Ultrashort picosecond laser processing of micro-molds for fabricating plastic parts with superhydrophobic surfaces

High repetition rate picosecond laser pulses are used to form hierarchical structures on titanium in air for the development of superhydrophobic surfaces. The treated titanium surfaces are used as masters for polymer replicas in soft lithography. The complex topography of the master has been shown to successfully transfer to UV-curable polymer replicas without significant change in morphology or wetting characteristics. This approach demonstrates a low-cost, high-efficiency process combining rapid picosecond laser-based fabrication and micro-replication technology for the reproduction of widely used functional plastic parts.