Manipulating Wetting State of CFRP via One-Step Laser Micro/Nanostructuring

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Science
• Engineering

Background:

• Controlling surface wetting is crucial for material functionality but remains challenging.
• Existing methods lack speed and reliability in modulating wetting states.
• Tailored wetting properties enable applications like liquid repellency and anti-fouling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel, rapid, one-step laser-based strategy for precise wetting state control on carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).
• To achieve tunable surface properties ranging from hydrophilic to robust superhydrophobic states on CFRP.

Main Methods:

• A one-step laser process was employed to modify the surface of CFRP.
• Hierarchical micro/nanostructures were concurrently formed with low surface energy component enrichment.
• Surface characterization confirmed the achieved Wenzel, mixed Cassie-Baxter/Wenzel, and stable Cassie-Baxter states.

Main Results:

• The laser strategy successfully generated hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and stable superhydrophobic surfaces on CFRP.
• Superhydrophobic surfaces achieved a stable Cassie-Baxter state due to combined structural and chemical modifications.
• The resulting superhydrophobic CFRP surfaces demonstrated excellent stability, low adhesion, and superior anti-icing/de-icing performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed laser-based method offers a rapid and precise approach for manipulating CFRP surface wetting.
• The creation of stable superhydrophobic surfaces with enhanced properties opens new avenues for CFRP applications.
• This work provides fundamental insights and a practical platform for developing advanced non-wetting, multifunctional CFRP materials.