Wettability, durability and corrosion properties of slippery laser-textured aluminum alloy surface under water impact

Abstract Laser textured aluminum alloy substrate was sprayed with hydrophobic SiO2 nanoparticles followed by the infusion of perfluoropolyether oil. The wettability and the corrosion properties were evaluated before and after the continuous water droplet impact tests. The results showed that the formation of composited pores consisting of micron-sized textured dimples and nano-sized porosities helps in enhancing the preservation of perfluoropolyether oil. The integration of textured micro-dimples endows durable water-repellency to the oil-infused SiO2 nanoparticle coating and the water contact angle stabilizes at a level of about 130° after the water droplet impact of 30 h. The micro-nano composited pores acted as oil reservoirs effectively prolong the life of lubricating oil layer, resulting in a superior corrosion resistance showing neither cathode nor anode currents against water droplet impact for 15 h.