Super hydrophobic surfaces are widely used and have great value. There are many methods to construct superhydrophobic surface. Chemical etching has the characteristics of simple operation and remarkable effect. For metal surfaces, the effects of etching solution composition, solution ratio and reaction conditions on the hydrophobic properties of metal surface were studied and the methods and mechanisms of low surface energy modification were explored. Based on Wenzel‘s and Cassie‘s basic theoretical models, the different solid-liquid contact states and liquid dredging mechanisms were summarized. The effects of etching methods and reaction conditions on the micro-morphology and macro-hydrophobic properties of the sample surface were visually demonstrated by SEM and relationship curves. The effects of surface morphology and size parameters on static and dynamic hydrophobic properties were discussed theoretically. The modification effect and mechanism of modifiers and functional groups used for low surface modification were described. On this basis, the existing problems of this method were summarized and sorted out, and the reasons for the fluctuation of surface hydrophobic stability after etching under different conditions were deeply analyzed.