Video

PhD Researcher Marek Mezera describes his work on laser-surface texturing for self cleaning surfaces at the Chair of Laser Processing at the University of Twente.

The Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) technique has been used to create a functionalized surface on stainless steel (black area). In combination with an additional post-treatment, the metal surface has extremely water-repellent properties with contact angles of over 150 degrees. The microscopic surface exhibits “miniature mountains” that create a superhydrophobic surface, similar to its natural pendent on a lotus leaf. The sample was placed under water (no wetting of the structured areas is observed) to emphasize the water repellency. Consequently, even if the surface gets wet, it actually stays dry in the laser processed areas. Finally, DLIP allows for self-cleaning properties on technological surfaces at industrially-relevant throughput.

The paper

Sabri Alamri and Andrés F. Lasagni (2017) Direct laser interference patterning of transparent and colored polymer substrates: ablation, swelling, and the development of a simulation model. Proc. SPIE 10092, Laser-based Micro- and Nanoprocessing XI, 1009219 (February 17, 2017)

with results of the work in the Laser4Fun project, was presented by Sabri Alamri at the SPIE Photonics West conference in the USA. A video of the presentation is available at https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/10092/1/Direct-laser-interference-patterning-of-transparent-and-colored-polymer-substrates/10.1117/12.2251740.full?SSO=1