Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Surface Microstructures on Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites Through Femtosecond Laser Processing Assisted With Chemical Treatment

ABSTRACT Carbon fiber reinforced polyether ether ketone (CF/PEEK), a kind of high‐performance composite material, exhibits remarkable comprehensive performance, and its superhydrophobic performance is an important application characteristic. This study employs femtosecond laser processing technology to construct microstructures on the surface of CF/PEEK and achieve surface superhydrophobicity assisted with perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane‐isopropanol (PFDS‐IPA) aftertreatment. The effects of laser parameters on surface morphology and hydrophobic performance are systematically investigated. The results reveal that the variations in laser pulse energy, scanning speed, and scanning spacing significantly impact the microstructure depth, surface roughness, and microstructure regularity. Specifically, moderate laser pulse energy and scanning speed strike a balance between surface thermal accumulation and ablation, resulting in uniform and regular microstructures. Optimized scanning spacing effectively avoids excessive overlap or uncovered regions, providing critical conditions for the construction of ideal microstructures. After PFDS‐IPA aftertreatment, the surface energy is significantly reduced, leading to a substantial enhancement of superhydrophobic performance. The findings of this study provide useful design concepts and technical references for the application of femtosecond laser processing and chemical modification technologies in high‐performance surface engineering, while also laying a solid foundation for the multifunctional applications of CF/PEEK.