Laser-assisted processing of aluminum alloy for the fabrication of superhydrophobic coatings withstanding multiple degradation factors

Abstract

The development of durable multifunctional coatings for materials operating in open atmospheric conditions is one of the key problems in materials science. For such coatings, the resistance to various destructive environmental factors determines the durability and efficiency of their use. In this work, using the laser processing method, a series of superhydrophobic coatings was created and the optimal processing conditions for aluminum alloys used for aircraft components were adjusted. As a result of the studies, the problems of increasing the rate of manufacturing the superhydrophobic coatings without loss of the required functional properties were solved and the properties of the obtained coatings were studied under a variety of long-term destructive factors characteristic of open atmospheric conditions. The analysis proved the possibility of significantly accelerating the manufacturing of coatings on aluminum alloys, characterized by high mechanical and chemical resistance, which increases the value of these coatings for the aviation industry.