Functional surface formation by efficient laser ablation using single-pulse and burst-modes

TL;DR

This paper presents an efficient laser ablation method using single-pulse and burst modes to rapidly create bio-inspired surface structures with minimal roughness, suitable for large-scale applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel laser milling technique that replicates bio-inspired surfaces efficiently at high speeds with low surface roughness.

Findings

Successful formation of shark skin-inspired trapezoidal riblets

High-speed production of bio-inspired structures

Low surface roughness achieved during laser ablation

Abstract

Surfaces inspired by nature and their replication find great interest in science, technology, and medicine due to their unique functional properties. This research aimed to develop an efficient laser milling technology using single-pulse- and burst-modes of irradiation to replicate bio-inspired structures over large areas at high speed. The ability to form the trapezoidal-riblets inspired by shark skin at high production speeds while maintaining the lowest possible surface roughness was demonstrated.