By producing laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) upon irradiation with linearly polarized pulses on metals or semiconductors we can achieve functionalized surfaces. For sample texturing we used a laser system consisting of a polarizer, a scanning head with F-theta lens and a positioning system. We used a picosecond solid-state laser with wavelength of 1064 nm and a nanosecond fiber laser with wavelength of 1060 nm. In this thesis we investigated LIPSS formation and its influence on surface color and wettability. We confirmed that LIPSS can be achieved using both laser sources. Polarization and wavelength of irradiated light played a key role in LIPSS formation, since LIPSS orientations were always perpendicular to the laser polarization and LIPSS periods being of approximately 92 % value of the laser wavelength. By experimentation we also determined the influence of the following parameters: pulse frequency, pulse waveform, marking speed, line separation distance, average pulse power, sample displacement out of the focal position and atmosphere. After laser processing in air, argon and nitrogen atmospheres we investigated a time dependency of surface wettability, textured on polished sample of stainless steel AISI 316. Results showed that formation of LIPSS and especially microgrooves (when being irradiated with high fluence light) in an inert atmosphere firstly increased surface wettability, but following air exposure surfaces became strongly hydrophobic. We managed to modificate a sample with originally hydrophilic behavior into a superhydrophobic surface with contact angle above 150°.
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