A combined experimental and molecular dynamics simulation study on a superhydrophobic coating for anti-adhesion against clay particles

T Li and XJ Yang and LC Duan and BS Pan, COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS, 715, 136640 (2025).

DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2025.136640

To mitigate the balling problem of bottom hole drilling tools, a superhydrophobic nickel-copper alloy coating with exceptional anti-clay particle adhesion properties was developed by combining the electrodeposition method with low surface energy material modification. Its surface morphology, chemical composition, crystal structure, surface hydrophobicity and anti-adhesion performance against clay particles were characterized. The results revealed that its surface structure was characterized by cauliflower-like clusters; after being modified with 1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES), the coating obtained at 60 mA/cm2 achieved a static water contact angle of 155 degrees and a sliding angle of 2.5 degrees, demonstrating excellent superhydrophobicity and antiadhesion performance against clay particles. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the improved antiadhesion performance could be attributed to the significant decrease in the adsorption energy and diffusion coefficient of the clay particles on its surface. The study revealed the microscopic mechanism of superhydrophobicity in preventing clay particle adhesion and offered valuable insights for coating applications in drilling tools, pipelines and marine engineering.

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