Robust and multifunctional superamphiphobic coating toward effective anti-adhesion

Abstract

Wax deposition and flow obstruction in the petroleum industry cause serious safety problems and economic loss. Superamphiphobic coating with anti-adhesion property can be a potential strategy to solve these problems. However, the integration between non-wettability and durability of the coating remains a formidable challenge. Here, a robust and multifunctional superamphiphobic coating was fabricated by a facile spraying method. The highly fluorinated Palygorskite@SiO2 (Pal@SiO2-F) composite fillers were prepared by in-situ growth of SiO2 on the Pal surface and chemical modification, which were integrated into the Polyethersulfone (PES) and poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) to construct unique micro-/nano-hierarchical structures with abundant papillae and intertwined networks. A stable air film on the PES-PVDF-HFP/Pal@SiO2-F (P-P/Pal@SiO2-F) coating surface was thereby formed owing to the chemical inertness and strong adhesion of polymers apart from well-designed structures. The air film was adopted as an anti-adhesion layer and a good thermal barrier layer, which endowed the coating with effective anti-adhesion property in crude oil system. The coating exhibited excellent crude oil repellency and almost remained clean after 2000 immersion cycles and 30 d of immersion in crude oil. Moreover, the coating could be applied in pipes and showed an efficient transportation property. Most importantly, the resultant coating demonstrated a high anti-waxing deposition ratio of 90.9%. Additionally, the coating worked effectively even after harsh mechanical damage and chemical corrosion. Therefore, the robust and multifunctional superamphiphobic coating in this work can be an appropriate candidate for anti-adhesion/waxing coating, which has enormous application potential in petrochemical industry and other harsh environments.