Interpenetrating network polymer (IPN) composite coating containing fluorinated polyacrylic complex latex particles toward high wear and corrosion resistance

Interpenetrating network polymers (IPN) have broad development prospects because of achieving the expected performance characteristics via the selection of functional groups and the ratio of components. In this work, the as-prepared waterborne fluorinated polyacrylate (F-PA) complex latex particles using emulsion polymerization were introduced into waterborne epoxy resin (EP) coatings for improving its hydrophobicity, toughness and compactness. The structure and physicochemical properties of prepared samples were characterized by TEM, SEM, XPS, FTIR and DMA techniques. The results indicate that EP/F-PA with a dense IPN structure successfully solves poor compatibility between F-PA and EP, which leads to excellent mechanical and damping properties. Both increased by 33.2% and 26.8% respectively. The friction test shown that the negative volume was reduced by 50.6%, the composite coating displayed excellent wear resistance. In addition, the fluorinated components and IPN structure increase the diffusion path of the corrosive medium, which has been demonstrated by molecular dynamics simulations, providing outstanding corrosion resistance for coatings. The |Z|(0.01 Hz) of composite coating had increased by 3.4 times. Novel composite coating with an IPN structure can offer a feasible strategy for the development and real-world application of multifunctional coatings.

Automated summary

This study introduces waterborne fluorinated polyacrylate (F-PA) complex latex particles into waterborne epoxy resin (EP) coatings to improve the coating's hydrophobicity, toughness, and corrosion resistance. The interpenetrating network polymer structure successfully solves the compatibility issue between F-PA and EP, resulting in enhanced mechanical and damping properties of the composite coating.