The main objective of the IceAge project was to develop and evaluate a number of alternative – and highly innovative – icephobic coatings used as associated to low power electromechanical de-icers.

This goal was achieved through two activities:

• The development of durable and effective icephobic coatings that will facilitate and maintain laminar boundary layers on aerodynamic surfaces. These coatings will reduce ice adhesion on nanotextured coatings deposited on the leading edge of the wing.
• The design of these coatings will be optimised by modelling and associated characterisation tests.

The high-speed airflow over aircraft can contain sand, water droplets, insects, ice crystals and other particles, and there thus exists a significant challenge to produce protective coatings resistant to this environment. Erosion resistance was therefore evaluated in IceAge project.

The multi-disciplinary approach yielded technological improvements beyond the state of the art through a structured, but innovative, research strategy. A comprehensive set of relevant tests were performed, including ice friction and force tests and comparative snow erosion tests.

Finally, upscaled samples were delivered to be tested in association with electromechanical de-icers in collaboration with the call initiators.