EROSION RESISTANT HYBRIDSIL® ICEPHOBIC COATINGS FOR AIRCRAFT PROPULSION TURBOMACHINERY INLET COMPONENTS

Through the proposed Navy SBIR program, NanoSonic will molecularly engineer and empirically optimize its HybridSil Icephobic coating technology for imparting long-term passive ice protection to aircraft propulsion turbomachinery inlet components. Unlike competing icephobic coating technologies that rely on unreacted, surface enriching / lubricating oils that impart temporary ice protection, NanoSonic’s icephobic coating consists of a covalently interconnected nanocomposite copolymer network. Each unique polymeric and nanoparticle constituent is chemically interconnected to afford an environmentally robust, long-term coating with a surface morphology and modulus statistically optimized for retained low ice adhesion (validated by United States Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory) after exposure to corrosive salt fog (ASTM B117), 100% humidity (ASTM D2247 ), abrasion (ASTM D4060), and accelerated weathering (ASTM G 154). Harnessing an established and adaptable technical framework, NanoSonic will complete an aggressive R&D program that specifically tailors its HybridSil icephobic coating technology for environmental durability and retained passive ice protection within aircraft propulsion environments. Working with Phase III transition partner Lockheed Martin, NanoSonic will establish and refine critical structure-property interdependencies that provide exceptional icing wind tunnel performance before and after high speed (up to 500 mph) rain erosion exposure.