Superhydrophobic Coating Based on EP-140 Epoxy Enamel: A Study of Mechanical Endurance under External Actions

Abstract

This work is devoted to studying mechanical durability of a superhydrophobic coating obtained on the basis of commercial EP-140 epoxy enamel. To achieve the superhydrophobic state, the applied coating is modified by pulsed laser texturing and fluorosilane chemisorption. The goal of the research is to assess the coating resistance to various mechanical actions typical for outdoor service, namely, long-term contact with water, exposure to high-speed water jet, abrasive wear under the action of falling sand, and multiple detachments of an adhesive tape. It has been shown that the combined approach used for the superhydrophobization provides coatings not only with pronounced water-repellent properties but also with significant resistance to degradation. For example, the performed experiments have revealed only a slight decrease in the wettability characteristics with retaining the heterogeneous wetting regime, thereby confirming that the coating retains its functionality even under extremal mechanical impacts. The data obtained have indicated the promise of applying the developed coating in industry fields that require a combination of high wear resistance and economic efficiency.