Rubber-assisted micro forming of polymer thin films |
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Authors: | Pratapkumar Nagarajan Donggang Yao |
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Affiliation: | (1) School of Polymer Textile and Fiber Engineering, Georgia Institute of technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0295, USA |
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Abstract: | Polymer thin films patterned with microstructures at a characteristic size greater than the film thickness are difficult to
fabricate using the standard hot embossing technology. This study investigated a rubber-assisted embossing process for structuring
polymer thin films. The main advantages of a rubber support, instead of a hard counter-tool, include simplification of the
embossing tool, protection of the embossing master, buildup of uniform embossing pressure, and ease of demolding. The testing
pattern for rubber-assisted embossing was a microgroove pattern with a characteristic size of 100 μm on a 25-μm thick polystyrene
film. Results showed that the uniformity and replicability of the embossed pattern were significantly affected by the embossing
temperature, the rubber hardness, and the embossing pressure. With an embossing temperature about 20°C above the glass transition
temperature and appropriate rubber hardness and embossing force, uniform microgroove patterns were successfully replicated. |
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