One-step preparation of super-hydrophobic micro-nano dendrites on al alloy for enhanced corrosion resistance

Abstract

Corrosion failure is a thorny issue that restricts the applications of Al alloys. As a research hotspot in functional realization, hydrophobic fabrication exactly offers an efficient method to settle metallic corrosions. This work has developed a facile and low-cost method to enhance corrosion resistance of Al alloys. The micro-nano dendrites have been firstly prepared on metallic substrate using one-step potentiostatic deposition. Then, wetting and electrochemical behaviors have been systematically investigated after stearic acid modification. Results show that the as-prepared surface possesses amplified and durable water repellence with an apparent contact angle (CA) of 154.2◦ and a sliding angle (SA) of 4.7◦ . Meanwhile, owing to the trapped air in dendrites, the newly-generated solid-air-liquid interfaces help to resist seawater penetration by reducing interfacial interactions on the super-hydrophobic surface as well as significantly enhance its corrosion resistance. This work sheds positive insights into extending the applications of Al alloys in many areas, especially for ocean engineering fields.