Scalable Methods to Obtain Superhydrophobicity onto Metallic Surface

Abstract:

Superhydrophobic surfaces, with extremely high water contact angles (CAs) of more than 150° are of special interest due to their various anti-adhesive and self-cleaning properties. Recent studies demonstrate that the superhydrophobicity principally results from the presence of binary structures at both the micrometre and nanometre scales together with the low-energy wax-like materials on the surfaces. Materials with similar properties, to those of the lotus leaf structure are very useful in several areas, such as the aeronautical industry and civil engineering; so many methods have been developed to mimic the lotus leaf structure. Metals are very important and irreplaceable engineered materials in many industrial fields. An alternative method for enhancing superhydrophobicity on different metals is proposed. The method proceeds by coating the metallic surface with a superhydrophobic reactive such as dodecanoic acid being a common application its use in paints with eco-friendly properties. The goal of this study is to induce direct superhydrophobicity by a single step and coating process on prepared surfaces of pure commercial aluminium 99.9 wt %, pure commercial 99.9 wt % copper and stainless steel grade 316L (UNS S31603). The chemical reaction proceeds by etching the activated surface with lauric acid in ethanol solutions.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 879)
• Pages: 2501-2506
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.879.2501
• Online since: November 2016
• Authors: Nuria Llorca-Isern*, Ana Maria Escobar Romero, Oriol Rius
• Keywords: Characterization, Metals, Nanostructured Materials, Scalable Process, Self-Cleaning Coatings, Superhydrophobicity

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