Abstract
An exceptionally durable, transparent fluid resistant coating has been developed for corrosion mitigation on selected metals and alloys. This new coating is being presented as new surface treatment for improved protection of metallic substrates. There have been many recent research and commercial efforts in the area of hydrophobic or water repellent coatings that have demonstrated the ability to shed fluids quickly off of surfaces. Whereas many technologies and coatings have achieved the primary goal of achieving fluid shedding properties, they have all lacked mechanical / environmental durability, or are difficult and expensive to apply. This new polymer-inorganic hybrid coating has a unique combination of fluid repellency and exceptional toughness for abrasion resistance and environmental stability. This coating formulation can be easily applied in a single step by dip, flow, brush, or spray with excellent adhesion to multiple surfaces including glass, plastic, paint, and a variety of metallic materials. These hydrophobic/oleophobic coatings possess low surface energy leading to easy cleaning, rain repellency, and excellent corrosion resistance. In addition to good fluid shedding properties, the coatings have significantly higher density than traditional organic polymer coatings and are electrically insulating, resulting in improved barrier properties to water and corrosive ion permeation. This paper describes the novel coating with excellent watershedding properties, transparency, and abrasion resistance, resulting in improved corrosion resistance. The protective coatings have numerous uses for automotive, aerospace, marine, and industrial applications.
