Three-Dimensional Graphene Foam–Polymer Composite with Superior Deicing Efficiency and Strength

Abstract

The adhesion of ice severely compromises the aerodynamic performance of aircrafts operating under critically low-temperature conditions to their surfaces. In this study, highly thermally and electrically conductive graphene foam (GrF) polymer composite is fabricated. GrF-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) deicing composite exhibits superior deicing efficiency of 477% and electrical conductivities of 500 S m with only 0.1 vol % graphene foam addition as compared to other nanocarbon-based deicing systems. The three-dimensional interconnected architecture of GrF allows the effective deicing of surfaces by employing low power densities (0.2 W cm). Electrothermal stability of the GrF-PDMS composite was proven after enduring 100 cycles of the dc loading-unloading current. Moreover, multifunctional GrF-PDMS deicing composite provides simultaneous mechanical reinforcement by the effective transfer and absorption of loads resulting in a 23% and 18% increase in elastic modulus and tensile strength, respectively, as compared to pure PDMS. The enhanced efficiency of the GrF-PDMS deicing composite is a novel alternative to current high-power consumption deicing systems.

Thin Electric Heating Membrane Constructed with a Three-Dimensional Nanofibrillated Cellulose–Graphene–Graphene Oxide System

“…Graphene-based materials such as graphene nanosheets, multilayer graphene nanoplatelets, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) are currently of considerable interest in many fields, including composite materials, paints and coatings, flexible electronics, energy generation and storage, sensors and metrology, and bioapplications [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. In the field of electric heating, new graphene-based composites have been applied for the heating and thermal analysis of microdevices or micro/nano regions of materials [ 4 ], as well as being used in snow melting and deicing devices [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], demisting and defrosting of transparent substrates such as glass [ 9 , 10 , 11 ], wearable/smart electronics [ 8 ], and even indoor heating. One such high-temperature heating device utilized a RGO coating on the surface of a horseshoe-shaped substrate by three-dimensional (3D) printing using aqueous solution [ 4 ], which was first reduced at 600 °C for 1 h under argon and then further reduced by input electrical current below 1 A.…”

Stretchable and multifunctional strain sensors based on 3D graphene foams for active and adaptive tactile imaging

“…After composited with the elastic polymer, the characteristic singly deflected cracks are distinguished by its deflection through one side of the interface of GrF when tension applied. Such behavior serves as evidence of the highenergy dissipation and absorption capability provided by the reinforcement in the matrix [36].…”

“…The pressure applied by the force gauge installed at the computer-controlled movable stepper motor is range from 5.26 kPa (78.9 g) to 40.2 kPa (603.4 g). The pressure sensitivity is calculated to be 0.183 kPa −1 in low-pressure region (5-10 kPa) and 0.031 kPa −1 in the high-pressure region (30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40). To obtain the pressure detection limit of the stretchable strain sensor, the weight has been used to provide pressure less than 5 kPa or more than 40 kPa.…”

Engineering 3D Graphene-Based Materials: State of the Art and Perspectives

“…Finally, a number of applications related to coating can be considered as in between superficial and volumetric ones. In these, graphene-based materials must be deposited on a given surface in thin layers-but macroscopic on the atomic scale-to several purposes: protect from atmospheric agents [31], make it conductive [32] or hydrophobic [33], yet maintaining elasticity and resistance.…”