CAMX 2021 exhibit preview: Elemental Coatings

Elemental Coatings (Houston, Texas, U.S.) features samples of its latest anti-icing coating solutions, which the company reports have shown a threefold reduction in ice adhesion on composite substrates. The coatings are available in both 1K and 2K formulations and use either a polyurethane or rubber base chemistry.

Elemental Coatings develops passive anti-icing coatings for aerospace, transportation and infrastructure applications. These coatings minimize ice buildup, improve safety, decrease downtime and mitigate the high cost of many de-icing practices. Elemental Coatings says ice management is expensive, especially for industries like aerospace and wind energy, where composites play an increasingly critical role. According to the company, $800 million is spent annually on deicing fluids for aircrafts (globally), $1 billion in annual revenue is lost for wind farm operators as turbines are shut down to prevent damage and $2.3 billion is spent annually on snow and ice control operations for roadway maintenance.

Elemental Coatings’ anti-icing coatings are made for high durability. The company reports that formulations have successfully passed aerospace rain erosion tests, UV weathering, solvent soaks and abrasion tests. The coatings use the mechanical properties of the coating and stress localization, which effectively causes ice to crack with much less force than would normally be required. In addition, the anti-icing behavior is a volumetric phenomenon of the coating — not a surface phenomenon –—meaning that, as the coating wears down, the anti-icing properties will persist.

In addition to coating samples, the company’s booth has information about the coatings and applications in various use cases, with Brian Huskinson, CEO, and Hadi Ghasemi, CTO, in attendance.