Marine Applications of Metal‐Modified FEVE Coatings on 6061 Aluminum Alloy for Enhanced Anti‐Corrosion and Anti‐Biofouling

ABSTRACT This study developed a metal–modified fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) organic coating on 6061 aluminum alloy, supported by a micro‐arc oxidation (MAO) pretreatment layer, to enhance corrosion resistance and antifouling performance in marine environments. The MAO layer offered initial ceramic protection, reducing i corr from 2.46 × 10 −6 to 6.27 × 10 −7 A cm − 2 . FEVE fluorocarbon resin acting as the primary functional barrier provided a dense, low‐polarity outer layer, whereas La 3+ /Ho 3+ ions coordinated with the polymer matrix and deposited in situ as metal oxides at micro‐defects, further decreasing i corr to 1.62 × 10 −9 A cm − 2 . Additionally, the combined effects of FEVE hydrophobicity, metal ion activity, and Ag + /Cu 2+ release effectively inhibited fungal growth and diatom adhesion, maintaining stable antifouling performance over 7–14 days. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed uniform metal modification dispersion and improved organic/inorganic interfacial densification. Overall, the MAO‐FEVE‐La/Ho system demonstrates a polymer‐driven barrier‐defect—sealing—ion‐assisted antifouling mechanism, offering strong potential for long‐term marine applications.