Self-lubricating and self-repairing epoxy coating enabled by ionic liquid-loaded double-walled Ti3C2Tx@PSF microcapsules

A double-walled microcapsule was fabricated by integrating Ti 3 C 2 T x onto polysulfone through electrostatic self-assembly, effectively overcoming the limitations of conventional single-walled microcapsules, such as inadequate thermal stability, premature release and susceptibility to breakage. By incorporating Ti 3 C 2 T x @PSF microcapsule loaded with ionic liquid (IL) into the coating, a self-lubricating and self-repairing anti-wear and corrosion resistance epoxy coating was developed and evaluated. The coating exhibited an 83.24 % reduction in wear rate, attributed to the uniform lubricating films formed by the released IL and the broken Ti 3 C 2 T x microcapsule. Additionally, the enhanced thermal stability of the double-walled structure helps to prevent the uncontrolled loss of the ionic liquid. For corrosion resistance, the coating containing 10 wt% Ti 3 C 2 T x @PSF@IL demonstrated the ability to withstand up to 40 days of salt spray exposure before notable corrosion occurred. This noticeable performance is attributed to the enhanced interface between the microcapsules and resin, the extended diffusion path created by Ti 3 C 2 T x , and the adsorption effect of IL. Herein, this Ti 3 C 2 T x @PSF double-walled microcapsule loaded IL provides an effective solution for high-performance anticorrosive and wear-resistant epoxy coatings in harsh environments.