Chemical and UV Durability of Hydrophobic and Icephobic Surface Layers on Femtosecond Laser Structured Stainless Steel

Femtosecond laser processing significantly alters the surface structure and chemical composition, impacting its wetting properties. Post-treatments such as immersion in a hydrocarbon liquid (petrol) or storage in a vacuum can significantly reduce ice adhesion, making the surfaces interesting for anti-ice applications. This study investigates their durability against acetone, ethylene glycol, and UV radiation. The laser-structured surfaces were immersed in the respective liquids for up to 48 h. The results indicate limited durability of the superhydrophobic and icephobic layers when submerged in acetone and ethylene glycol, with more favorable results for petrol treatment than vacuum treatment. Similar results were obtained after 100 h of UV exposure, showing a decrease in superhydrophobic properties and an increase in ice adhesion. However, repeated vacuum treatments conducted after the chemical durability tests revealed the potential for partial recovery of the hydrophobic and icephobic properties. XPS analysis was performed throughout the experiments to evaluate changes in surface chemistry resulting from the post-laser treatments and the durability tests.