Electro-hydrodynamic instability patterning of polymers

Abstract

Electro-HydroDynamic Instability Patterning, EHDIP, is a novel micro-manufacturing process that makes use of the instability of viscous polymeric thin films when exposed to electrostatic fields. By using non uniform electrostatic fields, it is possible to shape the polymer into defined meso- and micro-scale structures which are subsequently cured to defined 2D and 3D microstructures. The relatively rapid process time, the one-step manufacturing approach, as well as the ability to produce hitherto unrealised topographies - such as continuous profile structures, makes EHDIP an attractive manufacturing process.