A lubricant-infused coating based on expandable microspheres and its multiple functions

Abstract

The increase of shipping in extreme environments brings new requirements for anticorrosion and anti-icing measures. Superhydrophobic and super-slippery coatings have been considered as ideal materials to address both of these requirements, but challenges remain for large-scale preparation, robust microstructures, and long-term stability. Herein, inspired by superhydrophobic and lubricant-infused surfaces (LISs), a simple, high-efficiency, environmentally friendly approach is proposed for preparing LISs consisting of expandable microspheres. The LISs are able to repel water (contact angle of ∼103°) and have superior sliding behavior (∼4–5 mm/s), super-low ice adhesion strength (5.92 kPa), and excellent physical resistance to corrosive media (e.g., after immersion for 90 days, the low-frequency Z0.01 Hz was 1011 Ω·cm2). Expandable microspheres with solvent and water resistance were incorporated into the coating to reduce heat transfer and act as a physical barrier to block corrosive media. Furthermore, the rough surface achieved after foaming enabled the formation of a continuous and uniform overlay of a lubricant layer, giving excellent antifouling, anti-icing, and anticorrosion properties. The durability of the LISs was evaluated by icing and deicing cycles, during which ice adhesion was super low and remained stable. After 20 icing-deicing cycles, the lubricant layer thickness, contact angle, and sliding behavior were calculated, demonstrating durability and long service life. The Van der Waals force between polydimethylsiloxane and the silicone oil was −3345 kJ/mol, which played an important role in the durability of the LIS surfaces. These LIS surfaces based on expandable microspheres have potential applications in extreme environments, with easy and scalable preparation.