Hard Yet Flexible Anti-Icing Coatings with Superior Wear Resistance and Anti-Corrosion Properties

Anti-icing coatings are increasingly being used in aerospace applications, polar expeditions, and offshore wind power. However, their mechanical strength and corrosion resistance often decrease in harsh environments, limiting their long-term durability. In this study, we developed a hard yet flexible anti-icing coating that demonstrated exceptional wear resistance and anticorrosion properties. This was achieved by combining MoS₂@Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites with an epoxy-oligosiloxane nanocluster-amine curing system. The inorganic hard components and organic polymer networks collectively contribute to the high hardness (8H) of the coatings while maintaining good flexibility. Owing to the highly cross-linked stereoscopic oligosiloxane network and the self-lubricating and barrier properties of MoS₂@Fe₃O₄, the coatings exhibit exceptional wear resistance and impressive corrosion protection. Furthermore, the incorporation of PDMS, which is self-enriched at the surface, enhances the anti-icing properties of the coatings, resulting in an 88% reduction in the ice adhesion strength and a 4-fold increase in the freezing time compared with those of the bare substrates. The unique MoS₂@Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites enable the coatings to heat under light, achieving a surface temperature of 10.6 °C after 10 min of exposure at -17.2 °C. This study focuses on developing anti-icing coatings that offer robust wear resistance and excellent anticorrosion performance, presenting considerable potential for application in harsh environments.