Fabrication of slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces of galvanized steel with durable anti-icing and anti-corrosion behavior

Icing and corrosion are challenging problems for the structural materials such as galvanized steel (GS) in offshore environment. The surface wettability has an important effect in both phenomena, so the preparation of non-wetting surfaces including superhydrophobic surface (SHPS) and their next generation slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) are promising. In this study, the porous structure of SLIPS of GS were prepared by nickel galvanic replacement (Ni-GR) reaction with various time. Analysis of FESEM images revealed that the samples prepared using a ten-minute Ni-GR immersion exhibited a uniform micro/nano porous structure. The EDS, XRD and XPS results confirmed that the Ni-GR reaction occurred. The criteria compliance for proper SLIPS’ preparation were checked by simple methods, including water contact angle (WCA) measurement and analyzing AFM topography images. The prepared SLIPS indicated stable hydrophobic behavior with the highest WCA of 124.45 ⁰ ± 1.2⁰ and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) of 1.4 ⁰. The SLIPS demonstrated anti-icing behavior with ice-adhesion strength of 12.2 ± 0.6 kPa and the anti-icing property was maintained even after several icing/deicing cycles and exposure to shear stress and a long time. The corrosion behavior of the SLIPS was investigated in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution and they exhibited enhanced corrosion resistance. They maintained this improved corrosion behavior even after long-term immersion in the NaCl solution and after being scratched along with self-healing ability. Therefore, the Ni-GR method is a promising approach to fabricating SLIPS of GS with durable anti-icing and anti-corrosion behavior. [Display omitted] •Ni galvanic replacement reaction created optimum porous surface needed for SLIPS.•WCA and topography investigation were used to check the criteria of SLIPS’ preparation.•SLIPS exhibited hydrophobicity with stability over time.•SLIPS of galvanized steel showed low ice adhesion strength with durability.•SLIPS of galvanized steel showed excellent corrosion resistance with durability.