When Lasers Take Inspiration From Nature for More Sustainable Surfaces

A winner of the Belgium Builds Back Circular (BBBC) investment fund, this project has received support from the FPS Public Health, which encourages innovation on the part of organisations, by drawing inspiration from the solutions found in nature to address the major challenges of our times: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

Thanks to this support, Sirris, the research and innovation centre of the Belgian technology industry, has developed and demonstrated a groundbreaking technology: applying textures with ultra-short laser pulses (femtosecond lasers) on plastic, metal or ceramic surfaces. This biomimetic approach imitates the principles found in nature, and gives surfaces new properties in the process. The result: a textured surface can be made water-repellent, self-cleaning or dirt-resistant!

Optimised Materials Sesigned for a Long Life

This laser technology makes it possible to precisely machine surfaces without damaging them, thanks to extremely short and powerful pulses of light. As the pulses act so quickly, the material has no time to melt or heat up, meaning that its properties do not change. This makes recycling easier at the end of the product's life. This method also means fewer production errors and it optimises raw material use without unnecessary overproduction and waste.

Olivier Malek, responsible for laser technology research at Sirris, explains, "Our vision of the circular economy has to include the entire value chain: from raw materials, production process, design and use, to repair and recycling. Working in this way ensures that we can maximise our impact."

An Ambitious Project for More Efficient Resource Management

Sirris works in three main application areas: anti-ice coatings, anti-bacterial properties and friction reduction. One example involves optimising the surface roughness of wind turbine blades for less friction, higher energy efficiency and less wear. Up until now, two demonstration models have been produced and other projects are planned. One of these projects is to create medical machines with easy-to-clean surfaces which repel water droplets, automatically rinsing away dirt.

With these projects, the company is responding to the growing demand for solutions that reduce the use of raw materials and energy in Belgian industry. Sirris proposes reducing the use of non-sustainable materials, reducing the energy consumption of equipment through new surface textures, and using a more energy-efficient laser texturing process as an alternative to traditional coating methods.

From Technology to an Inspiring Example for Industry

This initiative proves that circular production processes are possible, concrete and applicable. The initial results are promising: laser textures reduce friction and slow ice formation - effects that can be reproduced in numerous domains.

Prototypes have already been developed in sectors as diverse as medical devices, coatings and wind turbines. The project is therefore inspiring other companies to explore circular solutions as well.

Moreover, the centre is not limited to testing: the organisation is already preparing scale-up to industrial production, so that this technology can become a real exemplar for the whole sector. The message is simple but powerful: dare to question existing methods and choose more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Thanks to support from the federal government, Sirris was able to move from theory to practice - encouraging other companies to do the same.

Want to know more about the project? Take a quick look at Laser texturing with a femtosecond laser versus coatings | Sustainable surface technology | Sirris.