AeroPel™ NPL APC400 Surface Treatment for Aircraft Deicing

When ice forms on aircraft surfaces, it can disrupt the airflow over the wings and tail, leading to a loss of lift and potentially causing dangerous in-flight conditions. Ice accumulation can also increase the weight of the aircraft, further compromising its performance and safety. In addition to safety concerns, icing can cause operational disruptions, resulting in delays and increased maintenance costs.

AeroPel™ NPL APC400, a developing surface treatment, will work by actively preventing ice nucleation, thereby mitigating ice build-up and moisture impacts, and will protect the treated substrate from atmospheric and galvanic corrosion in harsh environments, such as arctic, humid, and marine regions.

Originally developed and tested for the military, AeroPel™ NPL APC400 has demonstrated remarkable performance. The Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) revealed that AeroPel™ NPL APC400 reduced ice adhesion strength by several orders of magnitude compared to any other commercially available coating. The impressive durability observed suggests that the treatment is suitable for other anti-icing and corrosion applications, including wind turbines, bridges, railways, power transmission and other cables, and communication towers.

AeroPel™ NPL APC400 would address the need for efficient aircraft icing prevention, offering a solution to halt ice nucleation and protecting a wide range of industries from the operational impacts of ice accumulation. By preventing ice build-up, AeroPel™ NPL APC400 can help industries avoid the significant costs associated with repairs, delays, damages, and compensations.