Toward a Better Understanding of Shock Imprinting with Polymer Molds Using a Combination of Numerical Analysis and Experimental Research

In the last decade, a new technique has been developed for the nanoimprinting of thin-metal foils using laser-induced shock waves. Recent studies have proposed replacing metal or silicone molds with inexpensive polymer molds for nanoimprinting. In addition, explosive-derived shock waves provide deeper imprinting than molds, greatly simplifying the application of this technology for mass production. In this study, we focused on explosive-derived shock waves, which persist longer than laser-induced shock waves. A numerical analysis and a set of simplified molding experiments were conducted to identify the cause of the deep imprint. Our numerical analysis has accurately simulated the pressure history and deformation behavior of the workpiece and the mold. Whereas a high pressure immediately deforms the polymer mold, a sustained pressure gradually increases the molding depth of the workpiece. Therefore, the duration of the pressure can be one of the conditions to control the impact imprint phenomenon.