Investigations in the fabrication of surface patterns for wettability modification on a Zr-based bulk metallic glass by nanosecond laser surface texturing

Abstract

Laser texturing has previously been employed to enhance the wettability of metallic alloys. Such studies reported that modifying the wettability of a surface is a result of changes in both its topography and its chemistry. In this paper, an investigation about laser-induced surface wettability modification is also reported but for a less studied type of material in this context. In particular, nanosecond (ns) laser processing was employed to texture two types of surface patterns, i.e. dimples and grooves, on the surface of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) known as Vitreloy 105. The specific focus of the research was on understanding the role played by both surface topography and chemistry modifications in changing the wettability of the original surface. Using static contact angle measurements, it was found that groove patterns enhanced the hydrophilicity of the original BMG, while dimple patterns weakened it. Based on the obtained 3D surface measurements and XPS data, it is suggested that the reduced hydrophilicity of dimple-textured surfaces was driven by the decrease of hydrophilic CO and OCO bonds post laser processing. While these bonds were also reduced for groove-textured patterns, the hydrophilicity was still enhanced following laser irradiation as a result of the dominant role that a much larger induced surface roughness should play in this case.