Rice University scientists have advanced their #graphene-based de-icer to serve a dual purpose. The new material still melts ice from wings and wires when conditions get too cold. But if the air is above 7 degrees Fahrenheit, ice won't form at all.The Rice lab of chemist James Tour gave its de-icer superhydrophobic (water-repelling) capabilities that passively prevent water from freezing above 7 degrees. The tough film that forms when the de-icer is sprayed on a surface is made of atom-thin graphene nanoribbons that are conductive, so the material can also be heated with electricity to melt ice and snow in colder conditions.The material can be spray-coated, making it suitable for large applications like aircraft, power lines, radar domes and ships, according to the researchers. The study was published this month in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces ("Passive Anti-icing and Active Deicing Films").
Read more: Dual-function, graphene-based material good for aircraft, extreme environments
http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news/newsid=43489.php
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