Nanocoating on aluminium alloy with self-cleaning and icephobic performances for anti-corrosive applications

This work seeks to develop a low-cost superhydrophobic coating on 6082 aluminium alloy using a simple and safe method. The method consists of a combination of surface nanostructuration with the chemical grafting of silane molecules. AA 6082 substrates have been subjected to hydrothermal roughening. Then, these surfaces have been subjected to a grafting treatment with low surface energy silane. Through the applied methodology, it was possible to obtain nanoroughness coating with a high contact angle (> 150 degrees) and a low sliding angle (<5 degrees). The evaluation of ice resistance, corrosion resistance and self-cleaning were carried out. The results reveal that the corrosion resistance of the coated aluminum alloy was much better than the substrate in coca cola. Different types of dust particles were easily removed by the rolling motion of droplets confirming the self-cleaning performance of the obtained nanocoating. A comparative analysis of the anti-icing properties of the aluminum alloy surface before and after treatment showed an outstandingly better performance for the nanocoated surfaces. Indeed, a reduction of ice adhesion by about 40% was observed. These multifunctional coatings hold high potential for application in several fields, ranging from food safety to medical field, offering sustainable and safe solutions.