Preparation of multifunctional protective coating on alloy surface by laser-electrodeposition additive-subtractive hybrid manufacturing

The preparation of multi-protective coatings is of great significance for improving the surface performance and prolonging the service life of parts. Here, a composite preparation method combining subtractive and additive manufacturing has been proposed to manufacture durable coatings with multiple protective capabilities. A special surface composed of a micro-nano structure and a zinc nickel composite coating was prepared through the clever combination of laser surface texturing technology and electrodeposition technology. The microstructure, surface chemical composition, and various protective properties of the prepared micro-nano structure and protective coating were mainly explored. Based on the experiment results, the Zn-Ni alloy coating successfully covered the aluminum alloy substrate. For the prepared superhydrophobic surface, the water drops contact angle was 151.5° while the sliding angle was 9°. The prepared surface exhibited excellent characteristics in reducing adhesion, mirror effect, water jet reflection, self-cleaning, anti-icing, corrosion prevention, and wear resistance. This study had positive significance in promoting the widespread application of metal based protective surfaces in the industrial field. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.