Simulating the Residual Layer Thickness in Roll-to-Plate Nanoimprinting with Tensioned Webs

Simulating the Residual Layer Thickness in Roll-to-Plate Nanoimprinting with Tensioned Webs

Snieder, J. (TU Delft Mechatronic Systems Design)
Dielen, Marc (Morphotonics)
van Ostayen, R.A.J. (TU Delft Mechatronic Systems Design)

2022

Roll-to-plate nanoimprinting with flexible stamps is a fabrication method to pattern large-area substrates with micro- and nanotextures. The imprint consists of the preferred texture on top of a residual layer, of which the thickness and uniformity is critical for many applications. In this work, a numerical model is developed to predict the residual layer thickness (RLT) as a function of the imprint parameters. The model is based on elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) theory, which combines lubrication theory for the pressure build-up in the resin film, with linear elasticity theory for the elastic deformation of the roller material. The model is extended with inextensible cylindrical shell theory to capture the effect of the flexible stamp, which is treated as a tensioned web. The results show that an increase in the tension of the web increases the effective stiffness of the roller, resulting in a reduction in the RLT. The numerical results are validated with layer height measurements from flat layer imprints. It is shown that the simulated minimum layer height corresponds very well with the experimental results for a wide range of resin viscosities, imprint velocities, and imprint loads

nanoimprinting
roll-to-plate
residual layer thickness
simulation
elastohydrodynamic lubrication
web tension
experimental validation

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:5bb3dcad-3c05-4dfa-b9c2-d03c26131f6d

https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13030461

2072-666X

Micromachines, 13 (3)

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2022 J. Snieder, Marc Dielen, R.A.J. van Ostayen