Cerium Stearate Electrodeposited Superhydrophobic Coatings for Active Corrosion Protection of Anodized AA2024-T3

The present study investigated the active corrosion protection provided by superhydrophobic cerium stearate coatings. Superhydrophobic cerium stearate was deposited on anodized AA2024-T3 at 40 V with different electrodeposition times using a simple DC electrodeposition technique to know the role of electrodeposition time on surface morphology, hydrophobicity, and corrosion resistance. The structure and morphology of cerium stearate was characterized to understand its formation mechanism. Electrodeposition process at 40 V for 120 min resulted in the formation of dual-scale Allium giganteum like micro/nano hierarchical texture of cerium stearate with a water contact angle of 165 +/- 1.6 degrees. The cerium stearate coating obtained for 120 min process time had excellent self-cleaning property and good chemical stability, environmental stability, and mechanical durability acceptable for industrial applications. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning vibrating electrode technique were used to investigate the active corrosion protection of cerium stearate coating. The electrodeposited cerium stearate coating showed active corrosion protection based on self-healing ability by releasing cerium (Ce3+) ions.