Electrospun Butyl Rubber Mats for Icephobic Applications

Electrospinning has been recognized as one effective method to fabricate sub- to nano-scale fibers, and subsequent films, mats and membranes. Compared to films made by other conventional methods like melt or solution casting, spray coating, and melt blowing etc., electrospun films provide much higher porosity, high surface area, and 3-Dimentional fibrous structure, all of which make it have enormous potentials in different applications. One of applications can be icephobic purpose. In this paper, nonwoven butyl rubber compound mats were fabricated by solution electrospinning and post heat curing. Working conditions for electrospinning were optimized based on our material. Subsequent treatment on the mats was performed by coating non-wetting material on the surface. Contact angle testing was then carried out on both uncoated and coated mats, which confirmed the super-Icephobic property for the coated mats.