Ti3C2Tx MXene/MoS2 hybrid reinforcement of epoxy coating for synergistic improvement of thermo-mechanical, abrasion and UV-shielding performance

Epoxy resin exhibits exceptional stiffness and adhesion, making it essential as a matrix for protective coatings and composites. However, their inherent brittleness, low fracture toughness, and susceptibility to thermal/UV degradation limit their performance in demanding applications. To overcome these challenges, nanofillers are incorporated into epoxy matrices to enhance their properties. In this study, 2D/2D heterostructure Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene/MoS 2 hybrid nanofillers were added into epoxy coatings to synergistically enhance the thermomechanical, abrasion, and UV-shielding performance of epoxy. The hybrid nanofiller (MX/MS) was synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analyses. The incorporation of 0.5 wt% of hybrid nanofiller into epoxy coatings significantly improved thermal stability, increasing char residue from 14% (neat epoxy) to 27%. Mechanical properties enhancements included an increase in tensile strength by 3.5 times, 112% higher hardness (146.6 to 311.4 MPa), and 45% greater storage modulus (1354 to 1958 MPa). Concurrently, the coating exhibited exceptional durability, reducing abrasion wear rate by 58% (6.5 to 2.7 μg/cycle) and UV color change (ΔE) by 62% (11.86 to 4.53) after 200 hours of accelerated weathering. This work pioneers MXene/MoS 2 hybrids as multifunctional reinforcements that uniquely converge thermal, mechanical, and protective enhancements in epoxy coatings.