	US 12,138,657 B2
	Method for maskless patterning of metal alloys
Hongtao Ding, Coralville, IA (US); Avik Samanta, Iowa City, IA (US); and Wuji Huang, Iowa City, IA (US)
Assigned to University of Iowa Research Foundation, Iowa City, IA (US)
Filed by University of Iowa Research Foundation, Iowa City, IA (US)
Filed on Aug. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/879,385.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/228,542, filed on Aug. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0037586 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. B05D 7/14 (2006.01); B05D 3/06 (2006.01); B05D 5/04 (2006.01); B05D 5/08 (2006.01); B23K 26/352 (2014.01); C09D 5/00 (2006.01); C09D 7/80 (2018.01)

CPC B05D 7/14 (2013.01) [B05D 3/06 (2013.01); B05D 5/04 (2013.01); B05D 5/08 (2013.01); B23K 26/352 (2015.10); C09D 5/00 (2013.01); C09D 7/80 (2018.01)]

20 Claims

1. A maskless method of making a metal surface comprising at least one hydrophobic region and at least one hydrophilic region, the method comprising:

first treating at least one portion of a first major surface of a metal piece along a laser scan path to obtain a first treated surface;

second treating the first treated surface with a composition comprising a hydrophobic surface modifier to obtain a hydrophobic first treated surface,

third treating at least one portion of the hydrophobic first treated surface of the metal piece along a laser scan path to obtain a second treated surface; and

fourth treating the second treated surface with a composition comprising a hydrophilic surface modifier to obtain a hydrophilic first treated surface;

first treating at least one portion of a first major surface of a metal piece along a laser scan path to obtain a first treated surface;

second treating the first treated surface with a composition comprising a hydrophilic surface modifier to obtain a hydrophilic first treated surface;

third treating at least one portion of the hydrophilic first treated surface of the metal piece along a laser scan path to obtain a second treated surface; and

fourth treating the second treated surface with a composition comprising a hydrophobic surface modifier to obtain a hydrophobic first treated surface;

first treating at least one first portion of a first major surface of a metal piece along a laser scan path to obtain a first treated surface;

second treating the first treated surface with a composition comprising a hydrophobic surface modifier to obtain a hydrophobic first treated surface;

third treating at least a second portion of a first major surface of a metal piece along a laser scan path to obtain a second treated surface, the second portion different from the first portion; and

fourth treating the second treated surface with a composition comprising a hydrophilic surface modifier to obtain a hydrophilic first treated surface; or

first treating at least one first portion of a first major surface of a metal piece along a laser scan path to obtain a first treated surface;

second treating the first treated surface with a composition comprising a hydrophilic surface modifier to obtain a hydrophilic first treated surface;

third treating at least a second portion of a first major surface of a metal piece along a laser scan path to obtain a second treated surface, the second portion different from the first portion; and

fourth treating the second treated surface with a composition comprising a hydrophobic surface modifier to obtain a hydrophobic first treated surface;

wherein

the hydrophilic surface modifier is a silane of the formula:

X¹₃SiR²

wherein each X¹is halogen or a C₁-C₆-alkoxy group; and R²is a C₁-C₆-cyano-substituted alkyl group.