The technology of metal engraving to achieve a "superhydrophobic effect" Bashny.Net

Two employees of the Institute of Optics University of Rochester (New York) Anatoliy Vorobyev and Chunli Guo (Chunlei Guo) published a статью in the Journal of Applied Physics, which describe the technology to create on the surface of the metal hierarchical nano- and microstructures, leading to the onset of the interesting properties, which the authors call & quot; superhydrophobic effect & quot; (Superhydrophobic effect). It is expressed in the fact that a drop of water falling on the surface of the metal, bounce him around just as if they were balls ping-pong table, without wetting the metal itself.

How does this effect you can see on the gif-animations under the spoiler:
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The authors say that the surfaces with these properties are common in nature - they are, for example, have a lotus leaf. They contain special structure of two types: large (in the micro-scale), the size of 10-50 microns and smaller, the size of which ranges from 200 nm to 10 microns. These structures in combination with эпикутикулярным wax , leaf surface and form an extremely low wettability property of the surface, known as эффект Lotus .

Researchers collected installation, allowing to irradiate the metal materials (as they were brass, titanium and platinum) titanium sapphire laser with a frequency of 65 femtoseconds. When a laser beam on the surface of the metal structure were prepared, forming "lotus effect", which were checked by a laser scanning microscope.

Received the following image:



& Quot;

Fig. a) - superhydrophobic platinum, b) - Photo microstructures thereon, c, d) - Scanning electron microscope photographs (scanning electron microscope, SEM), showing the hierarchical structure on the surface of platinum, e, f) - pictures of microstructures on the surface of brass and titanium . i>

Video presentation of work of scientists is also available on video:



This technology could be revolutionary: from "superhydrophobic" metal can made planes, cars, housing phones and other equipment, the penetration of water into which can be critical for its functioning. Together with the same glass phones can be immune against liquids.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/244680/