Preparation and properties of CNTs-Cu hybrids/epoxy superhydrophobic and anticorrosive coatings.

[Display omitted] • Hybrids of carbon nanotubes and copper are micro-powders with nanostructures. • The Hybrids embedded epoxy resin can build superhydrophobic coating. • The coating with copper powder prolongs the anti-biofouling life. • The coating remained superhydrophobicity under tape-peeling 300 times. In this work, hydrophobized copper powders combined siloxane-modified carbon nanotubes (SHMWCNTs) to obtain intertwined hybrids of carbon nanotubes and copper (CNTs-Cu hybrids), and superhydrophobic CNTs-Cu hybrids/epoxy coatings were prepared on the surface of AH36 carbon steel by drop coating. The surface morphology and wettability of coatings were changed by adjusting the ratios of SHMWCNTs to hydrophobized copper powders. The obtained coating can show a water contact angle of 167.2°, a water sliding angle of 2.9°, a plant oil contact angle of 134.3°, and self-cleaning properties. The coating maintains superhydrophobicity after 300 tape-peeling times, exhibiting excellent mechanical durability. The fouled area percentages of chlorella on the coating and a pure epoxy resin were 0.23(±0.07)% and 12.18(±1.22)%, respectively, displaying anti-biofouling resistances. The coating has excellent corrosion resistance, and its corrosion current density reached 9.55 × 10^-8 A/cm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]