Grid-like micro/nano structured superhydrophobic surface of DH36 steel with efficient anti-icing performance through picosecond laser processing

Due to the high humidity and low temperature, icing problems of polar vessels are inevitable. Superhydrophobic surfaces possess excellent passive anti-icing properties owing to their outstanding water repellent ability. However, in literature, most methods for preparing anti-icing surfaces are complicated and environmentally unfriendly, making them unsuitable for surface protection of polar ships. In this paper, a simple laser etching method was used to prepare superhydrophobic anti-icing surface on DH36 steel, especially for polar ships. Contact angle of the prepared superhydrophobic surface was about 161°, and sliding angle was only 3° Meanwhile, icing time was 13.4 times longer than that of untreated steel surface. In addtion, such superhydrophobicity remains after 10 icing and de-icing cycles. Adequate surface roughness and adsorption of low surface energy substances in vacuum drying furnaces provide excellent hydrophobicity on this surface. No organic coating was used in this research, which could be applied to the anti-icing in polar environments with strict environmental protection requirements, providing a new idea for clean and green anti-icing technology for polar ships.