Microstructure, elemental and phase composition and their influence on hydrophilic properties of rapidly solidified Al-In alloys

Abstract

The microstructure, elemental and phase composition of rapidly solidified foils of Al-In alloys were investigated using SEM with EDX, XRD and RBS. It was found that thin surface layers of foils are enriched with indium that results in hydrophilization of alloys. Wetting transition from the homogeneous Wenzel state to the heterogeneous Cassie-Baxter state observed when indium content increases at the foil surface of hydrophilic Al-In alloys is discussed in terms of the penetration of water into the micro/nanostructures of foil surfaces.