Ultrafast laser texturing to improve wettability of polyimide (Kapton) films

Aim of this study is investigating the possibility of increasing the wettability of polyimide Kapton thin films by laser texturing. The laser textured surfaces were characterized through the water contact angle measurement and the surface tension evaluation; morphological and topological analyses were performed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope, respectively. As main outcome, it was found that laser texturing increases the wettability with respect to the untreated material with a decrease of contact angle of more than 20 %. In addition, the ultrashort pulse laser induced, on the material, LIPSS structures oriented in the direction of the polarization plane.