Assessment of the synergy of hydrophobicity and thermal conductivity in epoxy/graphite oxide composite coatings

In various industrial applications, especially within the internal pipes of heat exchanger devices, there is a crucial need for surface coatings that offer both superhydrophobic properties and high thermal conductivity. Achieving the balance between these two characteristics is essential for optimizing heat transfer performance along metal pipe walls and mitigating the formation of water droplets on the surface. This research focuses on the development of polymer composite coatings to address these dual requirements, providing protection against humid environments, resistance to dew formation, and simultaneous enhancement of thermal conductivity. The key challenge lies in selecting a coating type that provides low surface energy and polarity, thereby achieving the desired hydrophobic properties while also maintaining adequate thermal conductivity. This study formulates polymer composite coatings utilizing laser-modified epoxy resin and strategically integrates graphite oxide particles. These graphite particles undergo modification through oxidation to enhance compatibility with epoxy. In conjunction with graphite oxide modification, the resulting laser-modified coatings exhibit super-hydrophobic characteristics with an enhanced water contact angle of 162 degrees and a low contact angle hysteresis (<5 degrees). Furthermore, the epoxy/graphite oxide composite coatings demonstrate improved thermal conductivity, marking a significant 261% increase compared to pure epoxy, elevating it from .234 to .846 W/mK.