Environmental Stability and Long-Term Durability of Superhydrophobic Coatings on Titanium

Superhydrophobic (SHP) coatings on titanium were developed using a two-step method involving anodization and coating with silane. The robustness of the SHP coatings was assessed by sonication and water impact tests. The adhesion of the coatings was evaluated by ASTM standard tape test. After evaluating the stability, the durability of superhydrophobic coatings developed on titanium was tested in seawater. The long-term immersion in seawater showed minimal reduction in water contact angle (WCA) after the immersion. Antibacterial activity of the SHP coatings after long-term exposure in seawater and bacterial pure cultures were also evaluated. The present study aims to evaluate the stability, durability and shelf life of the SHP coatings developed on Ti using silanes for long-term practical applications.