UK Researchers Study Carbon Nanotube Aircraft De-icing System

The University of Cambridge, UK, is studying an alternative to conventional resistive heaters for airframe de-icing, such as those used on the Boeing 787. Based on graphene or carbon nanotubes, the electrothermal de-icing layer would be deposited by painting or spraying it to aircraft surfaces such as wings, engine air intakes and tail.

Just one miligram of these films outperforms 120 grams of nichrome, a commonly used de-icing resistive material, according to Krzysztof Koziol, head of the Cambridge's electric carbon nanomaterials group. Koziol also claims an energy consumption advantage, but declined to be provide a specific value.

The project, dubbed Thawing, started on December 1 and it will run until November 30.