Sprayable Superhydrophobic Polydopamine-Modified Oleic Acid/ Nanoscale SiO2 Composites for Insulator Protective Coatings

Failures of porcelain insulators due to ice formation, corrosive pollutant deposition, and cracks result in significant power losses in the power transmission system. Using a simple three-step sprayable coating technique, we propose a novel superhydrophobic material for high-voltage insulator surface protection with water absorption resistance, self-cleaning, ice-phobic, and crack healing capabilities. An adhesive polydopamine layer sprayed on an insulator surface to predevelop a macro-nano hierarchical surface based on an oleic acid/nano-SiO2 composite with an oleic acid infusion arrangement is a crucial endurance technique. The technique shows less than 3% water absorbance, more than 150 degrees contact angle, less than 2 degrees contact angle hysteresis, self-cleaning ability, ice-phobic with a minimum ice adhesion strength of 15.5 +/- 9.9 kPa, and crack-healing characteristics after corrosive, thermal, and mechanical aging. Such sustainable, long-lasting, and facile techniques would find widespread applications in the power, civil, marine, and aviation industries.