AeroPel NPL Icephobic variants

AeroPel Icephobic variants are advanced, superhydrophobic surface treatments that prevent ice nucleation and reduce ice adhesion strength by orders of magnitude below any other available coatings

AeroPel™ NPL APC variants are chemical-based nanocomposite protective layers that impart corrosion protection and superhydrophobic & icephobic properties to the coated surface. The APC variant family includes:

  • AeroPel™ APC200 ECS Protection & Enhancement Series
  • AeroPel™ APC400 Icephobic Protection Series

AeroPel™ NPL APC variants impart extreme levels of superhydrophobicity and icephobicity to various substrates through a proprietary, nanocomposite formulation. The superior water-repelling properties actively prevent ice nucleation, eliminating ice build-up and protecting the treated substrate from atmospheric and galvanic corrosion in harsh environments such as humid and marine regions.

AeroPel NPL was initially developed and tested for military aerospace icing applications.  Tests conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) showed AeroPel NPL to reduce ice adhesion strength several orders of magnitude below any other commercially available coating.  The impressive durability exhibited in these tests makes AeroPel NPL suitable for other anti-icing/corrosion applications such as for wind turbines, bridges & railways, power transmission and other cables, communication towers, and many more applications.

The surface treatment is stable and functional in environment from -60 to over 400 degrees Fahrenheit and on complex geometries and components.  Surfaces with AeroPel icephobic NPL had contact angles with water of >160° in tests on glass, aluminum and copper alloys (compared with approx. 80° on untreated substrates). The receding angle of water with AeroPel NPL is >130° in tests on glass, aluminum and copper alloys (compared with approx. 60° on untreated substrates).

AeroPel™ APC variants solve the need for an efficient, icephobic coating to combat ice and snow accumulation that can halt or negatively impact operations across a wide range of industries that must deal with ice-related operational impacts which result in millions of dollars being spent on repairs, delays, damages, and compensations each year.

To learn more, please visit the AeroPel website:

Key Benefits

  • Cures in 24-48 hours (20 degrees Celsius) or 4 hours (75 degrees Celsius)
  • Functional at thicknesses of 1.5mil (37.5μm) post-curing
  • <5% change of thermal diffusivity for underlying substrate
  • Ice adhesion strength with AeroPel is <10kPa, compared to bare aluminum ice adhesion which is >1200kPa
  • Roll off angle is <10° in tests on glass, aluminum and copper alloys
aeropel icephobic graph
aeropel icephobic graph
receding angle aeropel
receding angle aeropel