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Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Metal Surfaces for Anti-Icing Applications
Published on: August 15, 2018
A comparative study between two novel silicone/graphene-based nanostructured surfaces for maritime antifouling
Mohamed S Selim1, Nesreen A Fatthallah2, Shimaa A Higazy3
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Petroleum Application Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), Nasr City 11727, Cairo, Egypt.
Novel superhydrophobic nanocomposites using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with graphene oxide/boehmite nanorods (GO-γ-AlOOH) offer superior maritime fouling-release (FR) properties. These advanced coatings demonstrate excellent antifouling and self-cleaning capabilities for marine applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Marine Engineering
Background:
- Maritime fouling poses significant economic and operational challenges in the shipping industry.
- Existing antifouling solutions often involve toxic biocides, raising environmental concerns.
- Superhydrophobic surfaces offer a promising alternative for fouling-release (FR) applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel superhydrophobic nanocomposites for maritime fouling-release applications.
- To investigate the influence of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and graphene oxide/boehmite nanorods (GO-γ-AlOOH) nanofillers on the properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings.
- To evaluate the antifouling performance and mechanical properties of the developed nanocomposite coatings.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of RGO via hydrothermal method and GO-γ-AlOOH nanocomposites via chemical deposition.
- Dispersion of nanofillers in PDMS matrix using solution casting to create nanocomposite series.
- Characterization of surface properties using water contact angle (WCA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM).
- Laboratory antifouling tests with microorganisms over 30 days and field trials in natural seawater over 45 days.
Main Results:
- Homogeneous dispersion of GO-γ-AlOOH nanorods in PDMS significantly improved surface roughness, superhydrophobicity, and mechanical properties.
- PDMS/GO-γ-AlOOH nanocomposite exhibited superior antibacterial activity compared to PDMS/RGO, attributed to high surface area and stabilizing effects.
- The PDMS/GO-γ-AlOOH nanorod composite (3 wt%) showed low biodegradability (1.6%) and high microbial endurability (86-98%).
- Field trials confirmed excellent fouling-release performance, with the PDMS/GO-γ-AlOOH (3 wt%) coating achieving a WCA of 151°.
Conclusions:
- The developed PDMS/GO-γ-AlOOH nanocomposite coatings demonstrate significant potential as effective, environmentally friendly maritime fouling-release solutions.
- Controlling nanofiller dispersion is crucial for optimizing superhydrophobic and antifouling characteristics.
- The GO-γ-AlOOH nanorod-enhanced PDMS coating offers a robust and high-performance alternative to conventional antifouling strategies.
