Combining Ultrasound and Surface Treatments for an Efficient Ice Protection

Different strategies may be adopted to avoid ice formation, such as power-consuming active systems and passive coatings. Several categories of surface treatments with superhydrophobic/icephobic behavior have been developed in the last decade. The goal of the coating application is to repel water droplets, delay ice nucleation and significantly reduce ice adhesion. However, surface treatments alone are not sufficient to guarantee icing protection in a wide range of humidity and temperature conditions. They should be considered as a complementary solution to traditional protection active systems to reduce their power consumption and environmental impact. This study concerns the early stage of development about a hybrid system, characterized by a low energy consumption and based on both passive techniques, the superhydrophobic/icephobic coating, and an active one, ultrasound, to remove ice build-ups from treated surfaces. Preliminary tests are conducted on a coated metal plate and the results coming from the investigation are presented.