Synergistic effect of superhydrophobic Ni-SiC composite coating enhances corrosion resistance and stability

In this article, a superhydrophobic SiC/Ni composite coating modified with myristic acid (MSN) was prepared on the surface of carbon steel using a one-step electrodeposition method. The synergistic effect of the resultant coating on performance enhancement in comparison to pure Ni coating was investigated. The surface structure of the prepared MSN coating was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The wettability was measured by a contact angle goniometer. Meanwhile, a detailed investigation was conducted into the effects of deposition parameters on the surface structure and wettability. The results demonstrate that coatings with hierarchical micro/nanostructure (MSN-3) could be achieved when the SiC content was 6 g/L, the circuit density was 1.25 A/cm², and the deposition time was 40 min. The optimal coating possessed excellent superhydrophobic properties with a water contact angle (CA) of 163.1 ± 1.4° and a sliding angle (SA) of 5.4 ± 0.2°. The excellent mechanical stability of the composite coating was demonstrated by tape peeling, sandpaper abrasion, and scratching tests. In addition, the optimal coating also exhibited excellent corrosion resistance and thermal stability. Thus, it is indicated that the obtained superhydrophobic composite coating has potential industrial application prospects.