Modifications of roughness and wettability properties of metals induced by femtosecond laser treatment

Topographic and wetting properties of AISI 316L stainless steel and Ti–6Al–V alloys were modified via linearly polarized femtosecond laser pulse irradiation. In order to induce a gradual evolution of the surface topography and wettability, four samples of each alloy were irradiated with different number of pulses. From the topographic point of view, a multi-scale morphology made of nano- and micro-periodic ripples was induced. The increase in the number of pulses led to the appearance of a third scale structure of waviness that is due to the laser scanning. The wettability of alloys was changed from a hydrophilic behavior to a hydrophobic one without lowering surface energies by chemical coatings. The apparent contact angle (CA) increased with increasing the number of pulses. A rise of about 50° of the apparent CA of the Ti–6Al–V was noticed.