Study on the properties of superhydrophobic coating prepared by scanning electrodeposition on SLM substrate

This research successfully fabricated superhydrophobic coatings by scanning electrodeposition on stainless steel formed by SLM technology. By tailoring a single parameter of current densities, the characteristics of the coatings were studied, including the morphology, chemical composition, wettability, and corrosion resistance. The results demonstrate that when the current density was 30A/dm2, the wettability of the coating was optimal after been exposed in air for 10 days, and the water contact angle reached 153.8°. This was attributed to the distribution of cauliflower-like clusters with micro-nano structures and the adsorption of airborne organic hydrocarbons with low surface free energy on the coating surface. Moreover, the hydrophobic mechanism and forming mechanism of the coatings were illustrated. Further, compared with the sample only deposited a structural layer, the corrosion resistance of superhydrophobic coating was noticeably improved, and the corrosion inhibition efficiency was as high as 97.7%. After immersion in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution for 7 days, the superhydrophobic coating still maintains the corrosion protection. This research not only provides a new method for preparing superhydrophobic coatings, but also enlarges the application field and prolongs the service life of stainless steel formed by SLM technology.