GM has filed a patent application for an anti-icing coating intended for use on vehicle components and sensors. The application was assigned patent number US 2025/0019548 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on January 16th, 2025. The GM patent filing was originally submitted on July 13th, 2023, and lists several engineers as the inventors, including Adam F. Gross, Anthony L. Smith, Michael D. Alarcon, Ratandeep Singh Kukreja, Dayananda Narasimhaiah, April R. Rodriguez, Ashley Dustin, Andrew P. Nowak, and Michael Jared Ventuleth.
The patent application describes an anti-icing coating designed to protect vehicle parts, like sensors and surfaces, from ice, dirt, and harsh conditions. It works by combining two materials that work together to stop ice from forming and keep surfaces clean and functional.
The coating has two primary components. The first component is called the continuous phase, which is made from a special material containing fluorine. This material is very good at resisting water, oil, and dirt, so it helps keep the surface dry and clean. The second part is called the discrete phase, which is made from a different material that can absorb water. This part helps stop ice from forming by managing water that comes into contact with the surface. Together, these two materials create a strong and effective coating.
What makes the coating described in the patent special is how the two materials are combined. They don’t mix together completely, but rather stay as separate layers that work side by side. The materials are also chemically bonded together with something called a crosslinking molecule, which makes the coating strong and long-lasting. This design ensures that the coating can handle tough conditions, like exposure to oil, fuel, and extreme weather, without wearing down or losing its effectiveness.
While similar coatings simply work to repel water, they are not as effective when there’s oil or dirt on the surface in question. By contrast, the coating described in the GM patent not only repels water, but also actively stops ice from forming thanks to the water-absorbing layer. It’s also more durable and can last longer even when exposed to challenging conditions. This sort of coating can be particularly useful for autonomous vehicles, which rely on a bevy of sensors and systems without human intervention.
Comments
Otherwise known as WD40? Just give us a 10buck bottle that we can apply ourselves regularly as a car cleaning thingy.
Noticing the names of people who contributed to this newly patented product. Many being non-anglo, would rankle the maganut world.