Functionalization of Plastic Parts by Replication of Variable Pitch Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures.

Surface functionalization of plastic parts has been studied and developed for several applications. However, demand for the development of reliable and profitable manufacturing strategies is still high. Here we develop and characterize a new process chain for the versatile and cost-effective production of sub-micron textured plastic parts using laser ablation.

Response of Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells to laser surface texturing, sandblasting and hydroxyapatite coating on CoCrMo alloy surfaces.

Cobalt chrome alloys are commonly used in orthopaedic implants where high stiffness and wear resistance are required. This study proposes Laser Surface Texturing (LST) as a cost-effective mean for producing bioinspired surface textures in order to improve the performance of CoCrMo orthopaedic implants. Cobalt-chrome alloy disks were modified using three different LST strategies: i) micro-scale texturing using a nanosecond laser source; (ii) micro-scale texturing with an ultrashort laser source and (iii) bioinspired sub-micron scale texturing with an ultrashort laser source.