Preparation of liquid-infused surface on epoxy resin for improved tribological and anti-corrosion performance

Abstract

Epoxy resin (ER) is widely used in the coating industry, but some of its characteristics such as hydrophilicity limit the tribological and anti-corrosion performance. Liquid-infused surfaces (LIS) have the potential to improve surface properties and solve numerous industrial issues. In this study, LIS was prepared on ER by constructing surface texture, modifying treatment, and injecting lubricant. The relationship between the texture density of the textured substrate and the wetting, tribological, and anti-corrosion performance of the LIS was investigated. The results showed that the preparation of LIS transformed the ER from a hydrophilic to a hydrophobic state, reducing the sliding angle of water droplets on the coating surface. The texture density of the textured substrate influenced the wetting performance of LIS by affecting the height of the oil film. The LIS with a high-density textured substrate exhibited excellent tribological and anti-corrosion performance due to its lubrication ability, barrier effect, and low surface energy characteristic of the oil film. This report provides valuable information for the design of LIS, and the prepared coating has promising applications in the field of high-performance protective coatings.