Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025
07:44
Formulation and Acoustic Modulation of Optically Vaporized Perfluorocarbon Nanodroplets
Published on: July 16, 2021
2.2K
Modulation of Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) Surfaces via High-Speed Femtosecond Laser Treatment and
Liying Wei1, Travis Wanless1, Stephen H Foulger1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a fast, scalable method using femtosecond lasers to create microstructured polyether ether ketone (PEEK) surfaces. This technique enhances PEEK
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Engineering
- Laser Processing
Background:
- Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a versatile engineering thermoplastic.
- Modifying PEEK surface properties is crucial for advanced applications.
- Existing surface modification methods can be slow or complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid and scalable method for creating hierarchically microstructured PEEK surfaces.
- To investigate the impact of laser-induced structures on surface wettability.
- To achieve superhydrophobic and oleophobic properties on PEEK.
Main Methods:
- High-speed femtosecond laser treatment to ablate and melt PEEK surfaces.
- Fabrication of hierarchical microstructures including cylindrical hills and micro-/submicron-scale mesh.
- Deposition of a perfluoropolyether-based polyurethane coating.
Main Results:
- Generated microstructures with diameters of 11-16 μm.
- Achieved a significant increase in water contact angle (WCA) up to 136°.
- Obtained superhydrophobicity (WCA ≈ 180°) and strong oleophobicity (HDCA 90-120°) after coating.
Conclusions:
- Femtosecond laser texturing combined with perfluoropolyether coating creates advanced, multifunctional PEEK surfaces.
- The achieved superhydrophobic and oleophobic properties are among the highest for laser-structured polymers.
- The method is transferable to other thermoplastic polymers for applications in repellency, biointerfaces, and adhesion.
