FemtoSurf project addresses the following challenges:
- Ship building industry. Fouling is a massive issue in all sea fairing vessels, resulting in increased drag and fuel consumption, raising both operational costs and carbon footprint of ships. The anti-fouling surface structures on ship propellers implemented in FemtoSurf will lead to massive decrease in fuel consumption and maintenance of ships.
- Aviation industry. Wear and contamination of aviation components that are under constant stress is a major issue, as it requires constant cleaning/restoration operations that are complex and costly. The surface treatment developed in FemtoSurf will allow the covering aeroplane or spacecraft components in surface patterns enhancing their self-cleaning properties and reducing the overall friction between components under heavy load.
- Healthcare industry. The surface properties of any medical device play very important role in medicine, at it determines bio-compability, reaction to drugs and, most importantly for implants, repulsion or adhesion to living tissue. FemtoSurf solution would allow to directly tune the properties of titanium implants, including targeted induction of repulsion or adhering in designated areas of the implant.
- Tool manufacturing industry. Lubricants play enormous role in modern tool manufacturing, reducing wear of industrial tools and making the whole process smooth. Using FemtoSurf technology, patterns can be created to guide lubricant to specific places of the machining setup.
The overall concept underpinning the project is the development of a system for the treatment of large surface areas using kW-level femtosecond laser for metallic surface nano- to milli-patterning for enhanced surface repelling and/or adhesion properties, leading to increased durability, self-cleaning, anti-fouling, or enhanced tissue attachment.
The main objective of FemtoSurf project is to develop, test and demonstrate industrial-grade solid-state 2-3 kW-level fs laser with parameters suitable for metal surface patterning applicable in industrial settings.
The FemtoSurf project is important for the society, because it provides global technology discovered by EU countries, providing a better quality of life for society, ecological solutions and faster economic growth. Expected results and benefits:
- CO2 reducing technology in transportation.
- Fuel- / cost-savings for vehicles due to efficiency.
- New businesses, factories and suppliers.
- Creation of new job opportunities in the advanced materials, manufacturing and engineering sectors.
