Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) on Polymer Surfaces

Abstract

Wrinkled surfaces can be obtained through the control of surface instabilities produced by repeated irradiation of polymer surfaces by pulsed lasers. By the combination of the electric field associated with the laser beam and the heating of the polymer surface during a short period of time, which typically is in the range of nanosecond, when the irradiating with nanosecond laser pulses of are used, periodic dissipative structures appear. The periodic rippled topography is directly related to the wavelength of the laser. In this chapter, we discuss the role of actors like the substrate, the absorption of polymer, and the thermal conductivity and diffusivity on tuning the obtaining periodic structures.