Electrophoretically deposited PEEK/PDMS composite coatings for 316L SS bioimplants

•PEEK/PDMS coating was electrophoretically deposited on 316L SS bioimplant.•EPD yielded compact PEEK/PDMS coating with enhanced interfacial interaction.•PDMS pointedly altered the surface and mechanical features of the PEEK layer.•Corrosion studies confirmed improved barrier protection of PEEK/PDMS coating. The surface characteristics and electrochemical corrosion resistance of the 316L SS bioimplants are significantly enhanced with an electrophoretically deposited composite coating of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS). The composite-coated bioimplants' structural and mechanical properties and in-vitro corrosion behaviors are studied to corroborate the property enhancement. Our results showed that PDMS incorporation enhanced the heat-treated PEEK layer's crystallinity and hardness. The composite coating's charge transfer resistance is ∼ 28-fold higher than the plain PEEK.