Nanoparticle-reinforced polysiloxane hydrophobic coating containing epoxy groups with excellent antifouling-anticorrosion ability and strong substrate adhesion

摘要

Silicone coating is one of the promising eco-friendly antifouling technologies, while the shortcomings of low adhesion on substrates and poor mechanical properties limit its duration. To overcome the disadvantage, we devised a novel approach by synthesizing hybrid epoxy-polysiloxane nanomicelles through a stepwise water titration condensation reaction facilitated by γ -aminopropyl triethoxysilane, with crossli nking conducted at ambient temperature. The structure of epoxy-polysiloxane nanomicelles was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT -IR) and 1H NMR spectra. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis to unravel the influence of epoxy groups, nano -silica particle content, and the molecular weight of the epoxy - polysiloxane on the adhesion and mechanical properties of the coating. Additionally, the antifouling and anti-corrosion capabilities of coatings were evaluated. The findings reveal that the incorporation of epoxy groups and an increase in the molecular weight of polysiloxane enhances adhesion to substrates, albeit with a slight decrease when these parameters are excessively high. Notably, the uniform dispersion of SiO 2 nanoparticles within the coating significantly improves its mechanical properties and barrier efficacy. Remarkably, the developed coating demonstrates robust adhesion to a diverse range of substrates, including steel, bronze, ceramic, glass, and epoxy primer, with a maximum adhesion strength reaching 6.88 MPa. Moreover, this study underscores the coating's exceptional antifouling potential against bacteria and diatoms, effectively mitigating marine biofouling. Collectively, this research presents a promising strategy that con currently achieves antifouling, anticorrosion, superior mechanical properties, and strong substrate adhesion, offering significant potential for the development of advanced marine coatings.