LIA NEWS The lotus leaf
demonstrates a natural hydrophobic effect that can be mimicked by laser-induced periodic surface structures
Surface functionalisation by LIPSS continues to expand into new industries
LIA spoke with Camilo Florian-Baron, of BAM, on his work using lasers to enable fast, large-scale surface functionalisation, before his upcoming presentation at ICALEO 2019
Laser researchers from the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) have teamed up with medical researchers from Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) and Kepler University Hospital Linz (KUK) in a European research project to show the potential of laser materials processing for suppressing the adhesion of human cells to titanium alloy implants such as miniature pacemakers. This is only one of many research projects into the potential uses of surface functionalisation. With the use of lasers, technical surfaces
can be structured at nano- and micro- scales to mimic textures found in nature, copying the unique characteristics that make them hydrophobic, anti-bacterial, or anti-reflective; this is known as surface
functionalisation. In most cases, this type of processing reduces or even removes the need for certain chemical coatings. The field of laser-based surface functionalisation is expanding rapidly and new potential applications abound; this technology offers innovative solutions for biotechnology, automotive manufacturing, and machine building. As with most new solutions, the big question is how to make it fast and scalable to promote industry-wide adoption? According to Camilo Florian-Baron, of
BAM, the trick is using linearly polarised high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses to create laser-induced periodic surface structures, or LIPSS, which can produce these desirable biomimetic properties.
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With advancements in fast laser scanning heads and recent high-repetition rate ultra- short pulsed femtosecond lasers, surface functionalisation with LIPSS is becoming more available for R&D and manufacturing. Florian-Baron and his research team are investigating the future of LIPSS applications. With more than 50 publications on LIPSS coming from BAM in the past decade, the group is among the leading institutions progressing the understanding of the interaction between ultrashort laser pulses and matter for the micro- and nano- fabrication of materials. Florian-Baron will be presenting at ICALEO 2019 on the latest applications of surface functionalisation through LIPSS. He shared with LIA some of the unexplored potential of this emerging field, and some of the interesting projects his team has worked on.
What are the technical challenges that exist with surface functionalisation and how are advancements in laser technology helping? Usually, laser materials processing at industrial scales requires scanning the sample of interest with tightly focused laser beams. This means that micro- and nanofabrication takes a long time when processing large areas, due to the need to irradiate line-by-line or spot-by-spot until
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