Fabrication of Protruding Structures on the 304 Stainless Steel Surface Using Laser Micro-Melting

To achieve a swift, practical, and economical method for manufacturing large-scale stable protruding structures on 304 stainless steel, a new preparation method is proposed. A continuous fiber laser was used to irradiate the surface, forming protrusions via micro-melting. By creating different shapes and arrangements of the protrusions and applying chemical modification, we enhanced the stainless steel surface’s wear resistance and hydrophobic properties. The test results showed that the water contact angle (CA) of the laser micro-melted and chemically modified protrusion array structure reached 143.6°. The qualities of frictional wear and corrosion resistance were also thoroughly examined. The corrosion potential and current density of the hydrophobic surface were significantly lower than those of the untreated one. Furthermore, even after 60 wear tests, the CA remained hydrophobic, indicating that the produced surface retained its hydrophobic qualities. The novel laser micro-melting technique provides a quick and easy way to quickly fabricate large-scale hydrophobic surfaces on stainless steel.