Effect of deliberate physical damage and repair on the icephobicity of oil-infused elastomer coatings

Oil-infused elastomers have shown promise as anti-icing coatings, but their softness has led to durability concerns. The effect of damage is investigated to study the resilience of the icephobicity of silicone elastomer coatings with and without oil-infusion. Physical damage is applied to specimens by abrading with grit paper or cutting with a scalpel. Surface characterization reveals morphological changes in the coatings due to damage and de-icing on the surfaces, along with changes in the static water contact angle. Abrasion of the surfaces does not overwhelmingly or universally worsen the ice adhesion strength. Some damage even lowers the ice adhesion strength, possibly due to Cassie-Baxter wetting. However, it decreases the average freezing time. Cutting causes accelerated deterioration to ice adhesion strength and worsens freezing time. Though damage to the oil-infused coatings is greater, changes in icephobicity are similar to coatings without oil-infusion. Re-coating is an effective method of repairing even severely damaged surfaces and recovering icephobicity. We show oil-infused elastomers have durable icephobicity and are effective anti-icing coatings.