Method to fabricate pre-patterned surfaces during manufacture of complex wrinkled structures
US9821507B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2015 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/24521
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The pattern complexity and functional value of wrinkled structures can be substantially increased by fabricating the wrinkles on pre-patterned quasi-planar substrates instead of flat substrates. This disclosure presents the methods for fabricating pre-patterned polymeric surfaces that can be subsequently used as the substrates during manufacture of complex wrinkled structures. Pre-patterned substrates are generated by imprinting the pre-patterns onto the substrates during the curing process. Suitability for post-curing use in fabrication of wrinkles is ensured by (i) delayed imprinting that occurs close to but before the gelation point and (ii) gradual alignment of pre-patterns to the direction of stretch that is applied later during manufacture of wrinkled structures.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.