Fabrication of multiscale structured hydrophobic NiCrZrN coating with high abrasion resistance using multi-arc ion plating

Although the superhydrophobic surfaces are attractive for various fields, the poor durability is still the main obstacle for their applications. In this study, a mechanically robust and multiscale structure NiCrZrN coating has been prepared by multi-arc ion plating. The as-deposited coating shows cauliflower-like hierarchical structure, related to the different size and shape of metal liquid droplets produced during deposition. Benefiting from the multiscale structure, the contact angle of coating surface is up to 135.6°. More importantly, the coating shows not only high mechanical properties but also superior abrasion resistance. The contact angle is still as high as 130° after 70 cycles using 1400 cm sandpaper abrasion test under the pressure of 10 kPa. By modifying with FAS, the contact angle and the rolling angle can reach 165.9° and ∼0°, respectively. It is expected that the hydrophobic NiCrZrN coating is a good candidate for industrial applications under harsh environment. Moreover, the flexible choice of deposition parameters during the novel multi-arc ion plating approach opens a new window to design and optimize the hydrophobic surface.