Electrothermal icing protection of aerosurfaces using conductive polymer nanocomposites

Samuel T. Buschhorn, Noa Lachman, Jennifer Gavin, Brian L. Wardle, Seth S. Kessler, Greg Thomas

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ice protection systems (IPS) are critical components for many aerospace flight vehicles, including commercial transports and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and can include anti-icing, de-icing, ice sensing, etc. Here, an IPS is created using nanomaterials to create a surface-modified external layer on an aerosurface based on observations that polymer nanocomposites have tailorable and attractive heating properties. The IPS uses Joule heating of aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays to create highly efficient de-icing and anti-icing of aerosurfaces. An ice wind tunnel test of a CNT enhanced aerosurface is performed to demonstrate the system under a range of operating regimes (temperature, wind speed, water content in air) including operation down to -20.6°C (-5°F) at 55.9 m/s (125 mph) under heavy icing. Manufacturing, design considerations, and further improvements to the materials and systems are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
Event54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: 8 Apr 201311 Apr 2013

Publication series

Name54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference

Conference

Conference54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston, MA
Period8/04/1311/04/13

Funding

FundersFunder number
CMSE
NAVAIR SBIRN68335-11-C-0424
NECST
TohoTenax
Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering
National Science FoundationDMR-0819762
BOEING
Army Research OfficeW911NF-07-D-0004

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