The research aims to identify anti-ice and anti-snow coatings for application on conductors and shield wires of overhead power lines to mitigate the significant damage caused by intense snow events and enhance the overall resilience of the power system.

The work continues from previous years’ research, expanding investigations to additional formulations and innovative solutions with the goal of finding more effective, environmentally friendly, industrially applicable, and economically sustainable solutions.

Development and characterization activities include formulating synthesis and application processes for the coatings, improving process parameters, and performing chemical, physical, and functional characterization of the materials produced, using methodologies developed in the laboratories. Research activities also involve bibliographic studies on anti-ice coatings and their preparation methods. Additionally, a study is underway to deepen the understanding of the physical and mechanical properties of snow to develop a more realistic model of snow accumulation on coatings, including mechanisms of snow detachment based on adhesion to component surfaces and the presence of functional coatings.

Here is a summary of the main topics and results of the research discussed in the report:

On aluminum and anticorodal surfaces, hydrophobic and superhydrophobic non-fluorinated coatings have been studied to reduce ecological impact. Durable hydrophobic properties were achieved, but these did not translate into low ice adhesion due to surface roughness, which is necessary for obtaining highly water-repellent surfaces.

Initial experimental tests of Multi-Matrix coatings have shown very promising results and will be further studied in the future.

A bibliographic study of viscoelastic polymer coatings identified potential solutions for future experimentation.

The possibility of creating anti-ice surfaces through anodic oxidation was explored through bibliographic research and preliminary experimental work. Despite promising solutions in the literature, the anodization process is complex and would require extensive and costly fine-tuning.

Knowledge acquired from aluminum research has been applied to develop anti-ice coatings for galvanized surfaces, a material widely used in overhead power lines, with promising results in initial experimental tests for achieving nanostructured surfaces with significant hydrophobic and anti-ice properties. This topic will continue in the future.

Finally, large-scale samples have been prepared for field testing with the application of the most significant coatings.