Minimizing adhesion of ice has been the subject of extensive studies for applications such aircraft wings, spacecraft hull and power transmission wires, while a growing interest concerns coatings for wind turbine blades and in refrigeration. Thus far, ice adhesion measurements employed �custom designed� equipment. The absence of a straightforward laboratory based ice adhesion test using readily available instrumentation has been a stumbling block to fundamental understanding and coatings development. To establish a laboratory method for evaluating ice adhesion with a readily available instrument, a test with a TA Instruments RSA-III has been developed. The method involves removal of an ice cylinder from a polymer coating with a probe and the determination of peak removal force (Ps). To validate the test method the strength of ice adhesion has been determined for a prototypical glassy polymer, poly(methyl methacrylate). Surface roughness and probe placement have been identified as critical variables for ice removal. For the first time, removal energy (RE) has been determined. The new test provides a readily available platform for investigating fundamental surface characteristics affecting ice adhesion.*  The authors thank the National Science Foundation (grants DMR-0802452 and DMR-1206259) for support of this research.

Laboratory test for ice release, first results from a prototypical glass (PMMA)

247th National Meeting (2014)

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