Superhydrophobic surfaces and fabrication process

• Main Authors: KEMPERS ROGER SCOTT, LYONS ALAN MICHAEL
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 20.05.2009
• Subjects: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY; ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OFTHREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVEAGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING,STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICALDEVICES; MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROCESSES OR APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTUREOR TREATMENT OF MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING

Apparatus including conduit body (102) having lining (104) that bounds channel (106) having longitudinal axis (108); the lining including lining base (110); the lining including raised micro-scale features (112) monolithic with the lining base. Apparatus including cavity body (302) at least partially enclosing cavity (300); the cavity having lining (304) that bounds channel (306) having longitudinal axis (308); the lining including lining base (310); the lining including raised micro-scale features (312) monolithic with the lining base. Process including: providing (604) three-dimensional graphics design for device having superhydrophobic pattern of raised micro-scale features on base, the base and the raised micro-scale features being monolithic; inputting (608) the three- dimensional graphics design as positive or negative image to three-dimensional rapid prototype fabrication apparatus; and laying down (612) build material and monolithically fabricating the base and the raised micro-scale features.