Experimental Investigation of the Rapid Fabrication of Micronand Submicron Structures on Polymers Utilizing Ultrasonic Assisted Embossing

authored by

Yongyong Zhu, Sebastian Bengsch, Lei Zheng, Yangyang Long, Bernhard Wilhelm Roth, Marc Christopher Wurz, Jens Twiefel, Jörg Wallaschek

Abstract

Small-scale optical components with micron or submicron features have grown in popularity in recent years. High-quality, high-efficient, and cost-effective processing approaches for polymer optics mass production are an urgent need. In this study, ultrasonic vibration will be introduced in embossing. The major advantage is that the required energy can be provided for process times ranging from a few hundred milliseconds to a few seconds, and that the process energy is provided at exactly the required location so that the structures in the surrounding area are not affected. Due to the strong correlation between electrical impedance and the temperature of the material, a novel impedance-based control strategy has been utilized for precisely controlling ultrasonic vibration during the embossing process. The investigation used two types of stamps with grating line widths of 4 µm and 500 nm, respectively. As a result, an embossing time of less than a few seconds was accomplished and a uniform embossed surface with an average fill rate of more than 75% could be achieved.

Organisation(s)

PhoenixD: Photonics, Optics, and Engineering - Innovation Across Disciplines
Institute of Dynamics and Vibration Research
Institute of Microtechnology
Hannover Centre for Optical Technologies (HOT)

Type

Article

Journal

Polymers

Volume

13

ISSN

2073-4360

Publication date

01.08.2021

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Chemistry(all), Polymers and Plastics

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13152417 (Access: Open)