Fabrication of functional polymeric prototypes for micro-fluidical and micro-optical applications

Author

Pfleging, W. ; Bohm, J. ; Finke, S. ; Gaganidze, E. ; Hanemann, Th ; Heidinger, R. ; Litfin, K.

Author_Institution

Inst. for Mater. Res., Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Germany

Volume

2

fYear

2003

fDate

15-19 Dec. 2003

Abstract

Different process technologies for the rapid fabrication of micro-fluidical and micro-optical components made of polymers will be presented. Single prototypes are generated by the direct patterning or modification of plastics with UV-laser radiation. For the fabrication of small and large series laser-assisted micromachining using neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) and excimer laser allows for a rapid manufacturing of microstructured polymeric and metallic mould inserts. Plastic replication like hot embossing, injection moulding or reaction injection moulding of the generated microstructured mould inserts gives access to mouldings carrying structural details in the micrometer range and/or high aspect ratio microstructures.

Keywords

embossing; excimer lasers; injection moulding; laser beam effects; laser beam machining; laser materials processing; micro-optics; microfluidics; micromachining; polymers; replica techniques; solid lasers; ultraviolet radiation effects; Nd:YAG laser; UV-laser radiation; excimer laser; functional polymeric prototypes; hot embossing; injection moulding; laser-assisted micromachining; metallic mould inserts; micro-fluidics; micro-optics; neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser; plastic replication; reaction injection moulding; Aluminum; Garnets; Injection molding; Manufacturing; Micromachining; Microoptics; Optical device fabrication; Plastics; Polymers; Prototypes;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2003. CLEO/Pacific Rim 2003. The 5th Pacific Rim Conference on

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7766-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CLEOPR.2003.1277277

Filename

1277277