Ultrafast fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces on engineering light metals by single-step immersion process

Abstract Superhydrophobic surfaces were successfully fabricated on magnesium alloy AZ31 and aluminum alloy Al6061 by an easy and ultrafast single-step immersion process. The treated surfaces were composed of myristic acid and cerium oxide, and showed a static water contact angle of more than 150°. The shortest process time for fabricating superhydrophobic Mg and Al alloys were found to be 60 and 15 s, respectively. The anticorrosion resistance of the superhydrophobic AZ31 was estimated by potentiodynamic polarization curve measurements. The polarization curve measurements revealed that the superhydrophobic AZ31 improved the anticorrosion resistant performance of magnesium alloy AZ31.