Optics and Precision Engineering, Volume. 20, Issue 6, 1250(2012)
Application of ultrasonic stress relief technology to microinjection mold fabrication
In the UV-LIGA fabrication process of a microinjection metal mold,the large internal stress of a SU-8 layer can result in SU-8 mould defects such as micro cracks, distortion or even exfoliation. In order to avoid these defects, the ultrasonic stress relief technology was introduced into the microinjection process. First, the SU-8 mould was obtained by coating, soft baking, ultraviolet exposure and post-exposure baking,and it was treated by the ultrasonic stress relief equipment before developing. Then the backless plate growing method was adopted to directly fabricate the nickel micro-electroforming pattern on a 38CrNiMnMo mould steel substrate and the SU-8 layer defects emerged in the process such as the distortion and exfoliation in the SU-8 spin coating on a non-circular substrate, the air bubbles in photoresist layer and the adhesion of plating layer with the substrate were eliminated or improved. Finally, the microinjection mold with a channel width of 80 μm and a height of 35 μm was fabricated. The results show that by using the ultrasonic stress relief technology, the SU-8 mould defects caused by large internal stress in SU-8 layer are overcome, the capacity of manufacturing microinjection mold via UV-LIGA technology is enhanced, and the success rate of microinjection mold fabrication is greatly improved.
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DU Li-qun, LI Cheng-bin, LI Yong-hui, YU Tong-min. Application of ultrasonic stress relief technology to microinjection mold fabrication[J]. Optics and Precision Engineering, 2012, 20(6): 1250
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Received: Feb. 3, 2012
Accepted: --
Published Online: Jun. 25, 2012
The Author Email: Cheng-bin LI (licb_simon@163.com)