Superhydrophobic property and corrosion resistance of 1100 aluminum alloy with Peano fractal micro-nano textures

Abstract To enhance the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy exposed to marine environment, a novel Peano fractal micro-nano texture was introduced. The Peano micro-nano textures with three depths were prepared by laser etching technology, and the textured surfaces were modified by using an ethanol solution of 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDS). The hydrophobic properties of aluminum alloy surfaces with Peano textures were measured. The wetting mechanism was analyzed via XPS characterization. And the electrochemical experiments were performed to explore the corrosion resistance of a superhydrophobic surface. The results showed that LS-d30 (laser processed specimen with depth of 30 µm) exhibited the optimal superhydrophobicity, with a water contact angle of 169.3° and a sliding angle of 3.9°. The Peano micro-nano texture facilitated the adsorption of PFDS, resulting in the creation of CF2-CF2 and CF3-CF3 functional groups on the surface. These functional groups contributed to the enhancement of hydrophobic properties. The LS-d30 surface exhibited a superior corrosion inhibition rate of 84.16%. Additionally, EIS revealed a significant increase in the corrosion resistance of the Peano fractal micro-nano texture surface.