Mechanically robust superamphiphobic ceramic coatings with releasable nanoparticle-capsules

Abstract

Superamphiphobic surfaces that can keep surface clean even in severe oil pollution environments are attractive for many practical applications. Existing surfaces could achieve good environmental durability, but rarely anyone has demonstrated that coatings with mechanical robustness and superamphiphobicity were fabricated by simple fabrication processes. In this work, a new design of component phase separation on nanoparticle-capsules is proposed to generate durable superamphiphobic coatings by spray-coating the suspension of fluorinated nanoparticle powders and ceramic binders. During the process of film formation, the micro/nano composite structures appear on the surface by the stacking of agglomerates and nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the particles in the suspension can be reunited to produce plentiful particle-agglomerates in longitudinal direction driven by the difference of surface tension. And the agglomerates acted as particle-capsules are able to release the embedded fluorinated silica nanoparticles to the surface to regenerate superamphiphobicity instantaneously during physical wear. Moreover, the coatings are durable against physical abrasion of 500 Taber abrasion cycles under a load of 250 g, maintaining super-repellency to oils under comprehensive harsh conditions such as oil immersion, oil mist impact, and sand water stirring. This strategy is supposed to offer a new insight to development durable superamphiphobic coatings that can endure harsh operation environments for mechanical abrasion and chemical erosion.