Industry: Manufacturing Region: Germany Transaction price: US$ 1 million Transaction method: equity investment
Project introduction:
Scientists at the University of Gö ttingen in Germany have developed a glass diffraction marking technology. This method provides a fast and efficient method for making diffraction marks by ablating a small amount of materials on the glass surface. Residual micro-reliefs can produce brilliant spectral colors under illumination.
Industry dilemma
Laser marking of metals, plastics and ceramics is a mature technology, such as strengthening, marking or identifying products and components. But it is still a challenge to mark glass with high resolution. Glass hardly absorbs any visible light, so infrared or deep ultraviolet laser must be used. The technology using infrared light cannot provide the spatial resolution in micron or submicron range, because the resolution will increase with the increase of wavelength. In contrast, excimer laser has many advantages in processing glass surface: the short wavelength in the ultraviolet range is strongly absorbed by glass, and the plane beam profile allows parallel processing of large areas. The existing mask projection technology can be used for microstructure processing. However, mask projection requires advanced optical technology, and the amplitude mask usually used will lead to high light loss.
Innovative solutions
The developed process adopts low-loss optical elements and methods, and uses excimer laser to ablate the plane laser. High laser flux and interference contrast lead to periodic laser ablation. The whole beam profile of the laser is utilized, which improves the throughput, efficiency and contrast. The interference pattern is generated by splitting the laser beam into at least two (or even more) beams. The phase mask is imaged on the surface of the processed material through the combined lens. According to the needs of industrial production or processing, the workpiece can be moved continuously. As long as the workpiece moves on the required grating for one or more periods, the laser pulse will be triggered. Using this method, micron grating can be made on the surface of workpiece (especially on the glass surface) in a short time. The resulting shape will show strong colors, similar to holographic marks. Different structural periods of grating patterns will produce gratings with different colors.
In order to improve the marking flexibility, a square or circular aperture can be used to form a pixel image on the workpiece in combination with a phase mask. Each pixel contains an interference grating. When moving a workpiece or a light beam, a pixel-based mark can be generated.
advantage
● Efficient process, simple setup, no additives and high process speed.
● High temperature resistance and long-term stability.
● Machine readable
The label is bright in color, beautiful and machine-readable.
● The structure has no (micro) cracks.
● Labeling can be done on plane and curved surface.
app; application
● Sticking labels (data matrix code, QR code, logo, text) on surfaces, especially glass or glass ceramics, in order to attract attention.
● Anti-counterfeiting label
Micro-nano structure of the surface, such as changing reflection and transmittance.
● Product traceability and brand protection
Cooperation mode:
This method has been successfully tested on different patterns on different surfaces (glass, glass ceramics and plastics), and is being further developed for industrial application. The technical side provides more development and cooperation based on patent authorization.