A feasible strategy to construct WC-Co-Cr/cu composite coating with good tribo-corrosion behavior and anti-fouling properties for marine applications.

Various protective coatings are applied to marine components to mitigate friction, wear, corrosion, and biofouling. However, these issues can arise simultaneously under certain operating conditions, posing significant challenges to the performance and durability of marine components. In this study, core-shell structured WC-Co-Cr/Cu powders were fabricated using electroless plating, and a high-velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) spraying technique was employed to deposit the WC-Co-Cr/Cu coating. The results demonstrated that the tribo-corrosion behavior of the WC-Co-Cr/Cu coating improved compared to that of the HVOF WC-10Co-4Cr coating, although there was a slight reduction in corrosion resistance. Additionally, the incorporation of Cu significantly reduced the adhesion rates of Bacillus subtilis and Phaeodactylum tricornutum , indicating that the WC-Co-Cr/Cu coating gained anti-biofouling properties from the presence of Cu. Overall, the development of this WC-Co-Cr/Cu coating presents a promising solution for marine components, providing enhanced tribo-corrosion performance and effective anti-biofouling properties. • Core-shell structured WC-Co-Cr/Cu powder were prepared by electroless plating. • HVOF-sprayed WC-Co-Cr/Cu coating showed enhanced tribo-corrosion behaviour. • HVOF-sprayed WC-Co-Cr/Cu coating exhibited good anti-fouling properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]