scholarly journals Stable Superhydrophobic Aluminum Surfaces Based on Laser-Fabricated Hierarchical Textures

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Stephan Milles ◽  
Johannes Dahms ◽  
Marcos Soldera ◽  
Andrés F. Lasagni
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Textured Surfaces ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Static Contact ◽  
Direct Laser ◽  
Direct Laser Interference Patterning ◽  
Microtextured Surfaces

Laser-microtextured surfaces have gained an increasing interest due to their enormous spectrum of applications and industrial scalability. Direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) and the well-established direct laser writing (DLW) methods are suitable as a powerful combination for the fabrication of single (DLW or DLIP) and multi-scale (DLW+DLIP) textures. In this work, four-beam DLIP and DLW were used independently and combined to produce functional textures on aluminum. The influence of the laser processing parameters, such as the applied laser fluence and the number of pulses, on the resulting topography was analyzed by confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The static long-term and dynamic wettability characteristics of the laser-textured surfaces were determined through water contact angle and hysteresis measurements, revealing superhydrophobic properties with static contact angles up to 163° and hysteresis as low as 9°. The classical Cassie–Baxter and Wenzel models were applied, permitting a deeper understanding of the observed wetting behaviors. Finally, mechanical stability tests revealed that the DLW elements in the multi-scale structure protects the smaller DLIP features under tribological conditions.

scholarly journals Multifunctional aluminium surfaces – Laser-structured micropatterns with ice-repellent, superhydrophobic and easy-to-clean properties

2020 ◽  
Vol 326 ◽  
pp. 04005
Author(s):  
Stephan Milles ◽  
Marcos Soldera ◽  
Bogdan Voisiat ◽  
Andrés Fabián Lasagni
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Contact Angle Hysteresis ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Pure Aluminium ◽  
Sliding Angle ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Static Contact ◽  
Direct Laser ◽  
Periodic Microstructures ◽  
Time Required

In this work, the fabrication of multifunctional periodic microstructures on pure aluminium is presented. Three different geometries were fabricated with feature sizes ranging between 7 µm and 50 µm by using laser-based microstructuring methods. In detail, nanosecond pulsed direct laser writing and picosecond pulsed direct laser interference patterning were used with infrared laser radiation. The wetting characteristics of these structures were investigated performing static water contact angle measurements as well as by measuring the contact angle hysteresis and the sliding angle. The final wetting results show constant static contact angles above 150°, permitting the water droplets to roll off the substrate as well as collecting contamination at the same time. This self-cleaning effect led to a reduction of up to 94% of the spread of 1 µm sized manganese oxide particles. In addition, the freezing time required for droplets laying on the patterned surfaces was increased nearly by 300% at a temperature of 20 °C below zero. Finally, the results are compared to finite element simulations of heat transfer.

scholarly journals Hierarchical Microtextures Embossed on PET from Laser-Patterned Stamps

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1756
Author(s):  
Felix Bouchard ◽  
Marcos Soldera ◽  
Robert Baumann ◽  
Andrés Fabián Lasagni
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Spatial Period ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Microscopy Imaging ◽  
Drop Shape ◽  
Direct Laser ◽  
Direct Laser Interference Patterning ◽  
Processing Steps

Nowadays, the demand for surface functionalized plastics is constantly rising. To address this demand with an industry compatible solution, here a strategy is developed for producing hierarchical microstructures on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by hot embossing using a stainless steel stamp. The master was structured using three laser-based processing steps. First, a nanosecond-Direct Laser Writing (DLW) system was used to pattern dimples with a depth of up to 8 µm. Next, the surface was smoothed by a remelting process with a high-speed laser scanning at low laser fluence. In the third step, Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) was utilized using four interfering sub-beams to texture a hole-like substructure with a spatial period of 3.1 µm and a depth up to 2 µm. The produced stamp was used to imprint PET foils under controlled temperature and pressure. Optical confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy imaging showed that the hierarchical textures could be accurately transferred to the polymer. Finally, the wettability of the single- and multi-scaled textured PET surfaces was characterized with a drop shape analyzer, revealing that the highest water contact angles were reached for the hierarchical patterns. Particularly, this angle was increased from 77° on the untreated PET up to 105° for a hierarchical structure processed with a DLW spot distance of 60 µm and with 10 pulses for the DLIP treatment.

scholarly journals The Role of the Surface Nano-Roughness on the Wettability Performance of Microstructured Metallic Surface Using Direct Laser Interference Patterning

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 2737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo I. Aguilar-Morales ◽  
Sabri Alamri ◽  
Bogdan Voisiat ◽  
Tim Kunze ◽  
Andrés F. Lasagni
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Laser Interference ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Single Scale ◽  
Direct Laser ◽  
Scale Structures ◽  
Direct Laser Interference Patterning

Superhydrophobic natural surfaces usually have multiple levels of structure hierarchy, particularly microstructures covered with nano-roughness. The multi-scale nature of such a surface reduces the wetting of water and oils, and supports self-cleaning properties. In this work, in order to broaden our understanding of the wetting properties of technical surfaces, biomimetic surface patterns were fabricated on stainless steel with single and multi-scale periodic structures using direct laser interference patterning (DLIP). Micropillars with a spatial period of 5.5 µm and a structural depth of 4.2 µm were fabricated and covered by a sub-micro roughness by using ultrashort laser pulses, thus obtaining a hierarchical geometry. In order to distinguish the influence of the different features on the wettability behavior, a nanosecond laser source was used to melt the nano-roughness, and thus to obtain single-scale patterns. Then, a systematic comparison between the single- and multi-scale structures was performed. Although, the treated surfaces showed hydrophilic behavior directly after the laser treatment, over time they reached a steady-state hydrophobic condition. However, the multi-scale structured metal showed a contact angle 31° higher than the single-scale geometry when the steady-state conditions were reached. Furthermore, the impact of the surface chemistry was investigated by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. Finally, a hydrophobizing agent was applied to the laser treated samples in order to further enhance the water contact angles and to determine the pure contribution of the surface topography. In the latter case, the multi-scale periodic microstructures reached static contact angles of 152° ± 2° and a contact angle hysteresis of only 4° ± 2°, while the single-scale structures did not show superhydrophobic behavior. These results definitely suggest that multi-scale DLIP structures in conjunction with a surface chemistry modification can promote a superhydrophobic regime.

scholarly journals Biomimetic Approach for the Elaboration of Highly Hydrophobic Surfaces: Study of the Links between Morphology and Wettability

Biomimetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Quentin Legrand ◽  
Stephane Benayoun ◽  
Stephane Valette
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Ginkgo Biloba ◽  
Contact Angle Hysteresis ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Textured Surfaces ◽  
Replication Process ◽  
Wetting Behavior ◽  
Static Contact ◽  
Biomimetic Approach ◽  
Highly Hydrophobic

This investigation of morphology-wetting links was performed using a biomimetic approach. Three natural leaves’ surfaces were studied: two bamboo varieties and Ginkgo Biloba. Multiscale surface topographies were analyzed by SEM observations, FFT, and Gaussian filtering. A PDMS replicating protocol of natural surfaces was proposed in order to study the purely morphological contribution to wetting. High static contact angles, close to 135∘, were measured on PDMS replicated surfaces. Compared to flat PDMS, the increase in static contact angle due to purely morphological contribution was around 20∘. Such an increase in contact angle was obtained despite loss of the nanometric scale during the replication process. Moreover, a significant decrease of the hysteresis contact angle was measured on PDMS replicas. The value of the contact angle hysteresis moved from 40∘ for flat PDMS to less than 10∘ for textured replicated surfaces. The wetting behavior of multiscale textured surfaces was then studied in the frame of the Wenzel and Cassie–Baxter models. Whereas the classical laws made it possible to describe the wetting behavior of the ginkgo biloba replications, a hierarchical model was developed to depict the wetting behavior of both bamboo species.

scholarly journals Direct Laser Interference Patterning of Diffraction Gratings in Safrofilcon-A Hydrogel: Fabrication and Hydration Assessment

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 679
Author(s):  
Daniel Sola ◽  
Stephan Milles ◽  
Andrés F. Lasagni
Keyword(s):  
Laser Fluence ◽  
Contact Lenses ◽  
Laser Source ◽  
Spatial Period ◽  
Laser Interference ◽  
Periodic Patterns ◽  
Hydration Properties ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Direct Laser ◽  
Direct Laser Interference Patterning

Refractive index modification by laser micro-structuration of diffractive optical devices in ophthalmic polymers has recently been applied for refractive correction in the fields of optics and ophthalmology. In this work, Safrofilcon-A hydrogel, used as soft contact lenses, was processed by direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) to fabricate linear periodic patterns on the surface of the samples. Periodic modulation of the surface was attained under two-beam interference by using a Q-switched laser source with emission at 263 nm and 4 ns pulse duration. Features of processed areas were studied as a function of both the interference spatial period and the laser fluence. Optical confocal microscopy used to evaluate the topography of the processed samples showed that both structured height and surface roughness increased with laser fluence. Static water contact angle (WCA) measurements were carried out with deionized water droplets on the structured areas to evaluate the hydration properties of DLIP structures. It was observed that the laser structured areas induced a delay in the hydration process. Finally, microstructural changes induced in the structured areas were assessed by confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy showing that at low laser fluences the polymer structure remained almost unaltered. In addition, Raman spectra of hydrated samples recovered the original shape of areas structured at low laser fluence.

scholarly journals Wettability control of polymeric microstructures replicated from laser-patterned stamps

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangxi Fu ◽  
Marcos Soldera ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Stephan Milles ◽  
Kangfa Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle Hysteresis ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Spatial Period ◽  
Structured Surfaces ◽  
High Adhesion ◽  
Direct Laser ◽  
Periodic Microstructures ◽  
Structure Height ◽  
Direct Laser Interference Patterning ◽  
Micropillar Arrays

AbstractIn this study, two-step approaches to fabricate periodic microstructures on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates are presented to control the wettability of polymeric surfaces. Micropillar arrays with periods between 1.6 and 4.6 µm are patterned by plate-to-plate hot embossing using chromium stamps structured by four-beam Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP). By varying the laser parameters, the shape, spatial period, and structure height of the laser-induced topography on Cr stamps are controlled. After that, the wettability properties, namely the static, advancing/receding contact angles (CAs), and contact angle hysteresis were characterized on the patterned PET and PMMA surfaces. The results indicate that the micropillar arrays induced a hydrophobic state in both polymers with CAs up to 140° in the case of PET, without modifying the surface chemistry. However, the structured surfaces show high adhesion to water, as the droplets stick to the surfaces and do not roll down even upon turning the substrates upside down. To investigate the wetting state on the structured polymers, theoretical CAs predicted by Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter models for selected structured samples with different topographical characteristics are also calculated and compared with the experimental data.

Metallography and Biomimetics – Or New Surfaces Without Chemistry?

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 446-459
Author(s):  
T. Fox ◽  
S. M. Lößlein ◽  
D. W. Müller ◽  
F. Mücklich
Keyword(s):  
Economic Cost ◽  
Electrical Contacts ◽  
Structured Surfaces ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Direct Laser ◽  
One Step ◽  
Fine Structures ◽  
Scale Structures ◽  
Processing Techniques ◽  
Direct Laser Interference Patterning

Abstract Fingerprints, a butterfly’s wings, or a lotus leaf: when it comes to surfaces, there is no such thing as coincidence in animated nature. Based on their surfaces, animals and plants control their wettability, their swimming resistance, their appearance, and much more. Evolution has optimized these surfaces and developed a microstructure that fits every need. It is all the more astonishing that, with regard to technical surfaces, man confines himself to random roughnesses or “smooth” surfaces. It is surely not a problem of a lack of incentives: structured surfaces have already provided evidence of optimizing friction and wear [1, 2, 3, 4], improving electrical contacts [5, 6], making implants biocompatible [7, 8], keeping away harmful bacteria [9], and much more. How come we continue counting on grinding, polishing, sandblasting, or etching? As so often, the problem can be found in economic cost effectiveness. It is possible to produce interesting structures such as those of the feather in Fig. 1. However, generating fine structures in the micro and nanometer range usually requires precise processing techniques. This is complex, time-consuming, and cannot readily be integrated into a manufacturing process. Things are different with Direct Laser Interference Patterning, DLIP) [10, 11]. This method makes use of the strong interference pattern of overlapped laser beams as a “stamp” to provide an entire surface area with dots, lines, or other patterns – in one shot. It thus saves time, allows for patterning speeds of up to 1 m2/min and does it without an elaborate pre- or post-treatment [10, 12]. The following article intends to outline how the method works, which structures can be generated, and how the complex multi-scale structures that nature developed over millions of years can be replicated in only one step.

scholarly journals Picosecond Laser Interference Patterning of Periodical Micro-Architectures on Metallic Molds for Hot Embossing

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 3409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangxi Fu ◽  
Marcos Soldera ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Bogdan Voisiat ◽  
Andrés Fabián Lasagni
Keyword(s):  
Picosecond Laser ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Hot Embossing ◽  
Surface Structures ◽  
Laser Source ◽  
Laser Interference ◽  
Periodic Surface ◽  
Direct Laser ◽  
Direct Laser Interference Patterning ◽  
532 Nm

In this work, it is demonstrated that direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) is a method capable of producing microtextured metallic molds for hot embossing processes. Three different metals (Cr, Ni, and Cu), relevant for the mold production used in nanoimprinting systems, are patterned by DLIP using a picosecond laser source emitting at a 532 nm wavelength. The results show that the quality and surface topography of the produced hole-like micropatterns are determined by the laser processing parameters, such as irradiated energy density and the number of pulses. Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are also observed on the treated surfaces, whose shapes, periodicities, and orientations are strongly dependent on the accumulated fluence. Finally, the three structured metals are used as embossing molds to imprint microlenses on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) foils using an electrohydraulic press. Topographical profiles demonstrate that the obtained structures are comparable to the masters showing a satisfactory reproduction of the texture. The polymeric microlens arrays that showed the best surface homogeneity and overall quality were those embossed with the Cr molds.

Tailoring Surface Hydrophobicity of Commercial Polyimide by Laser-Induced Nanocarbon Texturing

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moataz Abdulhafez ◽  
Angela J. McComb ◽  
Mostafa Bedewy
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Surface Characterization ◽  
Surface Engineering ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Spot Size ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Surface Nanostructure

Abstract The growth of laser-induced nanocarbons, referred to here as laser-induced nanocarbon (LINC) for short, directly on polymeric surfaces is a promising route toward surface engineering of commercial polymers. This paper aims to demonstrate how this new approach can enable achieving varied surface properties based on tuning the nanostructured morphology of the formed graphitic material on commercial polyimide (Kapton) films. We elucidate the effects of tuning laser processing parameters on the achieved nanoscale morphology and the resulting surface hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity. Our results show that by varying lasing power, rastering speed, laser spot size, and line-to-line gap sizes, a wide range of water contact angles are possible, i.e., from below 20 deg to above 110 deg. Combining water contact angle measurements from an optical tensiometer with LINC surface characterization using optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy enables building the process–structur–property relationship. Our findings reveal that both the value of contact angle and the anisotropic wetting behavior of LINC on polyimide are dependent on their hierarchical surface nanostructure which ranges from isotropic nanoporous morphology to fibrous morphology. Results also show that increasing gap sizes lead to an increase in contact angles and thus an increase in the hydrophobicity of the surface. Hence, our work highlight the potential of this approach for manufacturing flexible devices with tailored surfaces.

scholarly journals Development of a Monitoring Strategy for Laser-Textured Metallic Surfaces Using a Diffractive Approach

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Sascha Teutoburg-Weiss ◽  
Bogdan Voisiat ◽  
Marcos Soldera ◽  
Andrés Fabián Lasagni
Keyword(s):  
Current Status ◽  
Textured Surfaces ◽  
Metallic Surfaces ◽  
Optical Images ◽  
Single Scale ◽  
Direct Laser ◽  
Indirect Evaluation ◽  
Optical Configuration ◽  
Surface Patterns ◽  
Direct Laser Interference Patterning

The current status of research around the world concurs on the powerful influence of micro- and nano-textured surfaces in terms of surface functionalization. In order to characterize the manufactured topographical morphology with regard to the surface quality or homogeneity, major efforts are still required. In this work, an optical approach for the indirect evaluation of the quality and morphology of surface structures manufactured with Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) is presented. For testing the designed optical configuration, line-like surface patterns are fabricated at a 1064 nm wavelength on stainless steel with a repetitive distance of 4.9 µm, utilizing a two-beam DLIP configuration. Depending on the pulse to pulse overlap and hatch distance, different single and complex pattern geometries are produced, presenting non-homogenous and homogenous surface patterns. The developed optical system permitted the successfully classification of different pattern geometries, in particular, those showing single-scale morphology (high homogeneity). Additionally, the fabricated structures were measured using confocal microscopy method, and the obtained topographies were correlated with the recorded optical images.

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