Surface Structuring of Additively Manufactured Articles

Abstract: a selected surface of the present disclosure is characterized by a two-tier nanostructure: first-tier nanostructures and second-tier nanostructures disposed on at least a cell wall of the first-tier nanostructures. the first-tier nanostructures define a network of cells, each with a cell wall and a recessed core. the core is predominantly formed of a first phase of an additively formed aluminum alloy, and the cell wall is predominantly formed of a second phase of the same additively formed aluminum alloy. a method of forming the two-tier nanostructure includes preferential etching of the core over the cell wall to form a network of open cells, and a self-limiting formation of the second-tier nanostructure to form a plurality of sub-cavities characterized by nanoscale dimensions smaller than the cell opening of a cell.

Inventor(s): Jin Yao Ho, Kazi Fazle Rabbi, Teck Neng Wong, Kai Choong Leong, William P. King, Nenad Miljkovic

CPC Classification: B82B1/001 (Nanostructures formed by manipulation of individual atoms or molecules, or limited collections of atoms or molecules as discrete units)

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