Anti-corrosion and anti-icing properties of superhydrophobic laser-textured aluminum surfaces

Rodič, Peter (author), Kovač, Nina (author), Kralj, Slavko (author), Jereb, Samo (author), Golobič, Iztok (author), Može, Matic (author), Milošev, Ingrid (author)

Superhydrophobic surfaces have favorable properties in simultaneously reducing the negative effects of corrosion and ice accumulation. In this study, laser-texturing was employed as a facile and environmentally friendly surface method to prepare a surface with hierarchical roughness for subsequent grafting by immersion in an ethanol solution containing 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (FAS-10). Various analytical techniques were utilized to assess the characteristics of the laser-textured aluminum surfaces before and after grafting, such as a contact profilometer, optical tensiometer, scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive spectroscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope. These methods were used to evaluate surface roughness, wettability, morphology, and composition. The corrosion properties were evaluated through potentiodynamic and impedance measurements in a dilute Harrison's solution (DHS) composed of 0.35 wt% (NH$_4$)$_2$SO$_4$ + 0.05 wt% NaCl. Additionally, freezing delay tests at various surface temperatures were performed to assess the surface's ability to prevent the freezing of water droplets on the treated surface. The laser-textured aluminum surface, featuring micro/nanostructures and a grafted nanoscopic perfluoroalkyl silane film, exhibited outstanding superhydrophobicity and enhanced corrosion protection. The developed surface has been shown to significantly delay the onset of ice nucleation and extend the freezing delay.

• Language: English
• Keywords: aluminum, laser-texturing, corrosion, superhydrophobic surface, anti-icing
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 15 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 494, pt. 1, art. 131325
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-162195
• UDC: 620.1/.2
• ISSN on article: 0257-8972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2024.131325
• COBISS.SI-ID: 208029699
• Publication date in RUL: 19.09.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Surface & coatings technology
• Shortened title: Surf. coat. technol.
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0257-8972
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3084815

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: aluminij, korozija, hidrofobne površine