Abstract: Superhydrophobic coatings with high non-wetting properties are widely applied in anti-icing applications. However, the
micro-nanostructures on the surfaces of superhydrophobic coatings are fragile under external forces, resulting in reduced
durability. Therefore, mechanical strength and durability play a crucial role in the utilization of superhydrophobic materials.
In this study, we employed a two-step spraying method to fabricate superhydrophobic FEVE-based coatings with
exceptional mechanical durability, utilizing fluorinated TiO2 nanoparticles and fluorinated Al2O3 microwhiskers as the
fillers. The composite coating exhibited commendable non-wetting properties, displaying a contact angle of 164.84° and
a sliding angle of 4.3°. On this basis, the stability of coatings was significantly improved due to the interlocking effect
of Al2O3 whiskers. After 500 tape peeling cycles, 500 sandpaper abrasion tests, and 50 kg falling sand impact tests, the
coatings retained superhydrophobicity, exhibiting excellent durability and application capability. Notably, the ice adhesion
strength on the coatings was measured at only 65.4 kPa, while the icing delay time reached 271.8 s at -15 °C. In addition,
throughout 500 freezing/melting cycles, statistical analysis revealed that the superhydrophobic coatings exhibited a
freezing initiation temperature as low as -17.25 °C.

Key words: Superhydrophobic coatings · Anti-icing · Mechanical durability