Drag reduction performance of hydrophobic coatings with controllable wettability

Currently, an increasing number of studies focus on the applications of hydrophobic surfaces for underwater drag reduction. However, the drag reduction mechanisms of hydrophobic coatings with controllable wettability still lack systematic understanding. Herein, nano-SiO₂ composite coatings with different contact angles were fabricated using air spraying techniques. The relationship between the hydrophobicity of these coatings and their drag reduction performance under different Reynolds numbers was further investigated. The results showed that the uniformed distributed air layer and low depinning force significantly contributed to drag reduction performance. The coating with a contact angle of 140° achieved a maximum reduction rate of 58 % at a Reynolds number of 750. However, the coatings with contact angles of 150° and 155° exhibited diminished drag reduction effects due to the uneven distribution of the air film. This study highlighted that the hydrophobicity of the coatings and the uniform microstructures are essential for sustaining effective drag reduction performance.