Mechanically robust superhydrophobic polyurethane coating for anti-icing application

The development of superhydrophobic coatings with excellent mechanical properties is essential for effective anti-icing protection. In this study, we achieved a durable superhydrophobic anti-icing coating by introducing the nanosilica, co-modified with fluoroalkyl silane and aminosilane, into polyurethane through a simple spraying and curing process. The resulting coating had a water contact angle (CA) of up to 162° and a sliding angle (SA) less than 1.5°. We enhanced the mechanical and chemical durability of the coating by reacting amino groups on the silica surface with the isocyanate groups in the curing agent. The coating maintained its superhydrophobicity even after 200 cycles of sandpaper abrasion, 24 h of water impact, or 500 ml of falling sand impact. Additionally, the coating exhibited excellent anti-icing performance, delaying the water-freezing time to 700 s at −15°, and the ice-adhesion strength remained lower than 13 KPa after 25 icing-deicing cycles. These results suggest that the durable superhydrophobic coatings can effectively prevent long-term icing, making them as promising anti-icing candidates for various applications in polar ships.