Colloquium: Sara Caliari (ASM)

Ice formation present a significant safety hazard, particularly impacting infrastructure and transportation systems like aircraft. Effective anti-icing and de-icing methods are essential, with active systems requiring external energy and passive systems, such as icephobic coatings, providing a more energy-efficient alternative. To develop effective icephobic coatings, ice adhesion is a crucial parameter and understanding the mechanics of how ice adheres to surfaces under various environemtal conditions and surface defects is essential for advancing anti-icing technologies. This thesis investigates ice adhesion strength of Teflon, polypropylene, polyurethane, and 6082 aluminium alloy, examining how surface defects like dust, silicone oil, and UV exposure influence ice adhesion. The aim is to improve the understanding of ice-substrate interactions and improve anti-icing technologies.

Supervisor: Dr. Santiago Garcia