Anti-corrosive superhydrophobic coatings fabricated by a simple dipping method

The two-step dipping technique was used to fabricate anti-corrosive fluorocarbon paint (FP)/SiO2 superhydrophobic coatings on the surfaces of aluminium alloy substrates. In order to characterise the surface microtopography, chemical element and groups, hydrophobicity, and corrosion performance of these prepared coatings, we employed a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) as well as performing electrochemical experiments. Coating adhesion was reflected by the scotch-tape test. The coatings had a micron–nanometre hierarchical structure, and their surface morphologies were strongly dependent on the silica nanoparticle concentration. The superhydrophobicity of the coating was correlated with its microstructure and composition. The electrochemical experiments revealed that the obtained coating could enhance the corrosion performance of the underlying Al alloy substrates.