The challenge presented to the engineers and scientists was to develop and demonstrate a coating that exhibits durable anti-ice performance, and satisfactory wear and erosion resistance. More importantly, it needed to be practical for retrofitting in-service aircraft as well as be used by OEMs.
Grit blasting of metal surfaces, a routine surface preparation technique prior to painting, is expensive, labor-intensive, time-consuming, and generates a large amount of hazardous, powdery waste