Anticorrosion Properties of Robust and UV-Durable Poly(vinylidene fluoride-<i>co</i>-hexafluoropropylene)/Carbon Nanotubes Superhydrophobic Coating

Abstract

Aluminum is vulnerable to corrosion, biofouling, and durability reduction as a result of forming unwanted deposits during their interactions with liquids. In this work, a high-corrosion-resistance superhydrophobic coating (SHC) of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)/carbon nanotubes was fabricated employing an electrospinning technique and spray coating. The dispersed carbon nanotubes were sprayed into the electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) to avoid galvanic corrosion. The as-prepared SHC exhibited a water contact angle (WCA) of 156 ± 2° and a tilting angle of 3 ± 2°. The wettability and the corrosion resistance of the PVDF-HFP/CNTS SHC were evaluated before and after exposure to UV in 3.5 wt % NaCl. The surface morphology and topography were explored before and after exposure to UV using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Employing the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the as-prepared PVDF-HFP/CNTsSHC has a high corrosion resistance over the immersion in 3.5 wt % NaCl for 1 month.