×

Microstructured surface film assembly for liquid acquisition and transport

  • US 6,746,567 B2
  • Filed: 12/20/2002
  • Issued: 06/08/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for enhancing the rate of evaporation of liquid disposed on a surface comprises:

  • defining an exposed face of a film as a polymeric microstructure-bearing surface with a plurality of channels thereon, the channels being defined by generally spaced apart projections with valleys therebetween;

    introducing a liquid onto the polymeric microstructure-bearing surface of the film, wherein the channels are formed to facilitate spontaneous wicking of the liquid along each channel which receives liquid therein so that the exposed evaporatively active surface area of the liquid is increased by its spatial distribution in the x-direction along the valley of each channel, by its spatial distribution in the y-direction between the projections of each channel as well as by meniscus height variations of the liquid in each channel in the z-direction; and

    exposing the increased evaporatively active surface area of the liquid on the microstructure-bearing surface to ambient air.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×