Method of making microstructured bodies of plastic material

• US 5,543,108 A
• Filed: 06/09/1994
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bã¼Rkert GmbH (Bürkert Stiftungsbeteiligungs - GmbH), Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Bã¼Rkert GmbH (Bürkert Stiftungsbeteiligungs - GmbH), Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gmbh
• Inventors: Kalb, Helmut, Biedermann, Hans, Bacher, Walter, Dinglreiter, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbaugh, Jan H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAY, ROBIN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US08/257,643
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 264/553, 264/139, 264/162, 264/221, 264/317, 264/225, 264/226, 264/227, 29/424, 29/559, 269/7
• US Class Current: 264/553
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2059/023 Microembossing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0033 constructed for making articles provided with holes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/021 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0016 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/14 Filters optical filters B29L2011/0066, sieves or screens B29L2031/737
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7506 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7532 Artificial members, protheses
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 2201/0183 Selective deposition
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 2201/056 Releasing structures at the end of the manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 99/0085 using moulds and master templates, e.g. for hot-embossing

Abstract

A method of making microstructure bodies of plastic material. A microstructured plate-like base body which is made by any known molding procedure and which has a first side serving as a first reference plane and a second side which has plastic microstructures projecting therefrom is covered at its second side with a material layer that engages the microstructures, whereupon the material layer is machined to provide a second reference surface parallel to the first reference surface and the base body is then machined parallel to the second reference surface to expose the microstructures projecting therefrom and the material layer is finally removed selectively with respect to the plastic material to release the microstructured bodies.

Claims

1. A method of making microstructure bodies of plastic material comprising the steps of:

a) providing a base body having a first side representing a first reference plane and a second side which is microstructured such that plastic material microstructures project from a structure base of said base body, which structure base extends parallel to said reference plane;

b) coating said base body at said second side thereof with a marker layer;

c) placing a layer of a second material onto said marker layer on said second side of said base body such that said second material layer has an exposed surface;

d) machining the exposed surface of said second material layer overlaying the base body to provide a second reference plane parallel to said first reference plane;

e) machining said first side of said base body parallel to said second reference plane to remove a portion of said base body at least up to said structure base; and

f) removing said second material selectively with respect to said plastic material by dissolving said marker layer and said second material layer to thereby form microstructure bodies of plastic material.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said base body consists of said plastic material.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said base body is a compound structure of said plastic material with a metal plate wherein said first side consists of said metal plate and said second side consists of said plastic material.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said base body, having said second side which is microstructured, is molded in a microstructured molding tool using a molding method selected from the group consisting of vacuum molding, reaction molding and injection molding.

5. A method of making microstructure bodies of plastic material comprising the steps of:

a) providing a base body having a first side representing a first reference plane and a second side which is microstructured such that plastic material microstructures project from a structure base of said base body, which structure base extends parallel to said reference plane;

b) forming a material layer on said second side by placing a first portion of a second material onto said microstructured side of said base body up to a level which is not higher than said microstructures, thereby engaging said microstructures;

c) mechanically machining the microstructures on said second side of said base body to provide a machined surface which exposes evenly cut surfaces of said microstructures,

d) overlying an additional portion of said second material onto said second side of said base body and the machined surface which exposes said evenly cut surfaces of said microstructures,

e) machining said additional portion of said second material layer overlaying the base body to provide a second reference plane parallel to said first reference plane;

f) machining said first side of said base body parallel to said second reference plane to remove a portion of said base body at least up to said structure base; and

g) removing said second material selectively with respect to said plastic material to thereby form said microstructure bodies of plastic material.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said base body consists of said plastic material.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said base body is a compound structure of said plastic material with a metal plate wherein said first side consists of said metal plate and said second side consists of said plastic material.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said base body, having said second side which is microstructured, is molded in a microstructured molding tool using a molding method selected from the group consisting of vacuum molding, reaction molding and injection molding.