Effect on the corrosion resistance property of aluminum substrate by altering the wetting behavior

For engineering systems like vehicles, pipelines, aircraft, and ships, corrosion in aluminum metal is a serious operational and financial challenge. In this paper, a facile and effective strategy was applied to develop superhydrophilic, hydrophilic (inherent nature), hydrophobic, and superhydrophobic surfaces via the different surface treatments. Superhydrophobic surfaces were fabricated at different roughness scales using three different acidic etchants, namely, hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrochloric acid and nitric acid (HCl + HNO3), and hydrochloric acid and cupric chloride dihydrate (HCl + CuCl2.2H(2)O) followed by the low surface energy material (hexadecyltrimethoxysilane). Then, the corrosion behavior of the different surfaces was assessed. The surface treatment and coating deposition characterizations of the samples were investigated by surface morphology, surface roughness, and wettability measurements. Each sample displayed distinct water contact and sliding angles based on its surface treatment. Additionally, an effect on the corrosion property of uncoated and all treated samples was studied in detail by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that superhydrophobic and hydrophobic surfaces could improve corrosion resistance compared to uncoated aluminum.