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A fabrication technique involving anti-wetting properties to stainless steel without applying a coating, while maintaining stability of the material.
About
Georgia Tech inventors have developed a novel fabrication technique to impart anti-wetting properties to stainless steel without applying a coating, while still maintaining the integrity of the mechanical and thermal stability of the material. The process is a two-step electrochemical etching process comprised of sequentially low and high anodic potentials, resulting in the evolution of intrinsic hierarchical structures that impart enhanced anti-wetting properties to the stainless steel. Using dilute nitric acid as the electrolyte, the potentiostatic electrochemical etching is carried out at a low anodic potential to evolve intrinsic grain structures. A second step of potentiostatic etching step is performed at high anodic potential. The resulting surface shows a hierarchical structure composed of microscale intrinsic grains and enhanced nanoscale surface roughness. Further improvement in anti-wetting properties can be achieved through the application of a thin-film fluoropolymer layer resulting in a 160º static contact angle and roll-off angle of less than 20º.
Key Benefits
Utilizes intrinsic grain structures of stainless steel to modify surface wettability More efficient fluid transport and reduced energy consumption Does not require the deposition of additional coatings Maintains mechanical and thermal stability of the stainless steel. 2-step process occurring at room temperature. Enhanced heat transfer efficiency
Applications
Commercial, industrial and military applications Antifouling coatings and reduced drag on ship hulls Power generation and desalination processes To create appliances and fixtures that are easier to keep clean