Influence of gas media and low pressure on the dynamics of wetting
transition of laser textured stainless steel meshes during air ageing
Abstract
We analyze the role of the processing atmosphere and influence of long
term ageing (up to 30 days) in ambient air on the wettability of the
laser-processed stainless steel meshes. The effect of low-pressure and
vacuum ageing transform the initial superhydrophilic characteristics of
freshly laser structured mesh to near superhydrophobic state. Laser
texturing of meshes was carried out in the presence of different gas
environmental conditions: N 2 , O 2 , CO 2 , Ar, SF 6 , ambient
atmospheric air and under different vacuum conditions. The influence of
each gas on the time evolution of the wettability properties after
ageing in ambient air is analyzed.