Superhydrophobic nickel coating for anti-corrosion steel protection

• L.E. Tsygankova¹, L.D. Rodionova¹, A.A. Uryadnikov¹ and N.V. Shel²

¹ Derzhavin State University, ul. Internatsionalnaya, 33, 392000 Tambov, Russia
² Tambov State Technical University, ul. Sovetskaya, 106, 392000 Tambov, Russia

Abstract: The protective effectiveness of a superhydrophobic (SHP) coating on a steel electrode obtained by electrodeposition of nickel followed by treatment in a solution of myristic acid was studied for 240 hours in different media. The SHP coating is characterized by a contact wetting angle of 154±1°. Corrosion gravimetric tests of steel samples with the SHP coating, carried out under conditions of 100% humidity and in distilled water, showed the absence of mass losses with an almost unchanged contact angle. Tests in the gas phase of NaCl (50 g/L) + CO₂ and NACE+CO₂ solutions showed a high protective effect of the coating (Z = 98–99%). In this case, the contact angle decreases by 4–6° with the loss of superhydrophobicity, but subsequent exposure to air contributes to its restoration. After the liquid phase, the coating remains hydrophobic. Tests in the gas and liquid phases of 1 and 3% SO₂ solutions showed that the protective effect of the coating is close to 90% in the gas phase and 70% in the liquid phase. After testing, the samples lose superhydrophobicity but remain hydrophobic, with contact angles only by 10–16° smaller than 150°. Electrochemical studies in NaCl solution (50 g/L) for 168 hours showed a high protective effect of the SHP coating.

Keywords: superhydrophobic coating, steel, corrosion, protection, 100% humidity, gas phase, liquid phase, sodium chloride

Int. J. Corros. Scale Inhib., 2026, 15, no. 1, 382-394
doi: 10.17675/2305-6894-2026-15-1-19

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