Roll-to-plate micro-imprinting of large-area surface micro features: Experiments and a local simulation method. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Jun; Gao, Zhaoyang; Han, Peide
• Is Part Of: Materials today communications. Volume 34(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: Roll-to-plate forming -- Micro imprinting -- Micro feature arrays -- Grain heterogeneity; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2022.105011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-4928

Abstract

Abstract: Roller micro imprinting process is a satisfying method for the fabrication of large-area surface micro features with both remarkable accuracy and efficiency for many alloys such as stainless steels, copper, aluminum alloys, etc. To figure out the forming behavior during the process, the roll-to-plate (R2P) micro imprinting process of micro square dimple arrays was investigated via experiments and simulations. Copper samples were tested by utilizing different imprinting dies with square dimple features on the roll-to-plate forming apparatus developed. The cross section profiles of the formed micro square features in the rolling and transverse directions are revealed to be significantly different, indicating the plastic flow of material in the two directions are uneven during the roller imprinting process. The grain size of material is also found to affect the forming process evidently: With the grain size increases from 12 to 180 µm, the formed square dimple feature is revealed to become irregular. To explore the deformation mechanism of R2P micro imprinting process, a local simulation method was developed to balance the calculation precision and efficiency during the roller micro imprinting process of large-area micro features. The predicted forming profiles were found to agree with the experimental ones. Graphical Abstract: ga1