Recently, the photovoltaic technology has become very popular as a means to produce renewable energy. One of the problems that are still unsolved in this area of the industry is that photovoltaic panels are subject to a significant loss of efficiency due to the accumulation of dust and dirt. In addition, during the winter season, the accumulation of snow and ice also reduces or stops the energy production. The current methods of dealing with this problem are inefficient and pollute the environment. One way with high potential to prevent the build-up of dirt and ice is to use transparent coatings with self-cleaning and icephobic properties. In this work, the chemical modification of an epoxy–silicone hybrid resin using dually functionalized polysiloxanes was carried out. The icephobic properties (ice adhesion and freezing delay time of water droplets), hydrophobic properties (water contact angle, contact angle hysteresis, and roll-off angle), average surface roughness, and optical properties were characterized. It can be concluded that the performed chemical modification resulted in a significant improvement of the icephobic properties of the investigated coatings: ice adhesion decreased by 69%, and the freezing delay time increased by 17 times compared to those of the unmodified sample. The polysiloxanes also caused a significant reduction in the contact angle hysteresis and roll-off angle. The chemical modifications did not negatively affect the optical properties of the coatings, which is a key requirement for photovoltaic applications.

Anti-icing coatings have provided a very good alternative to current, uneconomic, active deicing methods, and their use would bring a number of significant benefits to many industries, such as aviation and energy. Some of the most promising icephobic surfaces are those with hydrophobic properties. However, the relationship between hydrophobicity and low ice adhesion is not yet clearly defined. In this work, chemical modification of an epoxy gelcoat with chemical modifiers from the group of double organofunctionalized polysiloxanes (generally called multifunctionalized organosilicon compounds (MFSCs)) was applied. The anti-icing properties of manufactured coatings were determined by means of measurements of shear strength between the ice layer and the modified surface, conducted using a tensile machine. In the work, tests were also performed on the roughness, wettability, and durability of the properties in an aging chamber. It was found that the performed modifications of the coating’s chemical composition by the addition of polysiloxanes enabled us to reduce ice adhesion by 51% and to increase the water contact angle by 14% in comparison to the neat gelcoat. A reduction in ice adhesion was also observed with the increasing water contact angle and with decreasing surface roughness. In addition, only one modification recorded an increase in ice adhesion after exposure in the aging chamber.

To explore the tailoring of hydrophobicity in 3D-printed polylactide (PLA) composites for advanced applications using additive manufacturing (AM), this study focuses on the use of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing. PLA, a material derived from renewable sources, is favored for its eco-friendliness and user accessibility. Nonetheless, PLA’s inherent hydrophilic properties result in moisture absorption, negatively affecting its performance. This research aims to modify PLA with organosilicon compounds to enhance its hydrophobic and anti-icing properties. Incorporating fluorinated siloxane derivatives led to significant increases in water contact angles by up to 39%, signifying successful hydrophobic modification. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the addition of organosilicon additives did not compromise the tensile strength of PLA and, in some instances, improved impact resistance, especially with the use of OSS-4OFP:2HEX:2TMOS, which resulted in an increase in the tensile strength value of 25% and increased impact strength by 20% compared to neat PLA. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicated that the modified PLA exhibited reduced cold crystallization temperatures without altering the glass transition or melting temperatures. These results suggest that organosilicon-modified PLA has the potential to expand the material’s application in producing moisture and ice-resistant 3D-printed prototypes for various industrial uses, thereby facilitating the creation of more durable and versatile 3D-printed components.

This work presents the influence of spherosilicate derivatives with fluoroalkyl groups on the properties of composite materials used in 3D printing. New derivatives obtained in the hydrosilylation process were introduced into the polylactide matrix, and the resulting composites were used to produce fibers intended for fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology. The tests showed that the modified samples’ surface is hydrophobic compared to the hydrophilic reference sample of neat PLA. The highest water contact angle was observed for OSS-4OFP:2HEX:2AGE/PLA (WCA = 95.6°), a 36% increase compared to neat PLA. A comprehensive analysis of the mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties was also performed. A significant impact of additives on the increase in the MFR parameter, better adhesion between layers for lower modifier concentrations, and a higher degree of crystallinity was observed. The presented research constitutes a significant contribution to the development of modern materials for 3D printing, characterized by increased physicochemical properties.

The problem of icing is evident in many industry sectors. One of the most affected is aviation. Icing not only causes loss of aerodynamic properties and economic losses but also threatens safety. In the present study, an attempt was made to increase the hydrophobic and icephobic properties of polyurethane coatings in the aviation industry. Modification with in-lab synthesised organosilicon compounds in the form of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (POSS) was carried out. The modifiers that contained different functional groups were especially designed to tailor and increase hydro- and icephobic properties. The coatings were deposited by air spraying and evaluated using contact angle measurements at room and subzero temperatures, analysis of ice adhesion strength, freezing delay time, surface roughness via optical profilometry, and microstructure observed through scanning electron microscopy. Reduction of contact angle hysteresis (up to 50%) and roll-off angle (up to 45%) in comparison to a reference sample were observed. The investigation revealed that organosilicon-modified coatings significantly reduce ice adhesion (by up to 56%) and triple the freezing delay time relative to non-modified references, while also enhancing surface hydrophobicity. These findings confirm the effectiveness of targeted molecular modifications in advancing anti-icing surface design for aerospace applications.