Adhesion Strength[J]. Soft Matter, 2019, 15(13): 2905-2910.
[25] ZENG C J, SHEN Y Z, TAO J, et al.Rationally Regulating the Mechanical Performance of Porous PDMS Coatings for the Enhanced Icephobicity Toward Large-Scale Ice[J]. Langmuir, 2022, 38(3): 937-944.
[26] TAO C, LI X H, LIU B, et al.Highly Icephobic Properties on Slippery Surfaces Formed from Polysiloxane and Fluorinated POSS[J]. Progress in Organic Coatings, 2017, 103: 48-59.
[27] ZHANG P Y, GUO Z G.Robust Anti-Icing Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces Inspired by Nature: A Review[J]. Materials Today Physics, 2024, 46: 101478.
[28] LONG Y F, YIN X X, MU P, et al.Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surface (SLIPS) with Superior Liquid Repellency, Anti-Corrosion, Anti-Icing and Intensified Durability for Protecting Substrates[J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2020, 401: 126137.
[29] WANG J, WU M J, LIU J P, et al.Metallic Skeleton Promoted Two-Phase Durable Icephobic Layers[J]. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2021, 587: 47-55.
[30] QI H M, LEI X M, GU J Z, et al.Low Modulus of Polydimethylsiloxane Organogel Coatings Induced Low Ice Adhesion[J]. Progress in Organic Coatings, 2023, 177: 107435.
[31] LI C L, GU X S, XIONG H, et al.Research on Strategies for Enhancing Ice-Phobic Properties of Elastic Coatings Based on Interfacial Stress Distribution[J]. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2025, 710: 136210.
Funding
Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12132019); Science and Technology Program of Sichuan Province (2024NSFSC0253)
PDF(6485 KB)
