Effect of UV laser texturization on hydrophobic and anti-icing properties of waterborne polyurethane nanocomposite coatings

Reducing ice buildup on different aerodynamic surfaces like airplane wings or wind turbine blades caused by the impact of supercooled water droplets can be achieved by creating surfaces featuring anti-icing capabilities.Hydrophobic surfaces are particularly promising due to their water-repelling attributes.In recent years, advancements in short-pulsed laser technologies have provided an efficient method for altering material surface properties.However, the effectiveness of such surfaces in preventing ice accumulation has yet to be validated.This study introduces a UV laser texturization approach for polymer surfaces.Laser patterning was employed to create periodic surface structures on the modified polyurethane coatings.The study investigated the influence of different laser parameters like pulse frequency, laser speed or pattern shape on the topographical features, hydrophobicity, and anti-icing properties of the resulting surfaces.Surface topography characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and an optical profilometer.The wettability parameters, including the static contact angle and contact angle hysteresis, were measured to assess the impact of the wetting behavior and laser parameters on the materials under investigation.The anti-icing properties were evaluated by means of freezing delay time tests.The findings indicate that the laser texturization of waterborne polyurethane coatings enhances the hydrophobic and anti-icing properties of the investigated materials.