A team of researchers from the University of Michigan have developed a new ice repellent that could go a long way toward easing airport delays across the country.

Reportedly, the new substance can be applied to everything from aircraft wings to electrical power lines. After the concoction has been sprayed on a surface, it works to create a surface where ice cannot form.

Automobile windshields can also be coated with the inexpensive spray to keep the view clear for drivers even on the coldest, most miserable days of the year.

Researchers Approach Problem in New Way

Currently, ice removal at commercial venues like airports involves tedious scraping or the application of chemical melting agents, options that more often than not result in significant costs in terms of time and money.

Using the new repellent either causes ice to fall off vulnerable surfaces by itself or makes buildup easier to remove.

"Researchers had been trying for years to dial down ice adhesion strength with chemistry, making more and more water-repellent surfaces," said Kevin Golovin, a UM doctoral student and one of the researchers involved in the study.

"We've discovered a new knob to turn, using physics to change the mechanics of how ice breaks free from a surface," he added.

Repellent Uses Qualities of Rubber

Up until now, researchers studying the effectiveness of similar coatings had focused on using materials that repelled water. Golovin and his team discovered the critical role the properties of rubber could play in freeing ice.

"Nobody had explored the idea that rubberiness can reduce ice adhesion," said lead researcher and UM associate professor Anish Tuteja.

Through their experiments, researchers discovered that rubbery coatings worked best for repelling ice, even when they weren't water-repellent. Ultimately, they concluded their revamped approach worked best largely based on a phenomenon known as "interfacial cavitation."

In the end, the new approach makes it possible to dramatically improve the durability of ice-repellent coatings, as frequently by airplane designers.

"An airplane coating, for example, would need to be extremely durable, but it could be less ice-repellent because of high winds and vibration that would help push ice off," Golovin added.

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