Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Aluminum Alloy Surface with Hierarchical Pore Nanostructure for Anti-Corrosion

Abstract

Aluminum and its alloys have been widely used in various fields because of low weight, high strength, good conductivity, and low price. It is well known that aluminum alloys that cause natural oxide film can inhibit corrosion in wet, salty environments. However, these oxides are so thin that corrosion occurs in a variety of environments. To prevent this problem, an electrochemical anodizing technique was applied to the aluminum alloy surface to form a thick layer of oxide and a unique oxide shape, such as a hierarchical pore structure simultaneously combining large and small pores. The shape of the structures was implemented using stepwise anodization voltages such as 40 V for mild anodizing and 80 V for hard anodizing, respectively. To maximize water repellency, it is crucial to the role of surface structures shape. And a hydrophobic thin film was coated by 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (FDTS) to minimize surface energy of the structure surface. Thus, such nanoengineered superhydrophobic surface exhibited a high water contact angle and excellent corrosion resistance such as low corrosion current density and inhibition efficiency.