Active ice-phobic freeze point reducing anti-ice coating and method for providing anti-ice protection to surfaces

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for providing anti-ice protection to surfaces, particularly aerodynamic surfaces, to prevent foul weather icing for extended periods of time and over repeated icing situations, comprising applying an organic polymer matrix layer to the surface where the organic polymer matrix layer comprises a homopolymer comprising up to 50% porous polymer solids having a pore size of up to 100 Angstroms and being capable of absorbing and chemically bonding an aqueous freeze-point depressant solution in amounts of up to 99.75% by weight.

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         9 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising providing a polymer film substrate having a first side and a second side, an adhesive layer on said first side and said organic polymer matrix layer on said second side, whereby said organic polymer matrix layer is capable of absorbing and holding at least 50% of an aqueous freeze-point depressant solution. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said adhesive layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive and said film further comprises a removable release sheet over said adhesive layer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a protective mesh layer over said organic polymer matrix layer, said protective mesh having a porosity whereby said freeze-point depressant solution can pass through. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said polymer film substrate is a polyolefin. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said organic polymer matrix layer comprises a continuous polymer of cross-linked acrylic monomers and methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the protective mesh is a carbon composite treated with trimethylhydroxysilane. 
     
     
         15 . A method for providing anti-icing to aerodynamic surfaces to prevent foul weather icing comprising applying an organic polymer matrix layer to said surface, said organic polymer matrix layer comprising a continuous polymer comprising 1 to 5% porous polymer solids having a pore size of at least 90 Angstroms being capable of absorbing and chemically bonding an aqueous freeze-point depressant solutions in amounts of up to 99.75% by weight, whereby said freeze-point depressant solution is maintained on said aerodynamic surfaces for extended periods of time. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising providing a protective mesh layer over said organic polymer matrix, said protective mesh having a porosity whereby said freeze-point depressant fluid can pass through. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  comprising applying an adhesive agent to said surface and applying said organic polymer matrix as a plurality of macroscopic particles having a size of from 0.1 to 0.5 millimeters dispersed over said surface to form a substantially continuous coating thereon. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  comprising forming said organic polymer matrix as a continuous polymer film, providing an adhesive agent on said surface and applying said continuous polymer film onto said adhesive agent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising forming said continuous polymer film on a polymer film substrate and applying said substrate onto said adhesive agent. 
     
     
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         29 . The method of  claim 15  comprising forming said organic polymer matrix layer as a coating of polymer granules or particles applied to said surface by vacuum deposition, spraying, painting or mechanical distribution. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  comprising mixing an amount of non-absorbable curable adhesive agent with said granules or particles, applying said mixture to said surface and curing said adhesive agent whereby said particles are adhered to said surface and to each other forming a coating of said polymer matrix having a thickness greater than one particle diameter. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 15  comprising forming said organic polymer matrix layer in situ as a film by spray coating, pouring or painting onto said surface a monomer mixture and a polymerization initiator and activating said polymerization initiator. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said organic polymer matrix comprises a hydrophilic polyacrylic polymer comprising 40-60 parts by weight of a purified monoester of a hydroxyalkyl acrylate having a single olefinic double bond and 40-60 parts by weight of a methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said organic polymer matrix further comprises a polyurethane. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said organic polymer matrix further comprises a polyacrylic. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said non-absorbable curable adhesive agent is selected from a polyurethane or a polyacrylic.