Patent — available for licensing
Durable Anti-Icing Coatings
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Prevention of ice accretion on aircraft surfaces while in flight is critical. Ice accumulation on aircraft wings can effectively change the shape of the wing, resulting in degraded aerodynamic performance, fuel efficiency, and most importantly, flight safety. Commercial aircraft use active (i.e., energy-consuming) strategies, such as heated surfaces, to mitigate ice buildup. Recognizing the drawbacks of such active strategies, including increased fuel burn, manufacturing / maintenance complexity, and increased aircraft mass, innovators at NASA's Langley Research Center set out to formulate low ice adhesion strength coatings for aircraft and other surfaces. NASA developed coatings that reduced impact ice adhesion strength on surfaces, resulting in four issued patents. However, one challenge remains - ensuring the low ice adhesion strength coatings are robust enough to withstand the harsh environments experienced by aircraft leading edges.