Study of a Nano-SiO2 Microsphere-Modified Basalt Flake Epoxy Resin Coating

Performance Research and Formulation Optimization of High-Performance Local Insulation Spray Coating Materials

Bird pest control has become a major task for the operation and maintenance of distribution network lines. Epoxy resin that cures quickly at room temperature can be used to coat locations where birds frequently build their nests. However, epoxy resin has enormous internal stress and is brittle, so it is essential to toughen it. In this paper, for a room temperature curing system composed of polyurethane-modified epoxy resin and a polythiol curing agent, three kinds of particles, i.e., Al₂O₃, SiO₂, and Mg(OH)₂, were used to modify a polyurethane modified epoxy resin. Orthogonal experiments were designed to study the effects of different fillers on the comprehensive properties of polyurethane-modified epoxy resins. The experimental results showed that there were not only independent effects of different kinds if particles on the resin, but also synergistic effects of multiple particles. Nanoparticles can reduce the defects introduced by microparticles to a certain extent and improve the mechanical and electrical properties of the resin. The overall performance of the resin was optimized when the amounts of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Mg(OH)₂ were 1.7%, 2.5%, and 7%, respectively. The tensile strength of the resin was increased by 70%, the elongation at a break by 67.53%, and the breakdown strength by 20.31% compared with before the addition of filler. The microscopic morphology and thermal properties of the resin before and after the addition of filler were also studied. Adding fillers caused more cracks to absorb part of the energy when the resin matrix was stressed and increased the rigidity of the resin matrix and the resin's glass transition temperature (T_g) by 13.48 °C. Still, the temperature corresponding to the maximum rate of weight loss (T_max) remained unchanged.

Synthesis of SiO2 Nanoparticle Epoxy Resin Composite and Silicone-Containing Epoxy Resin for Coatings

Due to its unique properties, including strong adhesion force, high heat resistivity, high insulation properties, and strong mechanical properties, epoxy resin is the most commonly used material for a variety of applications, including adhesives, electronic devices for coatings, and somewhere as a matrix for reinforcement of composites as a fiber network. To boost their properties, different other materials are also inserted in their structure and made its composites; silicon is one of them. Corrosion is serious for marine equipment and causes economic loss. To overcome such issues, different types of coating materials are developed. In this review, current methods for coatings of different materials using a silicon dioxide epoxy nanocomposite are discussed in diversity with the currently followed synthetic routes for the preparation of nanosilica epoxy composites and enhanced properties.

Enhancement in Nanomechanical, Thermal, and Abrasion Properties of SiO2 Nanoparticle-Modified Epoxy Coatings

Epoxy formulations containing 1%, 3%, and 5% SiO2 nanoparticles (SNPs) were produced and applied to mild steel substrates in order to improve their thermal, nanomechanical, and abrasion resistance. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was used to analyze the dispersion of nanoparticles in the final coating samples, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to confirm the presence of nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to measure the thermal resistance of the prepared coatings. Conventional techniques were used to measure the impact and scratch resistance. For nanomechanical testing, nanoindentation was performed using a Berkovich-type indenter. Using a taber abraser, the abrasion properties of the coatings were measured. The FE-SEM images indicated good dispersion of the nanoparticles at all three different loading levels. The scratch, impact, and hardness of coatings improved with the addition of the SNPs. Nanomechanical properties, such as hardness and elastic modulus, improved when compared to the unmodified coatings. The thermal and abrasion resistances of the coatings improved with the increase in the SNPs content of the coatings. The highest mechanical, thermal, and abrasion properties were obtained for the coatings with 5% SNP content.

A Novel Basalt Flake Epoxy Resin Coating Modified by Carbon Nanotubes

As a new type of anticorrosive material, basalt flakes (BFs) have been widely used in the marine industry due to their good acid and alkali corrosion resistance and dispersion stability. In this work, the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) addition on properties improvement of basalt flake epoxy resin (CNT-BF/EP) coating was studied. Firstly, 0–0.7 wt.% acidified CNTs was used to modify the surface of the BFs and the CNT-BF/EP coating was successfully prepared. Experimental results showed that the performance of the interfacial compatibility, the tensile strength, and acid and alkali resistance of the CNT-BF/EP coating were significantly improved with the addition of the CNTs. Particularly, the CNT-BF/EP coating achieved the best comprehensive properties (tensile strength increased to 30.3 MPa, surface weight loss rate of only 1.0 wt.% in the acid environment for 480 h, and water absorption of only 1.1 wt.% after 480 h) when the CNTs addition reached 0.5 wt.%. This work suggests a feasible way to enhance the mechanical properties and chemical durability of the basalt flakes coating.