Facile fabrication of robust, biomimetic and superhydrophobic polymer/graphene-based coatings with self-cleaning, oil-water separation, anti-icing and corrosion resistance properties

In this paper, a robust, biomimetic and superhydrophobic polymer/graphene-based coatings have been successfully prepared on different substrates by spraying and thermal treatment method. The aim for this design was to obtain the robust superhydrophobic coatings with versatility, such as self-cleaning, oil-water separation, anti-icing and corrosion resistance. The tests have demonstrated that water contact angle (WCA) and water sliding angle (WSA) values of as-prepared coatings reached 159.2° and 4° when the content of graphene in coatings was 6 mg/mL. The formation of superhydrophobic effect with low adhesion could be ascribed to micro- and nano-scaled “radial-like” fibrous-network morphology with a great amount of fluorine and silicon concentrated on the surface of coatings, which have been well accorded with the formative factors of natural superhydrophobic phenomenon. Except that, the mechanical stability tests have illustrated the friction-abrasion for coatings could maintain superhydrophobicity after 100 cycles. Along with scratch and adhesive tests, the results have also revealed the as-prepared superhydrophobic coatings possessed good mechanical strength, heat resistance and chemical stability. Moreover, the self-cleaning behavior for the coatings was also found. Most of all, the as-prepared coatings can also accomplish oil-water separation, anti-icing and corrosion resistance and their possible action mechanism were primarily proposed. Based on these facts, the superhydrophobic robust polymer/graphene coatings have been expected to be used in agricultural machinery, automobiles and national defense industry in future.