UV-curable biomimetic fluorinated polysiloxane/polyurea–Al₂O₃ coating with outstanding anti-icing performance, durability, and optical transparency

In response to the prevailing challenges of the inherent trade-off between anti-icing performance and optical transparency, as well as poor environmental durability in anti-icing coatings, this study presents a multifunctional biomimetic coating that integrates efficient passive anti-icing capability, superior durability, and high optical transmittance. A UV-curable fluorinated polysiloxane/polyurea (FPSU) resin was synthesized, serving as the polymer matrix. Al₂O₃ microspheres were incorporated onto the surface via a spray-coating approach, with simultaneous resin crosslinking and robust anchoring of microstructures achieved through in situ UV curing, thereby enabling the successful fabrication of a biomimetic anti-icing coating of FPSUA imitating the surface of rose petals. The FPSUA coating achieves a static water contact angle of 158.22° and a sliding angle of 5.45°. On glass substrates, the freezing time increases from 25 s in the uncoated state to 618 s after FPSUA coating application, while the ice adhesion strength drops sharply from 357.96 kPa to 18.94 kPa. After rigorous exposure to sand impact, sandpaper abrasion, alcoholysis, and freeze-thaw cycles, the static contact angle remains above 150°, and the sliding angle stays below 11.49°. The FPSUA coating exhibits a refractive index of 1.432 and a transmittance of 80.32% at 589 nm. The FPSUA biomimetic anti-icing coating shows significant potential for anti−/de-icing applications in critical transparent components such as aircraft windshields, UAV sensor windows, and solar panels.