Nanomaterials (Aug 2022)

Passive Deicing CFRP Surfaces Enabled by Super-Hydrophobic Multi-Scale Micro-Nano Structures Fabricated via Femtosecond Laser Direct Writing

  • Zihan Zhang,
  • Jiakang Zhou,
  • Yuqi Ren,
  • Weihan Li,
  • Sheng Li,
  • Nianyao Chai,
  • Zhongle Zeng,
  • Xiangyu Chen,
  • Yunfan Yue,
  • Ling Zhou,
  • Yibing Cheng,
  • Shuxin Li,
  • Xuewen Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12162782
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 16
p. 2782

Abstract

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Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is the main material of aircraft skin. Preparing superhydrophobic anti-icing/deicing surface on the CFRP is of great importance for aircraft flight safety. In this work, a variety of multi-scale micro-nano structures were imprinted on CFRP by femtosecond laser processing, and a transition from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic CFRP was realized. After being optimized by different geometries and laser conditions, the water contact angle, which is tested at 24.3 °C and 34% humidity, increased from 88 ± 2° (pristine) to 149 ± 3° (100 μm groove) and 153 ± 3° (80 μm grid). A further anti-icing test at −10 °C (measured on the cooling platform) and 28% humidity showed that the freezing time was increased from 78 ± 10 s (pristine) to 282 ± 25 s (80 μm grid). Most importantly, the tensile tests showed that the femtosecond laser processing method did not deteriorate the mechanical properties of CFRP. This work provides great significance for aircraft passive deicing technology.

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