Preparation of MXene/EP coating for promising anticorrosion and superlow friction properties

MXene, a two-dimensional (2D) material consisting of Ti₃C₂T_x, has demonstrated significant potential for numerous applications, particularly in the areas of corrosion and wear resistance to protect metals. In this study, we reported the facile preparation of MXene/epoxy resin (EP) coatings through blending, which was successfully confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). With the lubrication of oleic acid (OA), an EP coating containing 1 wt% MXene exhibited superlubricity with a remarkably low coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.008. Furthermore, compared to the pristine substrate, the coating achieved an impressive reduction in the wear rate of 99.73 %. Under simulated seawater conditions, the coating demonstrated an exceptional corrosion protection efficiency (PE) of 99.38 %, which was attributed to the corrosion inhibition effect of MXene. The observed superlow friction was primarily attributed to the synergistic effects of a tribo-film of OA, the presence of the MXene film, and the improved mechanical properties of the EP coating due to the incorporation of MXene. Our study highlighted the potential of MXene as a protective material in long-term marine applications.