Laser carving makes metals, ceramics and plastics ‘superhydrophobic’

A new laser carving technique that works on metals, ceramics and plastics makes the surface of those materials ‘superhydrophobic’, its developers have said.

With potential application in design and manufacture of waterproof electronic devices or medical devices, the process was developed at Central South University in Changsha, China.

Superhydrophobic surfaces, which strongly repel water, are useful for self-cleaning and anti-corrosion, as well as separating oil and water. Conventional methods to create these surfaces are complex and material-specific however, the CSU announcement said.

Recent advancements include techniques such as 3D printing for adjustable porosity and hydrothermal methods for antibacterial coatings. “Despite these developments, a need for simpler, versatile methods persists,” the researchers said.

The new method has two main steps. First, a femtosecond laser carves tiny patterns onto the material. The highly detailed carving creates small structures that help enhance surface roughness.

The surfaces are then coated with stearic acid, a substance that makes them water-repellent by reducing surface energy. The combination of laser carving and chemical coating creates a strong water-repellent surface.

“What's great about this method is that it can be used on many different materials like metals, ceramics, and plastics, making it more versatile than older techniques. This could be really useful for things like keeping electronic devices safe from water, or improving medical tools,” the announcement said.

Lead researcher Professor Kai Yin said: “Our femtosecond laser-chemical hybrid processing technique marks a significant advancement in material science, offering a versatile approach to creating superhydrophobic surfaces on various substrates.”

The work was published in Journal of Central South University.

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