Construction of superhydrophobic alkyl siloxane-modified carbon nanotubes/epoxy coating

In this study, the superhydrophobic epoxy resin coating with siloxane-modified carbon nanotubes was prepared. Hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (HMWCNTs) were modified with siloxane to make them superhydrophobic, which were mixed with epoxy resin to prepare an excellent superhydrophobic coating on the surface of AH36 carbon steel. Highly silanized HMWCNTs (HSHMWCNTs) were added to hydrophobic isobutyl groups and amino groups that can bond with epoxy resin. The results show that the water contact angle (WCA) of HSHMWCNTs is >170°. The coating has a WCA of 157.2° and a water sliding angle of 6° when the addition of the HSHMWCNTs reaches 70 %. The coating has excellent self-cleaning properties and remains superhydrophobicity under tape-peeling for 90 times. When the coating has a superhydrophobic effect, there is an air layer on the surface, improving the corrosion resistance of the coating.