3D porous metal structure manufacturing using UV pulsed laser and copper formate solution

This paper demonstrates a simple fabrication method of porous metal structures using liquid phase solution (copper formate solution) based on UV pulse laser deposition. This process can produce arbitrary metal 3D structures at room temperature and atmosphere. Primary reactions are redox processes by photothermal effect. Local temperature elevation induced by laser exposure activates selective copper formation effects. It can be a method of 3D additive manufacturing processes, which has some advantages that no supporter and no shielding environment preventing the oxidation are required. Also, the density of porous copper structure could be predicted by concentration of solution. These experimental results showed that it was feasible to produce the metal foam-typed structures, and thus it would provide the potential possibilities of additive manufacturing by layering various metal structures. In the future, this process will be applicable to catalyst exchangers, electrodes, filters, and heat exchangers.