Fabrication of a mechanically-stable anti-icing graphene oxide-diatomaceous earth/epoxy coating

Various anti-icing coatings have been extensively applied to structural materials/components in harsh environment. However, poor mechanical stability of the anti-icing coatings strongly influences their long-term service performance. Here, a fluorine-based graphene oxide (GO)-diatomaceous earth/epoxy composite coating, which enables to be painted directly on any component surfaces, is synthesized by using a self-assembly method. It was found that the GO sheets in the coating effectively inhibited ice nucleation, preserving intact superhydrophobic and anti-icing performance of the coating after 50-cycle sandpaper abrasion. It is expected that such a mechanically stable coating might have broaden applications for anti-icing materials.