Rose-like Cr–Fe robust super-hydrophobic surfaces with high adhesion and corrosion resistance

The superhydrophobic surface with a high adhesive state (petal effect) has attracted considerable attention owing to its potential applications in fluid transportation. In this study, the preparation of a superhydrophobic surface with a highly adhesive state on carbon steel is reported. By the combination of electrochemical deposition and double glow plasma surface metallurgy (DGPSM), a hard CrFe alloy coating with a rose petal-like microscale structure is prepared. The water contact angle of CrFe alloy coating can reach 163° after modification with 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorooctyltrichlorosilane (PFTEOS). Moreover, the surface exhibits excellent adhesive property with a petal effect. The linear abrasion test demonstrates that the superhydrophobic coating can resist 18 m abrasion distance under a 5 kPa pressure. In addition, electrochemical tests show that the superhydrophobic coating can prevent corrosion from carbon steel effectively. This study provides an effective method to prepare a robust superhydrophobic surface with a high adhesive state for potential industrial applications.