Electrochemically assisted laser surface microtexture preparation and tribological properties research

Aluminum alloys are frequently utilized in aerospace and automotive manufacturing due to their high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and ease of processing. However, their suboptimal tribological properties significantly restrict broader applications. Currently, laser surface microtexturing is a promising method to enhance the friction and wear resistance of materials, as well as their wettability. Nonetheless, single-mode processing often exhibits inherent limitations. This study employed electrochemically assisted laser processing to create typical microtexture grooves on aluminum alloy surfaces. Additionally, to assess the impact of various processing techniques on the alloy's surface characteristics, comparative experiments were conducted in air under identical processing conditions. The textured surfaces were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and a white light interferometer. Contact angle measurements were used to evaluate surface wettability. Furthermore, the tribological behavior of surfaces textured by different methods was investigated under both dry and oil-lubricated conditions. Results indicated that textures produced via electrochemically assisted machining exhibited superior surface quality and enhanced oil film adherence. Notably, compared to surfaces processed in air, these textures demonstrated a lower friction coefficient and reduced wear under similar frictional conditions at lower loads. This is mainly due to the presence of electrochemical conditions that further improve the precision of laser processing. And the electrochemical reaction accelerates the material removal rate and reduces the surface roughness, so the abrasion resistance of the textured surface is improved.