The missing piece of the puzzle regarding the relation between the degree of superhydrophobicity and the corrosion resistance of superhydrophobic coatings

Abstract

This work supplies the missing piece of the puzzle regarding the unclear relation between the water contact angle (WCA) of a superhydrophobic coating (SHC) and its corrosion protection performance. Generally, an increase in the WCA of a coating increases its corrosion protection behavior. However, in some cases it has been reported that an increase in the WCA, inexplicably, reduces its corrosion protection efficiency. This work uses measurements of the dielectric properties of a SHC to reveal the main reason behind a significant increase in the corrosion protection efficiency of a SHC when there are minor or no changes in the values of the measured WCA.