Recent progress in superhydrophobic coating on Mg alloys: A general review

Abstract Magnesium (Mg) is a vital engineering material owing to its light weight and excellent mechanical properties. However, poor corrosion resistance limits its widely applications as well as its economic value. Hence, surface modification is essential for Mg and its alloys. Among the various coatings, superhydrophobic coating, which is inspired by nature, has received increasing attentions in the past decade. With a water contact angle larger than 150°, superhydrophobic coating can provide sufficient protection for Mg-based substrates. The model of superhydrophobic states and the protection mechanism of superhydrophobic coating are discussed in this review. Especially, the methods for fabricating superhydrophobic coatings on Mg alloys are reviewed. Meanwhile, some functional superhydrophobic coatings on Mg alloys are summarized. Finally, the challenges and future directions are proposed. We hope that this paper will provide a serviceable review for future research on superhydrophobic coatings on Mg alloys.