Preliminary Assessment of Thermal and Mechanical Properties of a Graphene-Rich Carbon Coating on 3003-H14 Aluminum Alloy for Potential Anti-Icing Applications

TL;DR

This study investigates a graphene-rich coating on aluminum alloy to improve anti-icing performance by enhancing hardness and thermal dissipation.

Contribution

The novelty lies in using chemically exfoliated graphene-rich carbon platelet coatings for passive anti-icing in aircraft engine components.

Findings

Coated samples showed ~30% improvement in surface Vickers hardness compared to uncoated aluminum.

Coated surfaces cooled faster (530 s) than uncoated ones (870 s), indicating better thermal dissipation.

SEM analysis confirmed a uniform and compact coating layer.

Abstract

Icing poses significant operational and safety risks in aviation, especially for engine components such as cowls and baffles. This study explores the potential of a chemically exfoliated graphene-rich carbon platelet epoxy coating to improve the anti-icing and de-icing performance of 3003-H14 aluminum alloy, which is widely used in such applications. Chemically exfoliated graphite was incorporated into an epoxy resin, then applied to aluminum substrates. Characterization of the coated samples revealed ~30% improvement in surface Vickers hardness (HV) (HV 75.6 ± 1.15 vs. HV average of 98.3 ± 1.5) and enhanced thermal dissipation, with coated surfaces cooling from 104 °C to 22 °C in 530 s compared to 870 s for uncoated samples. While anti-icing performance was not directly evaluated, the observed improvements in thermal dissipation and surface hardness suggest that chemically exfoliated graphene-rich carbon platelet coatings could be promising for passive anti-icing applications. The literature suggests that graphene coating improves hydrophobicity, reducing ice adhesion and delaying nucleation due to its low surface energy and nanoscale roughness, thereby supporting potential passive anti-icing functionality for aircraft engine components. SEM analysis confirmed a uniform, compact coating layer. These preliminary findings indicate that chemically exfoliated graphene-rich carbon platelet coatings can deliver multifunctional performance—mechanical, thermal, and surface—making them promising candidates for passive anti-icing/de-icing solutions in engine components where conventional systems are ineffective.

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