NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Coating Reduces Ice AdhesionThe Shuttle Ice Liberation Coating (SILC) has been developed to reduce the adhesion of ice to surfaces on the space shuttle. SILC, when coated on a surface (foam, metal, epoxy primer, polymer surfaces), will reduce the adhesion of ice by as much as 90 percent as compared to the corresponding uncoated surface. This innovation is a durable coating that can withstand several cycles of ice growth and removal without loss of anti-adhesion properties. SILC is made of a binder composed of varying weight percents of siloxane(s), ethyl alcohol, ethyl sulfate, isopropyl alcohol, and of fine-particle polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The combination of these components produces a coating with significantly improved weathering characteristics over the siloxane system alone. In some cases, the coating will delay ice formation and can reduce the amount of ice formed. SILC is not an ice prevention coating, but the very high water contact angle (greater than 140 ) causes water to readily run off the surface. This coating was designed for use at temperatures near -170 F (-112 C). Ice adhesion tests performed at temperatures from -170 to 20 F (-112 to -7 C) show that SILC is a very effective ice release coating. SILC can be left as applied (opaque) or buffed off until the surface appears clear. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data show that the coating is still present after buffing to transparency. This means SILC can be used to prevent ice adhesion even when coating windows or other objects, or items that require transmission of optical light. Car windshields are kept cleaner and SILC effectively mitigates rain and snow under driving conditions.
Document ID
20080048008
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Other - NASA Tech Brief
Authors
Smith, Trent
(NASA Kennedy Space Center Cocoa Beach, FL, United States)
Prince, Michael
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
DwWeese, Charles
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Curtis, Leslie
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 2008
Publication Information
Publication: NASA Tech Briefs, October 2008
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
KSC-13100/1
Report Number: KSC-13100/1
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available