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Technology # 18-06 A modality for sub-micron resolution digitization and fabrication of custom surfaces/topographies
About
Technology # 18-06 A modality for sub-micron resolution digitization and fabrication of custom surfaces/topographies Surface topography affects many surface properties such as friction, wetting, and optical properties as well as chemical and biological compatibility of the surface. Some existing methods used to reduce friction and wear on metal surfaces often create limited texture geometries and provide poor dimensional control of the textures. Other approaches for creating dimples on surfaces leads to limited lateral resolutions. There are also other techniques for fabricating surface topographies, but most of the reported surface textures are 2D and the geometric parameters such as size, shape, and pitch distance are predefined. This invention/technology is available for licensing. For interested parties seeking further information, feel free to contact: Mark Allen Lanoue Technology Manager / Tech Ventures University of Arkansas (479) 575-7243 [email protected]
Key Benefits
Advantage(s): * It can be used to digitize a surface with a sub-micron resolution, i.e., measure the topography of a surface and save the measured surface topography in a digital file. * The digitized surfaces can be stored in a database for multiple uses. The digitized surfaces are scalable, flexible, and can be easily modified. * It can be used to fabricate surface features with arbitrary 3D shape. * It can be used to fabricate surfaces with topographical feature size down to 140 nm. * It can be used to fabricate micro-/nano-scale surface topography on different types of substrate material. * It can be used alone or in conjunction with a coating or coatings to improve surface properties, such as wetting, friction, wear, corrosion, and optical properties.
Applications
Application(s): It can be used alone or in conjunction with a coating or multiple coatings, to improve surface properties such as wetting, friction, wear, corrosion, and optical properties. Our methods of replicating a measured surface topography on another substrate with sub-micron resolution can be applied to mechanical surfaces to improve oil wettability and lubrication and thus reduce friction and wear of the surfaces. Examples include but are not limited to: * Machine parts: valves, cams, bearings, hinges, or any component that is designed to move in contact with another part under an applied load. * Automotive parts: engine cylinder liners, inner cylinder wall, bearings, valve components, gears, transmission components. * Biomedical implants: implant surfaces such as dental, knee or hip joints. * Extraterrestrial machine: moving parts located inside satellites, rockets, and launched vehicles and objects. Our methods can also be applied to a wide range of other applications where surface micro/nano-structure can change surface properties, such as wetting, self-cleaning, anti-corrosion, anti-icing, and optical properties. Technology: sub-micron resolution digitization and fabrication of custom surfaces/topographies