HELADA
Coating to prevent erosion and the formation of ice on aerodynamic elements in aircraft
Objectives
To develop super-hydrophobic coatings based on composite materials with a super-hydrophobic matrix, reinforced with hard particles for aerodynamic surfaces. The aim is to obtain durable layers that prevent or minimise the formation of ice and offer resistance against mechanical aggressions, such as erosion.
Description
The formation of ice is especially critical for aircraft. Accordingly, several systems to prevent the formation of ice or to improve de-icing have been developed in order to avoid or reduce its formation on airplanes. Most of these technologies require a continuous hot-air supply, chemical products, electricity, or the use of inflatable membranes that break the ice at the front edge of the wings. However, a much more attractive solution is to modify the surface of the structure in order to reduce or eliminate the formation of ice. This could be used in conjunction with some of the abovementioned methods, thus mitigating the weight and the energy requirements that the process involves.
Financing
