Optimization design of environmental-friendly Cu-Fe laser cladding coating for self-grown microchannel in a marine corrosive environment

Marine biofouling is a critical issue that seriously deteriorates the service performance of marine infrastructure. It is a big challenge to develop environmental-friendly materials for long-term marine antifouling. Herein, we have proposed the utilization of high-speed laser cladding technology to fabricate copper-iron alloy capable of self-grown microchannel through dealloying process in a marine corrosive environment, which could effectively store copper ions. The phase composition and microstructure evolution were characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Corrosion mechanism of dealloying and distribution of microchannel was investigated. After being immersed for 2 months, the samples can form a de-ironized microchannel layer with a thickness of 350 µm, which reduces the bonding strength between corrosion products and the surface, thereby promoting the flacking of the corrosion products. The self-grown microchannel could store the copper ions which will solve the problem that the antifouling effect of traditional copper alloys decreases during long-term seawater immersion. These results may guide the advanced design of new promising antifouling materials with environmental-friendly, durable, and remarkable antifouling capability for different practical requirements in marine engineering.