Micro Flow Path Master with Fine Concave-Convex Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for mass-producing micro fluid chips with high hydrophilicity are inefficient due to the need for individual treatment of each chip, increasing production time and cost, and are limited to specific materials like PMMA or silicone rubber, while nanoimprint transfer methods also require additional surface treatments.

Innovation Solution

A master for micro flow path creation featuring a base material with main and fine concave-convex portions, where the fine concave-convex portions have an arithmetic average roughness of 10 nm to 150 nm and a specific surface area ratio of 1.1 to 3.0, formed using ultrashort pulse laser light, allowing for the production of transfer copies with enhanced hydrophilicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If individual surface treatment is performed on each micro fluid chip to enhance hydrophilicity, then hydrophilicity is improved, but production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehydrophilicityVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The master is pre-formed with fine concave-convex portions that will transfer the hydrophilic surface structure to multiple transfer copies. This preliminary creation of the hydrophilic structure on the master eliminates the need for individual surface treatment of each micro fluid chip, thereby improving production time while maintaining hydrophilicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrophilic surface structure is copied from the master to multiple transfer copies through nanoimprint transfer. The fine concave-convex portions on the master serve as a template that replicates the hydrophilic surface morphology across numerous copies, enabling mass production without individual treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If individual surface treatment is performed on each micro fluid chip to enhance hydrophilicity, then hydrophilicity is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehydrophilicityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the approach from modifying surface chemistry through plasma or chemical treatment to transferring surface topology through physical imprinting. By creating fine concave-convex portions with specific roughness parameters (Ra: 10-150 nm) on the master, the hydrophilic effect is achieved through geometric structure rather than chemical modification, reducing treatment costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional laser processing is used to create surface structures, then material removal is achieved, but heat-affected zone and material damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface structureVSAvoidheat-affected zone

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces conventional thermal laser processing with ultrashort pulse laser processing. The ultrashort pulse duration delivers energy so quickly that heat does not have time to diffuse into the surrounding material, eliminating the heat-affected zone while still achieving precise surface structuring through ablation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The ultrashort pulse laser delivers energy in extremely short, periodic pulses rather than continuous illumination. This pulsed delivery allows the material to be processed through repeated brief energy inputs without cumulative heat buildup, preventing thermal damage while achieving the desired fine concave-convex structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the easy mass-production of transfer copies with high hydrophilicity, reducing production time and cost, and allowing for the use of various materials, while maintaining or improving hydrophilicity and fluid flow control.

Implementation Method 1

a fine concave-convex portion provided on a surface of the main concave-convex portion and having a narrower pitch than the main concave-convex portion... formed using ultrashort pulse laser light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS12194459B2Master for micro flow path creation, transfer copy, and method for producing master for micro flow path creation

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 DEXERIALS CORP

AI summary

There is provided a master for micro flow path creation, a transfer copy, and a method for producing a master for micro flow path creation by which transfer copies having an area with high hydrophilicity can be easily mass-produced, the master for micro flow path creation including: a base material; a main concave-convex portion provided on a surface of the base material and extending in a planar direction of the base material; and a fine concave-convex portion provided on a surface of the main concave-convex portion and having a narrower pitch than the main concave-convex portion. The fine concave-convex portion has an arithmetic average roughness of 10 nm to 150 nm and has a specific surface area ratio of 1.1 to 3.0.