A method for bonding an icephobic coating layer to an exterior surface of a substrate, the method including roughening the exterior surface of the substrate to provide a roughened substrate surface; roughening a backside surface of the icephobic coating layer to provide a roughened icephobic coating surface; placing an epoxy film adhesive layer on the roughened substrate surface to cover at least part of the exterior surface of the substrate; placing the roughened icephobic coating layer on the epoxy film adhesive layer such that the roughened icephobic coating surface is in contact with the epoxy film adhesive layer, thereby providing a layered stack; enclosing the layered stack in a vacuum bag; applying a vacuum to the vacuum bag, and heating the layered stack enclosed in the vacuum bag; cooling the layered stack; releasing the vacuum; and removing the layered stack from the vacuum bag to provide an icephobic-coated substrate.

Adhesive formulations comprising bovine serum albumin, b-lactoglobulin, and/or a-lactalbumin can be applied and cured underwater to form a strong adhesive. Curing can be accomplished using heat or via a chemical denaturing component.