Mechanism of F group on the microstructure and corrosion protection performance of Ti3C2Tx/epoxy coatings

Ti 3 C 2 T x /epoxy composite coatings have attracted widespread attention due to their excellent anti-corrosion properties. However, the influence mechanism of the surface functional group states of Ti 3 C 2 T x on the coating's protective performance remains unclear. In this study, combined experimental characterization and DFT simulations were employed to regulate the content of surface -F groups on Ti 3 C 2 T x . A systematic investigation was conducted on the microstructure, electronic structure, corrosion protection performance, and underlying mechanisms of Ti 3 C 2 T x /epoxy coatings as influenced by the -F group content. The results indicate that Ti 3 C 2 T x with a lower content of -F groups exhibit better dispersibility in epoxy resin, resulting in a denser coating structure and thereby more desirable long-term corrosion protection performance. This is primarily attributed to the reduced content of -F groups, which avoids unstable physical adsorption between Ti 3 C 2 T x and the resin matrix. The findings of this study suggest that subsequent work on Ti 3 C 2 T x /epoxy composites should closely focus on the influence of -F groups and avoid direct contact between a large number of -F groups and the resin matrix.