Dual-phase nanostructure of amorphous carbon and TaCB solid solution: Robust high-performance protective coating for marine equipment

The challenge of concurrently resisting corrosion, wear, and microbial adhesion in marine equipment necessitates the development of advanced protective coatings for moving parts. Leveraging the unique properties of constituent phases in nanocomposite materials offers a promising approach. Here, we report the development of a high-performance protective coating material combining hard, anti-corrosive, and antifouling TaB2 phase with a self-lubricating amorphous carbon (a-C) phase. The synthesized specimens form an a-C embedded in TaCB solid solution (a-C/TaCB) structure at 8 at.% carbon content and transition to a TaCB solid solution embedded in a-C (TaCB/a-C) structure at 18.8 at.% carbon content. The a-C/TaCB coating demonstrates enhanced tribological, corrosion and tribocorrosion performances compared to the TaB2 coating, while maintaining excellent mechanical and antifouling performances without the usual deterioration caused by an excess soft biocompatible a-C phase. The rational design of this dual-phase nanocomposite structure could facilitate the development of a unique class of protective coating materials tailored to meet the stringent requirements of harsh marine environments.

Automated summary

The challenge of protecting marine equipment from corrosion, wear, and microbial adhesion requires advanced protective coatings. This study presents the development of a high-performance protective coating material with a unique structure that combines hard, anti-corrosive TaB2 phase with a self-lubricating amorphous carbon (a-C) phase. The coating exhibits enhanced tribological, corrosion and tribocorrosion performances, making it suitable for harsh marine environments.