Methods of protecting an aircraft component from ice formation
First Claim
1. A method of protecting an aircraft component from ice formation, comprising:
- forming a thermally conducting film from a blend of hexagonal boron nitride and a polymerizable monomer, wherein the hexagonal boron nitride is present in a concentration of from about 12 percent to about 40 percent weight, based on total weight of the film, the film also having electrically conducting material therein, the film having a thermally conductivity of at least 4 W m/k;
installing an aircraft ice protection electrothermal heater on said aircraft component, the aircraft ice protection electrothermal heater comprising;
an insulating first layer; and
the thermally conducting film over the first layer; and
supplying electrical heating energy to the aircraft ice protection electrothermal heater.
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Abstract
A method for protecting an aircraft component from ice formation uses a thermally conductive film. The film includes a polymer, an electrically conductive material, and a sufficient concentration of hexagonal boron nitride to provide adequate heat transfer properties, and have high thermal conductivity, peel strength, and shear strength. The films can include thermoset polymers, thermoplastic polymers, or blends thereof, and can also include reinforcing materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, metal mesh, and the like, and thermally conductive fillers, such as aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, and the like. The films can be included in composite materials. The films can be used as part of a layered structure, and used in virtually any application, for example, various locations in aircraft, where heating is desirable, including nacelle skins, airplane wings, heated floor panels, and the like.
160 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of protecting an aircraft component from ice formation, comprising:
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forming a thermally conducting film from a blend of hexagonal boron nitride and a polymerizable monomer, wherein the hexagonal boron nitride is present in a concentration of from about 12 percent to about 40 percent weight, based on total weight of the film, the film also having electrically conducting material therein, the film having a thermally conductivity of at least 4 W m/k; installing an aircraft ice protection electrothermal heater on said aircraft component, the aircraft ice protection electrothermal heater comprising; an insulating first layer; and the thermally conducting film over the first layer; and supplying electrical heating energy to the aircraft ice protection electrothermal heater. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of providing an aircraft with an ice protection system, comprising:
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forming a thermally conducting film from a blend of hexagonal boron nitride and a polymerizable monomer, wherein the hexagonal boron nitride is present in a concentration of from about 12 percent to about 40 percent weight, based on total weight of the film, the film also having electrically conducting material therein, the film having a thermally conductivity of at least 4 W m/k; and providing a surface of the aircraft with an aircraft ice protection electrothermal heater comprising; an insulating first layer; and the thermally conducting film over the first layer. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification