Carbon Nanotube (CNT) based Intelligent-Aerosurface System

Metis Design proposes the development of a novel intelligent-aerosurface system for ice-detection, de-icing, anti-icing and structural diagnostics in fixed-wing leading-edges and rotorcraft rotor-blades. The basis for the system is carbon nanotube (CNT) enhancements embedded within composite laminates in conjunction with direct write (DW) electrodes patterned on a flexible abrasion-proof substrate. CNT provide improved delamination & fracture toughness to the material, but also introduce multifunctional capabilities by virtue of their excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. Impact detection can be achieved by observing changes in local resistivity. Ice-detection is based on effective heat capacity, where power is applied to the CNT through DW electrodes for a brief period, and the temperature rise is recorded with DW thermocouples. The slope of that rise can been well correlated to the thickness of ice present on the surface. For de-icing (melting) and anti-icing (prevention of ice formation) a resistive heating principal will be used. A sparse network of DW electrodes will be applied to an abrasion-resistant layer and bonded to the CNT-enhanced composite, and when voltage is applied the CNT will heat due to their small but finite resistance value. Due to their high thermal conductivity, heat will be distributed relatively evenly throughout the aerosurface.