Perfluoropolyether-Impregnated Mesoporous Alumina Composites Overcome the Dewetting–Tribological Properties Trade-Off

Abstract

Conventional omniphobic surfaces suffer from wear-sensitivity due to soft apolar coatings or substrates and protruding surface features that are eroded even for mild abrasion treatments, leading to the loss of dewetting properties after wear. Evidently, there was a trade-off between dewetting and tribological properties. Here, we show the establishment of self-healing slippery properties post severe abrasion by utilizing perfluoropolyether-impregnated mesoporous AlO (MPA) composites. The hard polar alumina matrix provides the optimal tribological properties, and the liquid lubricant in the porous network contributes to both tribological and self-healing dewetting properties. These composites sustained normal pressures up to 350 MPa during reciprocating sliding contacts. The severely abraded surfaces are capable of self-replenishing in ambient environment, driven by capillarity and surface diffusion processes, and regained their slippery properties toward water and hexadecane after 15 h of self-healing. Eventually, a dewetting-tribology diagram has been introduced to show different regimes, namely-optimal slippery properties, optimal tribological properties, and a mixed regime). We found out that the microstructural expression [Formula: see text] is a robust guiding tool to predict the regime of interest. This dewetting-tribological diagram may be marked as an inception to designing abrasion-resistant slippery liquid impregnated composites for overcoming the dewetting tribological properties trade-off. Such surfaces may potentially find applications in paint industries and as anti-icing surfaces.

Life and death of liquid-infused surfaces: a review on the choice, analysis and fate of the infused liquid layer

“…One of the most commonly used methods is laser scanning confocal microscopy. 37,44,47,91,124,159,176,195,223,252,[326][327][328][329][330]332 This technique allows 3D imaging of substrate, lubricant and liquid drops on the surface simultaneously, and over time. In confocal microscopy, fluorescently dyed lubricant and working liquids are mapped in three dimensions, giving a stack of images that can be sliced arbitrarily.…”

Investigation on the Corrosion Resistance Properties of Cobalt–Chromium–Molybdenum Alloy Artificial Human Body Components with Robust Biomimetic Superhydrophobic and Slippery Surfaces Based on Laser Texturing

“…The microgrid structure of the surface is an important reason for the superhydrophobic properties of the surface, but these micron structures are prone to crushing or deformation when frictional forces are applied, resulting in poor abrasion resistance of the superhydrophobic surface . It has been found that the injection of lubricant on the superhydrophobic surface helps the damaged surface to repair the wear points driven by the capillary action of the lubricant and the surface diffusion process . PDMS solution was used in this study as a nontoxic and nonhazardous modifier with good mobility and healing properties .…”

“…78 It has been found that the injection of lubricant on the superhydrophobic surface helps the damaged surface to repair the wear points driven by the capillary action of the lubricant and the surface diffusion process. 79 PDMS solution was used in this study as a nontoxic and nonhazardous modifier with good mobility and healing properties. 80 The artificial hip joint is placed in an articular capsule, and when the femoral head slides within the capsule, frictional forces are generated that can cause damage to the joint surface.…”

Key Factors Affecting Durable Anti-Icing of Slippery Surfaces: Pore Size and Porosity

“…The lubricant in the impact area (i.e., the top of the pore) is depleted when the water droplet impacts the surface. The lubricant inside the pore or on the neighboring unexhausted place can migrate to the damaged porous surface under the drive of capillary force and surface diffusion, 50 achieving self-healing.…”