A Mechanically Robust Polydimethylsiloxane Composite Coating With Sustained Lubrication for Durable Icephobicity

Icing on critical infrastructure causes significant damage and economic losses. Mitigating the issue requires durable icephobic coatings. This study introduces a novel polydimethylsiloxane-based coating, modified with silicone oil and silicon carbide (SiC) fibers to establish an interconnected network. This innovative design notably improved the icephobicity. The icing delay duration increased from 9 s for bare aluminum to 70 s, indicating a higher energy barrier against freezing. The coating exhibited a water contact angle of 128.4°, effectively impeding droplet propagation and improving the thermal efficiency. Additionally, the incorporation of SiC fibers reduced the heterogeneous nucleation sites, thereby enhancing droplet mobility and inhibiting ice formation. The coating demonstrated exceptional mechanical durability, maintaining an ice adhesion strength of 74.8 ± 1.3 kPa with minimal weight loss after 60 icing/deicing cycles. The SiC fiber network effectively mitigated freeze–thaw damage by preventing cracks, ensuring long-term icephobicity. This research provides a practical solution for designing robust icephobic coatings for harsh environments.