TRENDS OF EVALUATION OF ELECTRICAL AND INTERFACIAL ADHESION, HYDROPHOBICITY OF VARIOUS NANOPARTICLES EMBEDDED POLYURETHANE FOR ANTI-ICING AIRCRAFT TOPCOAT

Since the anti-icing on the topcoat layer of the aircraft or mobility systems can be a factor leading to functional failures or accidents, material engineering to prevent icing involves creating hydrophobic surfaces. Interfacial adhesion and electrical properties of polyurethane (PU)-type aircraft topcoat layers for anti-icing and lightning strike protection (LSP) were evaluated by 2D electrical resistance (ER) mapping with different oxidation times. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were treated using hydrogen peroxide to improve dispersion. Mechanical property of MWCNT/PU topcoat was determined via thin film tensile test. Static contact angle was measured to evaluate work of adhesion between MWCNT and PU coating layer. Interfacial adhesion between MWCNT and PU coating layer was obtained via pull-out test and were consistent with different MWCNT oxidation times. Electrical properties of MWCNT/PU topcoats were evaluated by surface ER. Higher tensile strength of MWCNT/PU topcoat could contribute to higher interfacial adhesion. Some anti-icing outcomes for aircraft topcoat were also introduced comparing with LSP result. It was also confirmed that the method of controlling the structure of polymers using solvents to adjust surface hydrophobicity and ice prevention effects is effective. PU topcoats are primarily used on the exterior of recent mobility device. Changes in the curing enthalpy and crystal structure were observed with adjusting the ratio between PU and xylene, which led to improve tensile strength. Changes in surface energy and contact angle occurred depends on xylene content, and de-icing of PU topcoat was enhanced with the surface of the xylene PU topcoat compared to the neat PU topcoat. It was considered that manipulating the polymer structure via different solvent amounts in topcoats could be used as an innovative technique in hydrophobic surface for anti-icing.