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° contact angle, less than 2° 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.