# The Anisotropic Electrothermal Behavior and Deicing Performance of a Self-Healing Epoxy Composite Reinforced with Glass/Carbon Hybrid Fabrics

## TL;DR

This paper studies a self-healing epoxy composite with hybrid fibers that can efficiently deice surfaces and adjust temperature by controlling current.

## Contribution

The study introduces a self-healing epoxy composite with anisotropic electrothermal behavior and excellent deicing performance.

## Key findings

- GCF/EP composites can reach high surface temperatures with low current along the glass fiber direction.
- The composite shows excellent deicing performance and energy efficiency along the carbon fiber direction.
- The self-repairing ability of the composite was characterized and shown to maintain deicing performance.

## Abstract

Hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer-laminated composites are often used under icy conditions (such as for reinforcing parts in aircraft frames and bridge beams), where there is an urgent demand for deicing. In this paper, besides the different mechanical properties of laminates along the longitudinal carbon fiber (CF) and glass fiber (GF) directions, the anisotropic electrothermal behavior of a hybrid glass/carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy (GCF/EP) is also investigated, as well as its deicing performance and self-repairing capability. The surface equilibrium temperature of GCF/EP composites can conveniently be adjusted by tuning the current magnitude and its flow direction. Compared to the longitudinal CF direction of the GCF/EP, where 0.3 A was loaded to achieve a surface equilibrium temperature of 122.8 °C, a much weaker current (0.03 A) was needed to load along the longitudinal GF direction to reach almost the same temperature. However, besides the higher flexural strength and fast temperature response, along the longitudinal CF direction, the GCF/EP exhibited excellent deicing performance, including a shorter time and larger energy efficiency. Furthermore, the self-repairing ability of the GCF/EP and its effect on the deicing performance of the composite were characterized. Studying the Joule heating effect of GCF/EP composite laminates and their corresponding deicing performance lays the foundation for their design and practical application in icy environments.