Title: Effect of Proximity of Features on the Damage Threshold During Submicron Additive Manufacturing Via Two-Photon Polymerization

Abstract

Two-photon polymerization (TPP) is a laser writing process that enables fabrication of millimeter scale three-dimensional (3D) structures with submicron features. In TPP, writing is achieved via nonlinear two-photon absorption that occurs at high laser intensities. Thus, it is essential to carefully select the incident power to prevent laser damage during polymerization. Currently, the feasible range of laser power is identified by writing small test patterns at varying power levels. Here in this paper, we demonstrate that the results of these tests cannot be generalized, because the damage threshold power depends on the proximity of features and reduces by as much as 47% for overlapping features. We have identified that this reduction occurs primarily due to an increase in the single-photon absorptivity of the resin after curing. We have captured the damage from proximity effects via X-ray 3D computed tomography (CT) images of a non-homogenous part that has varying feature density. Part damage manifests as internal spherical voids that arise due to boiling of the resist. We have empirically quantified this proximity effect by identifying the damage threshold power at different writing speeds and feature overlap spacings. In addition, we present a first-order analytical model that captures the scaling of thismore » proximity effect. Based on this model and the experiments, we have identified that the proximity effect is more significant at high writing speeds; therefore, it adversely affects the scalability of manufacturing. The scaling laws and the empirical data generated here can be used to select the appropriate TPP writing parameters.« less

Authors:

Saha, Sourabh K. ^[1]; Divin, Chuck ^[1]; Cuadra, Jefferson A. ^[1]; Panas, Robert M. ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Materials Engineering Division

Publication Date:

Fri May 12 00:00:00 EDT 2017

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1358299

Report Number(s):

LLNL-JRNL-694037
Journal ID: ISSN 2166-0468

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC52-07NA27344

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of Micro and Nano-Manufacturing

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 5; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 2166-0468

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

42 ENGINEERING; 77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Proximity effects; photopolymer damage; direct laser writing; multiphoton absorption; X-ray imaging