Anti-friction epoxy resin-based self-lubricating coatings containing Mo₂C MXene driven by friction chemistry mechanisms

Epoxy (EP) resins are widely involved in the field of polymer coatings as a result of their excellent mechanical performance, superior chemical durability and good adhesion to the substrate. However, the undesirable tribological properties of epoxy pose a challenge for their application and development in protective coatings. Herein, an epoxy-based multifunctional nanocomposite coating (EP-PMo) was prepared by brief ultrasonic dispersion method. Specifically, epoxy matrix was modified by one-step blending using a complex of the emerging two-dimensional materials MXene (Mo₂C) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The chemical structure of the coatings was characterized using XRD, XPS, FT-IR, and the surface morphology and elemental distribution were analyzed using SEM/EDS. The prepared nanocomposite coating exhibits excellent tribological properties, thermal conductivity and salt water corrosion resistance. The lubricity of the nanocomposite was improved by 80 % compared to EP. The coefficient of friction (COF) of the EP-PMo containing 0.4 wt% Mo₂C was only 0.09, proving that EP-PMo4 coating has superior lubricity performance. Moreover, due to the excellent thermal conductivity of the nanocomposite coating, the surface temperature of the coating increased by 37 % after it was placed on a 60 °C hot table for 10 s. The COF of the nanocomposite coating changed slightly in simulated seawater after 6 days immersion. Therefore, the EP-PMo coating combines thermal conductivity, anti-corrosion, and friction resistance, which has potential applications in the field of protective coatings for marine equipment and metal devices.