Preparation of ETFE-ZrO2 superhydrophobic composite coating on Q345 steel surface and its performance study

In this study, superhydrophobic coatings characterized by micro- and nanostructures were fabricated using a simple spraying method. The water contact angle of the ETFE-ZrO2 composite coating achieved a maximum of 157.3 degrees after three spraying applications, with a mass ratio of ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE) to modified ZrO2 particles established at 1:1. This coating had good corrosion resistance, as demonstrated by a reduction in corrosion current density to 2.162 x 10(-6) A/cm(2), which is an order of magnitude lower than that of Q345 steel. Following immersion in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for 72 h, the superhydrophobic coatings retained their hydrophobic properties. Furthermore, these coatings demonstrated good chemical stability, maintaining a water contact angle >150 degrees across a pH range of 3 to 12. Additionally, the coatings exhibited effective self-cleaning properties and photocatalytic effects. The rapid fabrication of these coatings presents significant advantages for the development of large-area, superhydrophobic, and self-cleaning surfaces, as they do not require complex modifications or reactions.