Curable elastomer surface pattern generation method based on Faraday instability effect

Abstract

The invention belongs to the field of material surface treatment, and particularly discloses a curable elastomer surface pattern generation method based on a Faraday instability effect, and the method comprises the steps: S1, placing a curable elastomer in a container containing the curable elastomer, enabling the curable elastomer to be uniformly distributed at the bottom of the container, and forming an elastomer layer; s2, setting vibration frequency and amplitude according to required pattern characteristics, and applying periodic excitation vibration to the curable elastomer in a vertical direction until a regular pattern is generated on the surface of the curable elastomer and is cured; according to the method, the surface of the uncured liquid fluctuates by means of Faraday instability, patterns such as stripes and grids are formed after curing, the shape, size and density of the patterns can be accurately controlled by adjusting parameters such as vibration frequency, amplitude and vibration time, limitation of traditional photoetching and etching technologies can be broken through according to requirements of different application scenes, cost is reduced, and the method is suitable for large-scale popularization and application. Efficiency is remarkably improved, and large-area patterns can be rapidly manufactured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of material surface treatment, and particularly relates to a method for generating surface patterns of curable elastomers based on the Faraday instability effect. Background Art

[0002] In many frontier fields such as materials science, microelectromechanical systems, and biomedical engineering, regular patterns on the material surface play a crucial role. At present, traditional pattern preparation technologies have many limitations. Although lithography technology has extremely high precision and can achieve pattern fabrication at the sub-micron level, it relies on expensive lithography equipment and requires operation in a dust-free, constant temperature and humidity clean environment. The cost of photoresist and chemical reagents such as development and etching is high, and the process flow is complex and time-consuming, which makes the cost of large-scale production remain high. Although microcontact printing technology is relatively simple to operate and has a low cost, it has obvious deficiencies in terms of pattern fineness and complexity, and it is difficult to meet the requirements for preparing high-precision and complex patterns. The etching method usually requires the use of corrosive chemical reagents such as strong acids and strong alkalis, which not only pose a threat to the safety of operators, but also easily cause environmental pollution problems during the etching process. At the same time, it is difficult to guarantee the etching effect when dealing with some special materials.

[0003] Due to its unique advantages such as good flexibility, elastic recovery ability, biocompatibility, and chemical stability, curable elastomers show great application potential in the above fields. The Faraday instability phenomenon refers to that when a horizontal liquid layer is subjected to a periodic vibration excitation in the vertical direction, specific wave patterns will be generated on the liquid layer surface and gradually evolve into regular patterns. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for generating surface patterns of curable elastomers based on the Faraday instability effect, applying the Faraday instability phenomenon to the pattern preparation of curable elastomers, and realizing simple, efficient, low-cost and environmentally friendly preparation of diverse regular patterns on the surface of curable elastomers to solve the problems raised in the above background art.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] A method for generating surface patterns of curable elastomers based on the Faraday instability effect, comprising:

[0007] S1. Place the curable elastomer in a container for holding the curable elastomer, and make it evenly distributed at the bottom of the container to form an elastomer layer;

[0008] If the curable elastomer is a single-component system, directly pour it into a container and make it evenly distributed at the bottom of the container by methods such as stirring with a stirring rod and ultrasonic dispersion with an ultrasonic device. If it is a multi-component system, each component needs to be accurately weighed in strict accordance with a specific ratio and fully mixed evenly in the container. Mechanical stirrers at high speed or magnetic stirrers at a uniform speed can be used to ensure that each component is evenly dispersed and guarantee the consistency of pattern generation.

[0009] S2. Set the vibration frequency and amplitude according to the required pattern characteristics, and apply periodic excitation vibration to the curable elastomer in the vertical direction until a regular pattern is generated and cured on the surface of the curable elastomer.

[0010] Under the action of vibration, the Faraday instability phenomenon appears on the surface of the curable elastomer, and initially small fluctuations are generated. As the vibration continues, these fluctuations interact and superimpose due to the properties of the elastomer such as viscosity, elasticity, and surface tension, and gradually evolve into a regular pattern. During this period, the physical properties of the elastomer and the external vibration excitation act synergistically to determine the final form of the pattern.

[0011] When the expected pattern effect is achieved on the surface of the elastomer, utilize the curable property of the curable elastomer to make it cure naturally. During the curing process, external interferences such as air flow and environmental vibration should be avoided to ensure the integrity and stability of the pattern.

[0012] Preferably, the thickness of the elastomer layer is 1 - 10 mm.

[0013] This thickness has been verified by a large number of experiments. It can not only ensure the sufficient response of the elastomer to the Faraday instability phenomenon but also avoid affecting the pattern generation effect due to being too thick or too thin.

[0014] Preferably, the frequency range of the periodic excitation vibration is 1 - 100 Hz, and the amplitude is 0.1 - 10 mm. The frequency condition:

[0015] 0.5f c <f<2f c

[0016] where f c is the critical frequency, which is determined by the formula In the formula, σ is the surface tension of the curable elastomer, ρ is the density of the curable elastomer, and h is the liquid film thickness.

[0017] When generating large-size patterns, set a low frequency (5 - 10 Hz) and a large amplitude (5 - 10 mm); when preparing fine patterns, select a high frequency (50 - 100 Hz) and a small amplitude (0.1 - 2 mm). After the parameters are set, start the vibration table to make the curable elastomer receive periodic excitation in the vertical direction and prompt fluctuations to occur on its surface.

[0018] Preferably, the regular pattern includes periodic stripes, hexagonal grids, and periodic dot matrices.

[0019] Preferably, during the generation and curing of the regular pattern on the surface of the curable elastomer, when it is necessary to accelerate the curing process, it is implemented by any of the following methods:

[0020] Carry out controlled heating on the curable elastomer, where the set heating temperature does not exceed the thermal stability temperature threshold of the curable elastomer;

[0021] Add a chemical curing accelerator to the curable elastomer;

[0022] When implementing the accelerated curing process, it is necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the regular pattern without being damaged.

[0023] If it is necessary to increase the curing speed, for the thermally curable curable elastomer, it can be placed in a heating environment not exceeding the thermal stability temperature range; for the chemically curable type, an appropriate amount of curing accelerator can be added, but the dosage should be strictly controlled to prevent affecting the pattern quality.

[0024] A device for generating a pattern on the surface of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect, which is used to implement the above-mentioned method for generating a pattern on the surface of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect, includes:

[0025] A vibration table for providing vertical vibration;

[0026] The vibration table, as the core component for generating vertical vibration, provides power for the curable elastomer to achieve Faraday instability.

[0027] A frequency controller connected to the vibration table for controlling the vibration frequency and amplitude of the vibration table;

[0028] The frequency controller connects the vibration table to the signal generator, receives the signal sent by the signal generator, and precisely regulates the vibration frequency and amplitude of the vibration table according to the preset instructions; it can quickly and accurately adjust the vibration parameters according to different pattern requirements, ensuring that the surface of the curable elastomer generates fluctuations that meet expectations, thereby forming a specific regular pattern.

[0029] A signal generator connected to the frequency controller for generating a periodic vibration signal and transmitting the periodic vibration signal to the frequency controller;

[0030] Responsible for generating periodic vibration signals with frequencies in the range of 1 - 100 Hz and amplitudes in the range of 0.1 - 10 mm; lower frequencies (5 - 10 Hz) combined with larger amplitudes (5 - 10 mm) can cause larger wavelength fluctuations on the surface of the curable elastomer, which is beneficial for generating large - size patterns such as wide stripes; while higher frequencies (50 - 100 Hz) combined with smaller amplitudes (0.1 - 2 mm) will make the surface fluctuations of the elastomer more delicate, suitable for preparing fine patterns such as hexagonal grids and micro - dot arrays.

[0031] A holding container, arranged on the vibration table, for accommodating the curable elastomer;

[0032] Preferably, a fixing bracket is arranged between the holding container and the vibration table, for fixing the holding container to remain stable during vibration.

[0033] The fixing bracket needs to be adapted to the shape and size of the container, and adopts methods such as clamping with a fixture and fixing with a card slot to ensure the stability of the container during vibration, laying a foundation for the stable generation of patterns.

[0034] Preferably, the material of the holding container is quartz glass, with a bottom inclination angle of 10° - 20°, and the shape is a regular shape.

[0035] The glass - material container has good light transmittance, which is convenient for observing the changes of the elastomer during vibration. The bottom inclination angle is preferably 15°, and an anti - wetting coating is provided at the edge to prevent the boundary effect; the shape of the container can be a regular shape such as a cylinder or a square, and the size is selected according to the production or experimental scale to ensure the uniform distribution of the elastomer and fully respond to the Faraday instability phenomenon.

[0036] Preferably, the vibration table is an electromagnetic vibration table or an electric vibration table.

[0037] The electromagnetic vibration table works based on the principle of electromagnetic induction, with sensitive response and a wide frequency adjustment range, capable of meeting the pattern - preparation scenarios with high requirements for frequency changes; the electric vibration table is driven by a motor, with large output force and stable amplitude, suitable for situations with strict amplitude requirements; according to actual needs, an electric vibration table with a large amplitude can be selected when preparing large - size patterns, and an electromagnetic vibration table with good frequency response can be selected when preparing fine patterns.

[0038] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0039] By adjusting parameters such as vibration frequency, amplitude, and vibration time, the present invention can precisely control the shape, size, and density of the pattern, and can prepare various different types of patterns on the same curable elastomer material according to the requirements of different application scenarios, providing great flexibility for product design and broadening the application field of the curable elastomer;

[0040] Compared with lithography technology, the present invention does not require the purchase of expensive lithography equipment such as lithography machines and photoresist coating equipment, nor does it need to build a dust-free and constant temperature and humidity clean production environment, reducing a large amount of equipment investment and environmental construction costs. At the same time, it avoids the environmental pollution caused by the use of corrosive chemical reagents such as strong acids and strong alkalis in the etching method, as well as the harm to the health of operators caused by the volatilization of chemical reagents in lithography technology. During the entire pattern preparation process of the present invention, little or no harmful waste is generated, which conforms to the modern green environmental protection production concept and is conducive to sustainable development. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings. Among them:

[0042] Figure 1 is the flowchart of the implementation process of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 2 is the schematic diagram of the device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0044] In order to make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the following will make a detailed description of the specific implementation manners of the present invention in conjunction with the drawings of the specification.

[0045] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may be practiced in other ways different from those described herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the connotation of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0046] Secondly, the so-called "one embodiment" or "embodiment" herein refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation manner of the present invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" appearing in different places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that excludes other embodiments.

[0047] As shown in the appended Figure 1 to the appended Figure 2 figures:

[0048] Embodiment 1: This embodiment provides a method for generating a surface pattern of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect, including:

[0049] 1. Device setup: Select an electric shaker as the vibration source, correctly connect it to the frequency controller to ensure stable signal transmission. The signal generator is connected to the frequency controller to provide vibration signals. Prepare a cylindrical glass container with a diameter of 10 cm and a height of 5 cm as the container for the curable elastomer, and use a fixed bracket to firmly place the container on the shaker.

[0050] 2. Material preparation: Select a one-component room-temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber as the curable elastomer. Slowly pour an appropriate amount of silicone rubber into the glass container, and then use a glass rod to stir it to make the silicone rubber evenly distributed at the bottom of the container, forming an elastomer layer with a thickness of about 3 mm.

[0051] 3. Pattern generation: Turn on the signal generator, set the vibration frequency to 10 Hz and the amplitude to 5 mm. Start the shaker and start applying periodic vibrations in the vertical direction to the silicone rubber. During the vibration process, it can be observed that tiny fluctuations gradually appear on the surface of the silicone rubber, and over time, these fluctuations gradually evolve into clear periodic stripe patterns.

[0052] 4. Pattern curing: After vibrating for 20 minutes, wait for the pattern to cure naturally. After curing, it is observed that the generated stripe patterns have uniform spacing, a width of about 2 mm, and good pattern quality, achieving the expected effect.

[0053] Example 2: This example provides a method for generating patterns on the surface of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect, including:

[0054] 1. Device setup: Use the same device as in Example 1 to ensure that all components are operating properly.

[0055] 2. Material preparation: Select a two-component polyurethane elastomer as the curable elastomer. Accurately weigh components A and B according to the ratio specified in the product manual, pour them into a clean container, and use a magnetic stirrer to stir for 5 minutes to make the two components fully mixed and uniform. Then pour the mixed polyurethane elastomer into a square metal container, and make it evenly distributed at the bottom of the container, forming an elastomer layer with a thickness of 5 mm.

[0056] 3. Pattern generation: Turn on the signal generator, set the vibration frequency to 50 Hz and the amplitude to 1 mm. Start the shaker and vibrate the polyurethane elastomer. Within the first 10 minutes of vibration, the fluctuations on the surface of the polyurethane elastomer are relatively weak. As the vibration time increases, the fluctuations gradually intensify and begin to form regular hexagonal grid patterns. After vibrating for 30 minutes, stop the vibration.

[0057] 4. Pattern curing: After continuous vibration for 30 minutes, wait for the polyurethane elastomer to cure. After curing is completed, use a microscope to observe and measure the pattern. It is found that the side length of the hexagonal grid is about 1 mm, and the grid structure is clear and complete, meeting the design expectations.

[0058] Importantly, it should be noted that the construction and arrangement of the present application shown in multiple different exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative. Although only a few embodiments are described in detail in this disclosure, those who refer to this disclosure should easily understand that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described in this application (for example, the dimensions, scales, structures, shapes and proportions of various elements, and parameter values (such as temperature, pressure, etc.), installation arrangements, use of materials, color, orientation changes, etc.). For example, an element shown as being integrally formed may be composed of multiple parts or elements, the position of the element may be inverted or otherwise changed, and the nature, number or position of discrete elements may be changed or altered. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be changed or reordered according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any "means-plus-function" clause is intended to cover the structures that perform the recited function herein, and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to a particular embodiment, but extends to various modifications that still fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0059] In addition, in order to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, not all features of the actual embodiments may be described (i.e., those features that are not relevant to the currently considered best mode of implementing the present invention, or those features that are not relevant to the implementation of the present invention).

[0060] It should be understood that in the development of any actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, a large number of specific implementation decisions may be made. Such development efforts may be complex and time-consuming, but for those of ordinary skill in the art who benefit from this disclosure, without excessive experimentation, such development efforts will be a routine task of design, manufacturing and production.

[0061] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention may be modified or equivalently replaced without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for generating surface patterns of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect, characterized in that, Comprising: S1. Place the curable elastomer in a container for holding the curable elastomer, and make it evenly distributed at the bottom of the container to form an elastomer layer; S2. Set the vibration frequency and amplitude according to the required pattern features, and apply periodic excitation vibration to the curable elastomer in the vertical direction until a regular pattern is generated on the surface of the curable elastomer and cured.

2. The method for generating a surface pattern of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect according to claim 1, wherein The thickness of the elastomer layer is 1 - 10 mm.

3. A method for generating a curable elastomer surface pattern based on the Faraday instability effect according to claim 1, wherein, The frequency range of the periodic excitation vibration is 1 - 100 Hz, and the amplitude is 0.1 - 10 mm. The frequency condition: 0.5f c <f < 2f c where f c is the critical frequency, which is determined by the formula where σ is the surface tension of the curable elastomer, ρ is the density of the curable elastomer, and h is the thickness of the liquid film.

4. A method for generating a surface pattern of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect according to claim 1, characterized in that, The regular pattern includes periodic stripes, hexagonal grids, and periodic dot matrices.

5. A method for generating a surface pattern of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the process of generating a regular pattern on the surface of the curable elastomer and curing it, when it is necessary to accelerate the curing process, it is implemented by any of the following methods: Carry out controlled heating on the curable elastomer, where the set value of the heating temperature does not exceed the thermal stability temperature threshold of the curable elastomer; Add a chemical curing accelerator to the curable elastomer; When implementing the accelerated curing process, it is necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the regular pattern without being damaged.

6. A device for generating surface patterns of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect, which is used to implement a method for generating surface patterns of a curable elastomer based on the Faraday instability effect according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Comprising: A vibration table for providing vibration in the vertical direction; A frequency controller connected to the vibration table for controlling the vibration frequency and amplitude of the vibration table; A signal generator connected to the frequency controller for generating a periodic vibration signal and transmitting the periodic vibration signal to the frequency controller; A holding container arranged on the vibration table for accommodating the curable elastomer.

7. The curable elastomer surface pattern generating device based on the Faraday instability effect according to claim 6, wherein A fixing bracket is arranged between the holding container and the vibration table for fixing the holding container to remain stable during vibration.

8. The curable elastomer surface pattern generating device based on the Faraday instability effect according to claim 6, characterized in that The material of the holding container is made of quartz glass, with a bottom inclination angle of 10° - 20°, and the shape is a regular shape.

9. The curable elastomer surface pattern generating device based on the Faraday instability effect according to claim 6, wherein The vibration table is an electromagnetic vibration table or an electric vibration table.

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