Preparation of superamphiphobic aluminium alloy surface based on laser‐EDM method

Abstract

In order to achieve superamphiphobic surface of aluminium alloy, a method based on laser-EDM (electrical discharge machining) was proposed. By means of laser etching, the size of the controllable micrometre square column structure could be prepared on the surface of aluminium alloy. Then combined with the electric processing method, the binary micro-nano rough structure was constructed and modified with fluorosilane methanol solution, and the superamphiphobic surface was achieved successfully. The morphology and size of the superamphiphobic surface were observed by scanning electron microscopy and laser confocal microscopy, and the superamphiphobic performance of the surface was detected by video optical contact angle. The results showed that the water contact angle of the surface prepared by laser-EDM was 157.06°. After the modification of fluorosilane methanol solution, the contact angle of the surface to ethylene glycol reached 156.46°. It can be discovered that the acquisition of binary micro-nano rough structure and the decrease of surface energy are important conditions to obtain superamphiphobicity. Compared with the existing methods, laser etching can be a good control surface morphology, and eventually get superamphiphobic surface.