Advanced Testing of Ice Adhesion, Frost Formation, and Surface Wetting

The Laboratory for Engineering Surface Dynamics (LEAD) at the University of Illinois Chicago conducts experimental research on ice adhesion, frost formation, condensation, wetting, and interactions between liquids and engineered surfaces.

We seek industrial partners interested in understanding surface performance, evaluating coatings, investigating failure mechanisms, and developing solutions to icing and interfacial transport challenges.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Surface performance depends strongly on environmental conditions, material properties, and liquid composition. A coating that repels liquid water may not prevent frost formation or reduce ice adhesion.

Our research has also demonstrated that contaminants in water, including salts, surfactants, and solvents, can significantly alter ice adhesion. Consequently, measurements using pure water alone may not accurately represent industrial operating environments.

RESEARCH AND TESTING CAPABILITIES

We design controlled experiments to investigate:

Ice Adhesion: Quantitative measurements of ice adhesion strength on different substrates and coatings, including the influence of freezing temperature, impurities, and surface chemistry.

Frost and Condensation: Visualization of droplet nucleation, growth, coalescence, freezing, and frost propagation under controlled thermal and humidity conditions.

Surface Wetting: Characterization of liquid spreading, contact angles, droplet mobility, and interfacial interactions on hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, and lubricant-infused surfaces.

Droplet Freezing: High-resolution visualization of freezing dynamics, including the effects of surface structure, thermal conditions, and liquid composition.

Coating Performance: Comparative investigations of frost resistance, ice removal, and functional durability under selected laboratory conditions.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Our research uses temperature-controlled experimental systems, optical imaging, microscopy, quantitative force measurements, and specialized surface characterization methods.

Experiments can be customized to compare industrial materials, coating formulations, environmental conditions, and performance metrics.

PROOF OF EXPERTISE

Our laboratory has published extensively on ice adhesion, engineered surfaces, freezing, and condensation.

Selected research includes:

A Family of Frost-Resistant and Icephobic Coatings, Advanced Materials (2022).

How to Select Phase Change Materials for Tuning Condensation and Frosting, Advanced Functional Materials (2023).

Adhesion of Impure Ice on Surfaces, Materials Horizons (2024).

Our research is supported by federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation and Office of Naval Research, and has included industrially sponsored coating research.

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

We welcome sponsored research and collaborative testing projects with companies developing coatings, refrigeration systems, thermal equipment, aerospace components, and functional surfaces.

A project can deliver quantitative comparisons, microscopy and imaging data, performance analysis, and recommendations for improving surface design.

We seek partners with specific materials or icing problems for which targeted experiments can provide actionable insights. Testing scope, timelines, costs, and deliverables would be established collaboratively. Services are research-grade and do not imply accredited certification.