Iowa State University Receives Grant For The Study

The FAA has awarded a grant to Iowa State University for a study of a pavement coating that could prevent snow and ice from sticking to tarmac at airports. Iowa State is collaborating on the project with researchers from Purdue University in Indiana.

The "superhydrophobic" coating would essentially heat the pavement to prevent snow and ice accumulation, according to Peter Taylor, Peter Taylor, associate director for the Institute of Transportation at Iowa State.

In a story posted on IowaDaily.com, Halil Ceylan, associate professor in civil, construction and environmental engineering and part of the ISU research team, said the theory is that applying the coating along with electrical currents would allow the process to be applied to existing pavement without having to tear it out. The research is designed to determine if it will actually work.

Taylor said that the research will focus on tarmac at gate areas rather than on runways. Ceylan said they will be concentrating on airports that receive 45 inches or more of snow annually. The study will also analyze the difference in costs between applying the coating and traditional snow-removal methods.

Ceylan said that he hopes the grant will be a "foot in the door" with the FAA for future projects. The program has been funded for two years by the agency.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.iastate.edu