Ultrafast Laser Surface Texturing: A Sustainable Tool to Modify Wettability Properties of Marble

Ana J. López, Alberto Ramil, José S. Pozo-Antonio, Teresa Rivas and Dolores Pereira
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Ana J. López: Laboratorio de Aplicacións Industriais do Láser, Centro de Investigacións Tecnolóxicas, Universidade da Coruña, 15471 Ferrol, Spain
Alberto Ramil: Laboratorio de Aplicacións Industriais do Láser, Centro de Investigacións Tecnolóxicas, Universidade da Coruña, 15471 Ferrol, Spain
José S. Pozo-Antonio: Departamento de Enxeñaría de Recursos Naturais e Medio Ambiente, Escola de Enxeñaría de Minas e Enerxía, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
Teresa Rivas: Departamento de Enxeñaría de Recursos Naturais e Medio Ambiente, Escola de Enxeñaría de Minas e Enerxía, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
Dolores Pereira: Department of Geology, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Conservation strategies to reduce the degradation of stone caused by the action of water are focusing on increasing the hydrophobicity of the surface by imitating existing solutions in nature (lotus leafs and others). These are mainly based on the existence of hierarchical roughness with micro- and nanoscale structures. In the case of marble, research has focused on protective coatings that sometimes are dangerous for the health and the environment, and with undesirable effects such as color changes or reduction of water vapor permeability of the stone. Laser texturing, however, is an environmentally friendly technique, because no chemicals or toxic waste are added and, moreover, it can process nearly all types of materials. It has been used to change the surface texture of metals and other materials on a micro or even nanometric scale, to meet a specific functional requirement, such as hydrophobicity. The objective of this work was to analyze the feasibility of this technique to provide hydrophobic properties to a marble surface without appreciable changes in its appearance. Therefore, an analysis of the irradiation parameters with ultra-short-pulse laser was performed. Preliminary results demonstrate the ability of this technique to provide hydrophobic character the marble (contact angles well above 90 ∘ ). Besides, the analysis of the treated surfaces in terms of roughness, color and gloss indicates that changes in the appearance of the surface are minimal when properly selecting the process parameters.

Keywords: marble; wettability properties; hydrophobicity; laser surface texturing; multiscale roughness; cultural heritage; ultrafast pulse laser (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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