Condensation Properties of Grooved Composite Microstructured Aluminum Alloy Surface

Abstract

The aluminum alloy 6061 was used as the substrate, and the hydrophobic surface was prepared by wire cut electrical discharge machining (WEDM), and the superhydrophobic surface was obtained by optimizing the processing size. The condensation performance of the three different wettability surfaces under condensing conditions was observed and the mechanism analysis was carried out. The results show: The condensation performance and wettability of the aluminum alloy surface are directly related. Under the test conditions of the same temperature and humidity, the condensation speed from the fast to the slow is smooth surface, hydrophobic surface and superhydrophobic surface; at the same temperature and humidity change test conditions, the smooth surface has the most condensation, followed by the hydrophobic surface, and the superhydrophobic surface has the least amount of condensation. Through the mechanism analysis, it is found that the surface of the superhydrophobic surface produced a large Laplace pressure, and the micro-nano structure caused the transition of the condensed droplets from Wenzel to Cassie, thereby increasing the anti-condensation effect of the surface.