Corrosion derived lubricant infused surfaces on X65 carbon steel for improved inorganic scaling performance

Slippery Liquid Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS) are a relatively new and promising development in the surface engineering world. Bio-inspired with superior omniphobicity and robustness, SLIPS have enjoyed success in several scientific applications, spanning multiple industries from the marine environment to the medical field. Inorganic fouling is one such challenge SLIPS have managed to overcome by disrupting both the deposition and adhesion mechanics of scale. To date, the primary focus has been on adapting stainless steels while more prevalent pipeline materials, such as carbon steel, have been overlooked. Here a unique and simple SLIPS system has been fabricated from X65 carbon steel, with the potential for creation of a SLIPS system in situ. Utilizing the topographical features of an FeCO3 layer derived from CO2 corrosion, two SLIPS, one with perfluorinated Krytox oil and another with 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide have been tested. The SLIPS have been validated with prevailing models in SLIPS design literature and shed further insight into how this is determined experimentally. This SLIPS combination spares the use of a functionalization layer between the substrate/lubricant interface and displays enhanced anti-fouling capabilities in a calcium carbonate (CaCO3) scaling brine.