Constructing Ti3C2Tx/Carbon Fiber hybrids for enhancing the interfacial strength and erosion wear resistance of EP based composite coating

Abstract

Abstract The composite coatings are indispensable for protecting the offshore steel structures serviced in the splash zone. But the mechanical properties of conventional epoxy resin (EP) coatings are poor, which would lead to the short-term lifespan. The carbon fiber (CF) with excellent mechanical properties is an ideal filler to reinforce the EP coating, thus we chemically grafted Ti3C2Tx nanosheets onto CF via dopamine to enhance the compatibility between CF and EP. While improving the interface adhesion between CF and EP, the mechanical strength and erosion wear resistance of the CF/Ti3C2Tx@EP coating were also significantly enhanced. The flexural properties of CF/Ti3C2Tx@EP composite coating was evaluated by three-point bending test, and the flexural strength of CF/Ti3C2Tx@EP was increased by 41.95% compared with pure EP coating. The tribological behaviors and erosion wear resistance of those composite coatings were carried out by UMT-3 tribometer and erosion test rig. Comparing with the pure EP coating, the wear rate of CF/Ti3C2Tx@EP was decreased by 43.67%, and the erosion mass and volume of CF/Ti3C2Tx@EP were respectively reduced by 21.31% and 44.50%, this were ascribed to the increased interfacial combination strength between the Ti3C2Tx/CF hybrids and EP matrix. We investigated the failure behavior and revealed the interfacial strengthening mechanism of the CF/Ti3C2Tx@EP composite coating, which would evoke widespread interest in developing high performance and long-term protective composite coatings used in the splash zone of marine environment.