Composite coatings of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/CeO2 were developed by using the spray approach to explore the wetting and corrosion behaviour of coated materials for applications related to industry. PVDF was combined with different quantities of CeO2 nanoparticles followed by spraying onto glass, aluminium, and steel substrates. The sessile droplet method and microscopy studies were used to assess the wetting behaviour and morphology of the coated surfaces, respectively. The corrosion resistance of uncoated substrates coated with PVDF only was compared with those coated with PVDF/CeO2 nanoparticles through Tafel polarization techniques. In psi, the force of adhesion was measured between the coating layer and the substrates. The PVDF/CeO2-coated steel had a significantly greater water contact angle and lower contact angle hysteresis than coated aluminium and glass substrates, reaching 157 ± 2° and 8 ± 1°, respectively. The corrosion protection efficiency of the superhydrophobic PVDF/CeO2 coatings was considerably higher for steel and aluminium when compared with PVDF coatings. The PVDF/CeO2 coated substrates had modest adhesion between the coating layer and the substrates, but it was still acceptable. Furthermore, the PVDF/CeO2 coatings outperformed PVDF alone in terms of mechanical properties.
Keywords: PVDF-CeO2; composite; corrosion; morphology; superhydrophobicity.