Fabrication of natural mesoporous Diatom biosilica microcapsules with high oil-carrying capacity and tribological property

In this study, fluorosilane-modified hollow mesoporous Diatom biosilica oil-carrying microcapsules (Oil@HMSNs/DE-F) were successfully synthesized using diatomite as hard-template, and dimethylsiloxane oil and hollow mesoporous silica as the core materials. Such microcapsules exhibited high oil-carrying capacity (41 %) and oil-carrying stability, which significantly higher than the Oil@DE-F microcapsules (33 %) (Comparison). Tribological tests showed that the Oil@HMSNs/DE-F composite coatings have excellent tribological properties and mechanical properties. Amazingly, 6 wt% Oil@HMSNs/DE-F epoxy composites coatings reduced the coefficient of friction by 79.9 % and the wear rate by 98.1 % compared to pure epoxy.