Clean without scrubbing and using chemicals
For several years, scientists at TU Dresden and Fraunhofer IWS have been developing functionalised surfaces by means of laser-based manufacturing processes. Now, they have created a periodic surface structure that is not only water and ice repellent, but also remove dirt particles solely by rolling water drops. In this context, they particularly focused on the material aluminium.
"This material is used in many industrial branches - either in the automotive sector, aircraft construction or the food industry. The use of aggressive cleaning chemicals is particularly critical in food industry, as we naturally do not want to bring these chemicals in contact with our food," said Stephan Milles, PhD student at Technische Universität Dresden.
In particular, the Dresden scientists studied the function of self-cleaning laser-structured aluminium. A special camera was used to analyse the self-cleaning effect of the aluminium surfaces and filmed the process at 12,500 frames per second. Thomas Kuntze, scientist in the Microtechnology Technology Field at Fraunhofer IWS, explains: "This way we can perfectly see how a water drop can remove the dirt from the aluminium surface. This method is also suitable for understanding other processes, such as laser cutting and welding or additive manufacturing"
Characterization of self-cleaning properties on superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces fabricated by direct laser writing and direct laser interference patterning
Stephan Milles, Marcos Soldera, Thomas Kuntze, Andrés Fabián Lasagni
Applied Surface Science (2020) 525: 146518
Contact information:
TU Dresden Senior Scientist
Phone: +49 351 463-40292
Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden)
