‘Polaroids’ help scientists detect hazardous ice on airplane platingResearchers
‘Polaroids’ help scientists detect hazardous ice on airplane platingResearchers from Skoltech, MIPT, Russia’s State Research Institute of Civil Aviation, the University of North Texas, and York University have simplified and automated the lab procedure used to test anti-icing fluids that ensure safe aircraft takeoff. The findings of the study, which was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, are reported in the journal Cold Regions Science and Technology. Frost, snow, and ice accumulation on an aircraft adversely affects its handling properties and increases the risk of accidents by distorting the flow of air over the wings, reducing lift, and creating additional drag. To prevent hazardous icing, the aircraft is treated before takeoff with deicing fluids that melt away any ice or snow that have stuck to the metal, and with anti-icing fluids that form a protective film on the plating to prevent further ice formation.Since anti-icing treatment is so important for ensuring flight safety and there are many factors at play—fluid dilution, ambient temperature and humidity, wind, precipitation, aircraft skin material, etc.—anti-icing agents are frequently tested in labs so as to know their properties in every detail. This is a tedious process that involves a specialist visually inspecting a piece of aluminum plating treated with an anti-icing fluid in a climate chamber that reproduces the necessary weather conditions.Read more. -- source link
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