Stearic acid modified zinc nano-coatings
In a new work, zinc nano-coatings were fabricated on a carbon steel by electrodeposition and stearic acid modification, featuring superhydrophobicity and enhanced antifouling performance.
The morphology, composition and structure of the prepared nano-coatings were characterised by various surface analysis techniques. The water and oil contact angles were measured. The superhydrophobicity of the prepared Zn coatings is attributed to the surface micro/nanostructure and the formed stearic acid layer with a low surface energy.
Improvement of surface oleophobicity
The water contact angle is up to 158.4 ± 1.5°, with an estimated air-occupied fraction up to 90.8% of the total area of the coating under water droplets. The nano-coatings are also superhydrophobic to tea, milk and a soil solution. Moreover, the coated specimen has an oil contact angle of 48.1°, as compared to 8.6° on bare steel, indicating that the prepared nano-coatings improve the surface oleophobicity.
The study is published in: Surface and Coatings Technology Volume 340, 25 April 2018, Pages 55-65.
