Influence of gas media and low pressure on the dynamics of wetting transition of laser textured stainless steel meshes during air ageing

Abstract

We analyze the role of the processing atmosphere and influence of long term ageing (up to 30 days) in ambient air on the wettability of the laser-processed stainless steel meshes. The effect of low-pressure and vacuum ageing transform the initial superhydrophilic characteristics of freshly laser structured mesh to near superhydrophobic state. Laser texturing of meshes was carried out in the presence of different gas environmental conditions: N 2 , O 2 , CO 2 , Ar, SF 6 , ambient atmospheric air and under different vacuum conditions. The influence of each gas on the time evolution of the wettability properties after ageing in ambient air is analyzed.