Anti-wear and anti-corrosion performance of a superhydrophobic micro-textured surface fabricated by laser ablation

To enhance the service performance of aluminum alloy components used in marine engineering under harsh environments, this study introduces Peano fractal geometry into micro-texture design and employs laser ablation to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces on aluminum alloy substrates in a controllable and environmentally conscious manner. A quantitative relationship between laser processing parameters and the geometric characteristics of Peano micro-textures was established, and their structure-enabled effects on surface wettability, wear behavior and corrosion resistance were systematically investigated. The results show that the Peano fractal micro-textured surface achieves an ultrahigh contact angle of 168.8°. Owing to the hierarchically connected groove architecture, the textured surface exhibits enhanced lubricant storage capacity and wear debris trapping ability, leading to a significant reduction in the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate. Meanwhile, the synergistic action of a stable trapped air layer and a low-surface-energy interfacial film effectively isolates corrosive ions and suppresses charge transfer, thereby markedly reducing the corrosion rate. More importantly, the findings reveal that the laser-fabricated Peano micro-texture plays a decisive role in enabling the simultaneous improvement of superhydrophobicity, wear resistance and corrosion resistance, highlighting a structure-driven rather than chemistry-dependent enhancement mechanism. This work provides an efficient and controllable surface design strategy for developing multifunctional aluminum alloy surfaces and offers valuable guidance for improving the service performance of offshore engineering equipment.