News Coatings Technologies
Diatom-inspired coating extends corrosion and wear protection for steel surfaces
Researchers have developed a multilayer lubricant-infused coating that uses artificially cultivated diatoms as micro oil reservoirs. The result is a highly durable protection against corrosion and wear – even under harsh environmental conditions.
Corrosion and wear remain major challenges affecting the performance and lifespan of metallic components. While superhydrophobic coatings can reduce water contact, their poor long-term stability and lack of lubricity limit industrial applications. A research team led by Fan Lei has now introduced a multilayer lubricant-infused surface (LIS) coating that utilises artificially cultivated diatom frustules (DFs) as oil reservoirs.
These porous silica shells, derived from diatoms, store perfluoropolyether (PFPE) oil, which can continuously replenish the surface, providing sustained lubrication and corrosion protection. The synergistic effect of hydrophobically modified DFs and PFPE oil effectively prevents direct contact between corrosive media and the steel substrate.
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Continuous lubrication for long-term surface protection
During a 60-day immersion test in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, the LIS coating exhibited superior corrosion resistance compared to conventional superhydrophobic coatings. It achieved a friction coefficient of 0.12 and a wear rate of 0.18 × 10⁻⁵ mm³·N⁻¹·m⁻¹, outperforming both uncoated steel and SHS coatings.
This innovative method provides a promising route for industrial applications in machinery, pipelines, maritime navigation and outdoor equipment, where long-term protective coatings are essential.
Source: Lei, F. et al. Artificially cultivated diatom frustule as oil reservoir toward anti-corrosion and anti-wear lubricant-infused surface. Progress in Organic Coatings, Vol. 207, October 2025
