Laser surface texturing of titanium with thermal post-processing for improved wettability properties

The use of lasers to create microstructures on metal surfaces in order to change the wettability properties a material has been widely explored, mainly using ultra-short pulsed lasers working in the femto and picosecond regime. In order to explore a more robust industrial method for the creation of super-hydrophobic surfaces, a fibre based nanosecond pulsed laser has been used to process polished Ti6Al4V samples to produce customised topography. The samples then received a low temperature annealing post-treatment. This, decrease the time needed for reaching the super-hydrophobic point considerably. The nanosecond pulsed laser provides a thermal component in the surface, helping with the creation of micro pillars in the surface morphology. The use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX), white light optical profiling, and contact angle measurements were used to characterize and quantify the effects of the surface modification on the wetting properties of the material.