Construction of robust slippery lubricant-infused epoxy-nanocomposite coatings for marine antifouling application

From an environmental perspective, slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) have great potential to substitute for traditional antifouling coatings due to their green and broad-spectrum antifouling properties. However, the complicated strategy curbs its forward application. In this study, the superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) was constructed by an air spraying method via solution blending, with epoxy resin and hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane as the matrix and nano titanium dioxide particles as the filler. Then, silicone oil with different viscosities were infused into the SHS to form SLIPS. Experiments of simulated fluid erosion in a marine environment showed that silicone oil with 500 mPa center dot s maintained a contact angle hysteresis (CAH) of 6.9 degrees with good liquid-repellency performance after 12 h of scouring,while the silicone oil with lower viscosity loosed the liquid-repellency performance. Antifouling test results showed that SLIPS had excellent antifouling performance, and the antifouling rates of against Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Bacillus sp. were 90.8 % and 93.6 %, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the air layer of SHS coating and the liquid layer of SLIPS played a vital role in antifouling performance, which coincided with antifouling experimental results. The efficient and environment-friendly coating preparation method was used in this study will provide reference value and theoretical basis for the application of SLIPS in the field of marine antifouling.

Automated summary

From an environmental perspective, liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) have the potential to replace traditional antifouling coatings due to their green and broad-spectrum properties. However, the complex preparation process hinders their application. In this study, superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) were created using an air spraying method and silicone oil was infused to form SLIPS. Tests showed that SLIPS had excellent antifouling performance against different types of fouling organisms, and the thermodynamic analysis confirmed the importance of air and liquid layers in this performance. The efficient and environmentally-friendly coating method developed in this study provides a reference and theoretical basis for the marine antifouling application of SLIPS.