Major advances in tiny technologies
Micromillimetre-small engineering can be used everywhere; as a component in a printer head, fuel cells, medical equipment or in consumer products such as sensors in mobile telephones such as iPhones or game consoles such as the Nintendo Wii, these are just a few examples. Now KTH Reader Wouter van der Wijngaart, together with the research consortium Q2M have made the manufacturing process for tiny technology significantly cheaper.
“In some instances, micro valves may become 10 times cheaper to produce, this means that we can reach entirely new markets where these valves previously used to be far too expensive,” says Wouter van der Wijngaart, Reader at KTH and project coordinator for the European Research Consortium Q2M.
As examples where micro valves will be of use, Wouter van der Wijngaart mentions more efficient fuel cells and medical diagnostic methods, but he’s also very careful to point out that it is not just about the cheaper manufacture of micro valves.
Over the past three years researchers have successfully tested the new development techniques in a further three advanced micro components, a technique which goes under the abbreviation MEMS. More specifically, it is about the micromirror systems for ophthalmic diagnostics, micro relays in systems for wireless communication and the atomic-power microscope which makes it possible to view individual atoms.
“We have made it possible to structure and integrate different high-performance materials, electronics and plastics in the same micro system at a lower price. Materials are joined together at relatively low temperatures via so-called bonding technology, says Wouter van der Wijngaart.
MEMS stands for Microelectromechanical systems and includes micro components, micro systems and micro manufacturing technologies. The size of the systems lies between 100 nanometres and a few millimetres. The technology is used in industrial applications and consumer products within the automotive industry, telecom, for medical devices and biotechnological instruments.
For more information, contact Wouter van der Wijngaart at wouter@ee.kth.se or ring 08 - 790 66 13.
Read more about Q2M, the consortium’s partner and its research
Peter Larsson