Robust Superamphiphobic Coating Applied to Grease-Proof Mining Transformer Components

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Engineering
• Tribology

Background:

• Mining transformers face damage from oil spills and harsh underground conditions.
• Deteriorating oil products and transformer operation generate harmful liquids, causing economic losses.
• Existing protection methods for transformer components are often inconvenient or costly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a convenient and economical method for protecting mining transformer components.
• To create superamphiphobic coatings resistant to grease pollution and corrosion in harsh environments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized room-temperature air spray technology to prepare antigreasy superamphiphobic coatings.
• Incorporated polypyrrole powder to enhance thermal conductivity and specific heat of the coatings.
• Tested coating performance on bulk metallic glass transformer cores and ST13 heat sinks.

Main Results:

• The fabricated coating demonstrated excellent repellency to various liquids, including water, ethylene glycol, hexadecane, and rapeseed oil.
• Polypyrrole addition improved thermal conductivity and specific heat within the 50-70 °C range.
• The coating exhibited superior physical and chemical resistance, along with outstanding antifouling properties.

Conclusions:

• The developed superamphiphobic coating offers a feasible solution for protecting transformer components against grease pollution and corrosion.
• This technology enhances the durability and operational lifespan of transformers in challenging mining environments.
• The findings contribute to the broader application of superamphiphobic coatings in industrial equipment protection.