The potential for anti-icing wing and aircraft applications of mixed-wettability surfaces - A comprehensive review

The supercooled water droplets in clouds can cause ice to build up on the surfaces of aircraft and engines when planes are flying at low temperatures. The shape of the ice accretion depends on the temperature of the air, the liquid-water content of the air, the diameter of the droplets, the speed of the plane, and the phase of flight. The ice accretion reduces the plane's lift, increases the drag, and affects the stability. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), icing of aircraft accounts for 12% of all in-flight weather-related incidents, and it can lead to huge losses. Thermal and mechanical techniques used to reduce ice formation often involve issues such as high energy consumption, environmental pollution, and high cost. Interestingly, an emerging approach involves the anti-icing treatment of surfaces by exploiting their wettability property. The surface micro/Nano texturing combined with the low surface energy of materials enhance the anti-icing properties. This article reviews the latest advancements in such approaches. Notably, the use of nature-material-based hydrophilic to superhydrophobic hybrid surfaces appears to offer a promising route to the suppression of ice accumulation and adhesion. Compared with uncoated surfaces, hybrid surfaces with high to low contact angles (mixed wettability) can not only delay the onset of ice formation effectively but also prolong the ice formation time. The mechanism by which hybrid surfaces reduce the residence time of liquid droplets and the wetted surface area is elucidated, and it is pointed out that such surfaces appear to be highly suitable for use in aircraft.

Automated summary

This article discusses the problem of ice accumulation on aircraft and engine surfaces caused by supercooled water droplets in clouds and reviews the latest advancements in anti-icing methods. Using the wettability of surfaces for anti-icing treatment is a promising approach that can reduce ice accumulation and adhesion.