TEOS-modified SiC superhydrophobic nanostructures in epoxy resin coatings for corrosion prevention

Abstract

Superhydrophobic coatings have been widely studied because of their great potential for application in the field of corrosion protection of metals such as carbon steel. However, expensive production costs, complex manufacturing processes and fragile mechanical properties limit the range of applications. Inspired by the natural phenomenon that oysters grow on reefs to protect themselves, SiC/2-SiO2 particles were synthesized by growing silica nanostructures in-situ on the surface of hard silicon carbide particles, and SiC/2-SiO2 particles were securely fixed on the surface of various substrates by using commercial epoxy resins and PDMS as the adhesive. SEM, XRD test results showed that the silica nanoparticles were successfully synthesized and bonded to the silicon carbide surface. The fabricated SiC/2-SiO2/EP superhydrophobic coating has good mechanical robustness and chemical stability, losing only 13.6 % of its mass after 1000 wear cycles. The chemical breakage leads to the loss of superhydrophobicity, which can be restored with a simple sanding. EIS test results show that the corrosion prevention effect of modified SiC/2-SiO2/EP is superior to that of ordinary EP coatings, and Tafel test results show that the corrosion rate of SiC/2-SiO2/EP coatings is 1143 times slower than that of bare steel, which exhibits good corrosion prevention effect. This method can be prepared on a large scale by spraying method, which is important for promoting the application of superhydrophobic coatings in the field of anticorrosion.