Creation of a multifunctional superhydrophobic coating for composite insulators

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 352; pp. 774 - 781
• Main Authors: Peng, Wenyu, Gou, Xuelian, Qin, Hongling, Zhao, Meiyun, Zhao, Xinze, Guo, Zhiguang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.11.2018
• Subjects: Coating; Power system; Roughness; Superhydrophobic; Power system; Superhydrophobic; Coating; Roughness
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2018.07.095

Multifunctional micro-nanoscale SiO2/epoxy resin superhydrophobic coating created by a simple and low-cost method. Moreover, the coating exhibits great mechanical durability and excellent chemical stability and properties of anti-icing and self-cleaning, which makes the composite insulator run normally under extreme conditions and satisfies a completely need of power system. [Display omitted] •The coating exhibits great mechanical durability, and excellent superhydrophobicity.•The as-prepared coating still remains superhydrophobicity after 300 °C high temperature treatment.•The coating of composite insulators for power system is extremely suitable. Composite insulators with a superhydrophobic coating can tremendously improve the reliability and stability of transmission line systems and railway systems; thus, they play a crucial role in global electricity issues and power systems. However, the majority of superhydrophobic coatings for composite insulators suffer from weaknesses, such as poor mechanical stability and complicated and toxic preparation processes. To improve these defects, a multifunctional, micro-nanoscale SiO2/epoxy resin superhydrophobic coating for composite insulators was created. The coating maintained excellent superhydrophobicity through a bending experiment, a twisting test, a knife-scratch, a durability test, a pH test and UV light treatment. Moreover, it also performed well in the areas of anti-icing, high thermal stability (300 °C), self-cleaning and antifouling. In view of abovementioned advantages, composite insulators with the proposed superhydrophobic coating show great potential for the national economy and power industry.