Durable Superhydrophobic Bilayer rGO – PTFE Coating on Carbon Fiber Composites: Mechanical Robustness, Self‐Cleaning, and Electrothermal Deicing Performance

ABSTRACT Mechanically robust superhydrophobic coatings are essential for applications where surface wear and contaminants gradually diminish water repellency. This study presents a robust bilayer coating composed of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), applied on carbon fiber‐reinforced composite (CFRC) substrate via spray‐coating method. The bilayer design comprises a conductive epoxy–rGO base layer that generates heat via Joule heating and a superhydrophobic rGO–PTFE upper layer that prevents water penetration and provides self‐cleaning properties. The optimal composition (1 wt% rGO + 5 wt% PTFE) exhibits a water contact angle of 153° and a sliding angle of 8°, indicating adherence to the Cassie–Baxter wetting model. After undergoing 100 cycles of sandpaper abrasion and 3 M tape peel tests, the coating retains nearly superhydrophobic properties (CA > 148°). This outperforms previous systems that typically fail after 30 to 50 cycles. The coating demonstrates excellent efficacy in self‐cleaning from graphite powder contamination.