Fabrication of carbon fiber/polyamide 6 composites with water resistance and anti-icing performance using a superhydrophobic fluorinated-polydopamine coating

With the advance of the reactive liquid molding process for mass production, polyamide 6 (PA 6)-based carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) with excellent impact resistance and recyclability has been developed, but there is still a limit to the application of external parts due to deterioration of mechanical properties in a moisture environment. This study proposes an efficient process that is advantageous for the mass production of CFRTP with improved water stability by coating fluorinated polydopamine (f-PDA) on PA 6-based CFRTP fabricated by the thermoplastic resin transfer molding process. Compared to neat CFRTP, the interlaminar shear strength and flexural strength of the CFRTP immersed in water improved by 16% and 31%, respectively, with a significant reduction in water absorption of 42%. Furthermore, the anti-icing performance of the CFRTP was verified, as evidenced by a 49% reduction in surface energy. The proposed f-PDA-CFRTP is anticipated to be applied to external parts in various transportation industries while ensuring environmental reliability.