Development of high-performance deicing coatings through engineered weak interfacial domains

Abstract

The development of effective anti-/de-icing coatings remains challenging for aviation applications where complex environmental factors and dynamic icing conditions demand robust material solutions. However, current strategies capable of achieving an optimal balance between deicing efficiency and mechanical durability have remained limited in scope and lack universal design principles. In this work, we engineer endogenous weak interfacial domains within polymer coatings that function as stress concentrators, triggering early crack nucleation and interfacial embrittlement. This approach reduces interfacial toughness (Г _ice ) by 96% and ice adhesion strength (τ _ice ) by 90% while maintaining sufficient stiffness (E = 1.11 MPa) through a low-cost fabrication method ($3/m²). The coating enables effective multi-scale ice removal, as demonstrated by low-rotational-speed ice shedding from UAV propellers under simulated flight conditions (supercooled droplets, d ≈ 0.02 mm, -6 °C). A coupled phase-field and cohesive zone model confirms the stress-focusing mechanism, establishing a universal framework for designing next-generation icephobic materials that optimize performance, durability, and cost.