Adhesive strength of ice on solid surfaces under dynamic heating condition

A clear and comprehensive understanding of the dynamic changes in ice adhesion during the operation of thermal de-icing systems on an airplane can help in realizing safer operation of these systems. In this study, we aim to elucidate the ice adhesion decay pattern on different materials under thermal de-icing conditions. Molds are used to form ice on the surfaces of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, titanium alloy, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and then their initial and dynamic ice adhesive strengths are measured. The effects of surface roughness and heating rate are also explored. The results show that the residual adhesive strength is almost linearly proportional to the instant temperature before it rises to −0.5 °C for the three types of metallic surfaces. However, for PTFE surfaces, instead of a reduction in the adhesive strength caused by heat, adhesive failure occurs due to the high stress induced by thermal deformation of the substrate. Under dynamic heating conditions, the impact of substrate’s roughness on the adhesive strength is significantly weakened, and the heating rate has a minor effect on the relationship between adhesive strength and instant temperature.