Effect of surface modification on wettability and tribology by laser texturing in Al₂O₃

The life of ceramic tools restricts the development of the manufacturing industry and can be increased through the enhancement of surface performance. Laser surface texturing is a feasible technology to improve ceramic tool life based on the relationship between surface properties and the laser-texturing process. In this study, ${{\rm Al}_2}{{\rm O}_3}$ substrates have been textured by an ytterbium fiber laser system with a wavelength of 1064 nm and a pulse duration of 50 ns. First, the damage threshold of ${{\rm Al}_2}{{\rm O}_3}$ was measured to provide a basis for selecting laser-texturing parameters. The surface morphology was characterized using a white confocal scanning microscope and a scanning electron microscope to investigate the characteristics of laser processing. Water contact angles were measured to investigate the relationship between laser parameters and changes in wettability. The surface energy of the superhydrophobic ceramic was calculated based on the contact angle. Combined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement was used to explore the mechanism of wettability changes from the chemical component and microstructure perspectives. The friction coefficient of ${{\rm Al}_2}{{\rm O}_3}$ was determined by a ball-on-disc wear test. The results showed that laser texturing can significantly improve the surface hydrophobicity and friction stability.