Fabrication of superhydrophobic surface on aluminium substrate for aircraft applications

Abstract

The ice accretion on aircraft at altitudes has become an international newlinehotspot research area in recent years. The method for preventing ice accretion newlineon aircraft are classified into two; active and passive methods. An active newlinemethod requires continuous energy and the de-icing system gets activated newlineafter the formation of ice on the skin of aircraft. The main limitation of active newlinemethod is acquiring the energy from the aircraft either in the form of newlinemechanical or thermal to fight against the formation of ice. But the passive newlinetechnique does not require energy for triggering any system and it thwarts and newlinedelays the ice accretion on the aircraft surface. These days bio-mimic newlinesuperhydrophobic surface, a passive method has been drawing attention newlineamong scientists in anti-icing system and implements the superhydrophobic newlinesurface to delay the ice accretion and reduce the drag on the aircraft. newlineThe advancement in creating micro/nano structures by laser system is newlinethe most effective among the various passive methods in creating newlinesuperhydrophobic surface. The laser system used is ultra-short (pico-second) newlinepulsed system. The surface structures or topography was created in the form newlineof hierarchical structure which is important in exhibiting superhydrophobic newlinenature on the surface. The laser parameters such as laser power/fluence, pitch, newlinescan speed, along with texture design (tilted groove pattern) are optimized for newlineattaining water repellency property for the application of anti-icing on the newlineaircraft. The sample storage also plays an important role in exhibiting super newlinehydrophobicity by refraining the contaminants from the ambient air. newline