Hot embossed micropatterned slippery Al 5083 alloys in stagnant and laminar saltwater

Slippery AA 5083 alloy surfaces were fabricated by using ground (mean roughness-R<inf>a</inf> = 45±2 µm), polished (R<inf>a</inf> = 9±3 µm) and hot embossed micro-patterned specimens, and coating them with silicone oils of varying viscosities (1000−100000 cSt). The surface energy of aluminium alloy (AA) 5083 was estimated to be 850±210 mJ·m⁻² using Schultz model. The ground/polished specimens were coated with 12±1 µm and 24±0.3 µm thick oil. They showcased slippery character, wherein apparent water static contact angles (SCAs) of 94±1° to 104±1°, slide-off angles (SAs) of 4±0° to 21±2° and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) of <10° were observed. Also, CAH and SAs revealed an increasing trend with an increase in the oil viscosity, irrespective of the coating thickness or the substrate roughness. In addition, the water droplets bounced-off the oil coated (24 µm thick) surfaces up to Weber no. (We) of 3.91. Furthermore, micro-patterned specimens were fabricated by hot embossing at 300 °C, 17+1 MPa, 5 min and comprise of hexagonally arranged pillars and holes with 6.5−7.1 µm diameter and 9.5−13.6 µm pitch. A key finding is that micro-pillars offered the highest tolerance to shear drainage of oil under saltwater (3.5 wt% NaCl) for up to 7 days, in both stagnant and flowing laminar (Reynolds no.‐Re =247) conditions, as compared to micro-holes and unpatterned surfaces. Interestingly, the slippery properties of oil coated unpatterned AA5083 have retained after 7 days of submersion, showing SCAs ≥ 97±3° and SAs ≤ 14°, despite the negative spreading coefficient of oil on AA5083 under water. Such slippery durable micro-pillared and micro-holed AA5083 surfaces could be highly beneficial for mitigating biological corrosion of ship hulls in marine environments.