Performance investigation of a new carbon–silver microspheres/epoxy resin superhydrophobic coating

ABSTRACT

Based on the reaction of AgNO₃ and dopamine-hydrochloride in the weak alkaline conditions, carbon–silver microspheres with layered structure were produced, which subsequently were surface-modified with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane to produce a superhydrophobic carbon–silver powder. By using the advantage of high viscosity epoxy resin, this powder can be used to various nonmetal substrates to form robust superhydrophobic coatings. The hydrophobicity, surface morphology, chemical composition, mechanical stability, chemical durability, self-cleaning, antifouling and thermal stability are studied by means of the contact angle metre, scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope measurements, three-dimensional topography metre and thermal gravimetric analyses. The results indicate that the prepared powder can be applied to most nonmetal substrates to form excellent superhydrophobic coatings with very good comprehensive performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Carbon–silver microsphere
• superhydrophobic coating
• surface topography
• chemical durability
• thermal stability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Meiyun Zhao http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6445-5117

Xinze Zhao http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0301-602X

Additional information

Funding

Authors acknowledge National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51475264, 51605254]; Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (CN) [grant number 2016CFB565] for finance supporting this research.