One-step immersion method for fabricating superhydrophobic aluminum alloy with excellent corrosion resistance

This work develops a facile one-step immersion method for preparing the superhydrophobic aluminum alloy, i.e. the aluminum alloy is treated with stearic acid (STA)-ethanol-H2O solution at 60 degrees C for 35h. Results show that the aluminum alloy achieves flower-like structure with both a great deal of pillars and pores, while the long hydrophobic alkyl chains are chemically grafted onto the hierarchical surface. Meanwhile, the water contact angle at the aluminum alloy surface gradually enhances with the decrease of the ethanol-H2O volume ratio, and the water contact angle and rolling angle of 156.2 degrees and 5 degrees, respectively, are obtained when the ethanol-H2O volume ratio is 1:3. Moreover, results show that the higher water contact angle at the aluminum alloy, the better corrosion resistance of the aluminum alloy. Consequently, the aluminum alloy with the superhydrophobic property has the best corrosion resistance, durability, and stability in corrosive environments. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.