Superhydrophobic coating that prevents the formation of ice in aircraft and helicopter ducts

An innovative superhydrophobic coating will prevent the formation of ice in the internal ducts of the air cooling systems used in commercial planes and helicopters.

Surface Engineering and the development of coatings resolve many of the problems faced by industry. Surface modification, the functionality of surfaces or the application of certain coatings enables interesting properties to be obtained: self-cleaning surfaces or hydrophobic-hydrophilic surfaces.

A multidisciplinary team has been set up to carry out this development: we are responsible for the development of the coating, CRANFIELD University is in charge of the characterisation of the ice formation mechanisms, and QUANTIS SAS will take care of the analysis of the life-cycle and the costs of the new treatments. The coating will be validated on real turbo machines at the LIEBHERR Aerospace SAS facilities in Toulouse.

LIEBHERR Aerospace Toulouse SAS develops and manufactures complete air management systems to achieve an optimum climate in the cabin. The systems consist of air intake in the drive mechanism to the release of fresh air in the cabin. These innovative systems are in demand worldwide in civil and military aeronautics. 

Contact

Fabiola Brusciotti
Surface Engineering

This development is financed by Clean Sky JTI within the Horizon Programme 2020 through the ERICE initiative: “Super hydrophobic and erosion resistant coatings for turbine scroll and downstream pipe”.