Nanotexturing laser for industrial applications

Technological seminar on the subject of Laser nanotexturing for industrial applications, in collaboration with the DISMI Department of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and CB Ferrari, a company that develops and resells machines for laser applications and high-precision 5-axis CNC machining centers.

During the seminar, examples of industrial applications of the nanotexturing laser process realized with NLL (Nonlinear Laser Lithography) technology will be proposed. The applications of the process will be shown to vary the wettability of surfaces, wear resistance and surface friction coefficient. Applications will also be proposed regarding the aesthetic marking and the texturing of injection molds. Possible solutions will therefore be proposed for the treatment of complex surfaces using 5 + 2 axis systems.

Speakers

Prof Leonardo Orazi – DISMI UNIMORE
G. Cuccolini, F. Grossrubatscher – CB Ferrari

Abstract

The NLL (Nonlinear Laser Lithography) method proposed by DISMI allows to realize the nanotexturing potentially on all types of surfaces. This method employs a small infrared laser femtosecond to produce nanostructures that repeat with intervals between 400 and 700 nm and secondary structures with dimensions well below 100 nm. It is also possible to predict a decrease in repetition intervals by switching to green or UV lasers.

Currently experiments have been carried out mainly on pure metals and metal alloys (steels, stainless steels, titanium, nickel, molybdenum, gold, aluminum, copper, tungsten, …), dielectrics and semi-conductors (ITO, silicon, sapphire) with a process speed under laboratory conditions, around 200 mm ^ 2 / min, without the need to create a vacuum environment.

The main applications demonstrated of the NLL technology are:

• Tribology: improvement of the friction coefficient and wear for stainless steels
• Injection molding: control of the flow of plastic inside molds
• Wettability: realization of hydrophobic, hydrophilic or anisotropic wettability surfaces
• Optical grids: generation of brilliant and iridescent surfaces for aesthetic and anti-counterfeit applications
• Biomedical systems: nanotexturing of surfaces to promote the growth of different types of cells.

Other possible applications: microfluidics, optical waveguides, THz generation, hydraulic applications, etc.