LASER NANOMANUFACTURING CONFERENCE
MEDICAL DEVICES & LIFE SCIENCES
Surface Functionalization with LIPSS Continues to Expand into New Industries Interview by Liliana Caldero
Laser researchers from Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) have teamed up with medical researchers from Johannes Kepler Universität Linz (JKU) and Kepler Universitätsklinikum Linz (KUK) in a European research project to show the potential of laser materials processing for suppressing the adhesion of human cells to titanium alloy implants such as miniature pacemakers. This is only one of many research projects investigating the potential uses of surface functionalization. With the use of lasers, technical surfaces can be structured at nano- and micro-scales to mimic textures found in nature, copying the unique characteristics that make them hydrophobic, antibacterial, or anti-reflective; this is known as surface functionalization. In most cases, this type of processing reduces or even removes the need for certain chemical coatings. The field of laser-based surface functionalization is expanding rapidly and new potential applications abound; this technology offers innovative solutions for biotechnology, automotive manufacturing, and machine building. As with most new solutions, the big question is how to make it fast and scalable to promote industry-wide adoption
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LIATODAY
VOL. 27 NO. 4
JULY/AUGUST 2019
Camilo Florian - Baron will be presenting his team’s research at ICALEO 2019
According to Camilo Florian-Baron of BAM, the trick is using linearly polarized high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses to create laser-induced periodic surface structures, or LIPSS, which can produce these desirable biomimetic properties. With advancements in fast laser scanning heads and recent high-repetition rate ultra-short pulsed femtosecond lasers, surface functionalization with LIPSS is becoming more available for R&D and manufacturing. FlorianBaron and his research team are investigating the future of LIPSS applications. With more than 50 publications on LIPSS coming from BAM in the past decade, the group is among the leading institutions progressing the understanding of the interaction between ultrashort laser pulses and matter for microand nano-fabrication of materials[1]. Florian-Baron will be presenting at ICALEO 2019 on the latest applications of surface functionalization through LIPSS. He shared with LIA about some of the unexplored potential of this emerging field and some of the interesting projects his team has been honored to work on