• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.135-142
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• 2009

In the present study replication of microstructured surfaces by microinjection molding was carried out. For a fabrication of mold inserts, nickel microstructures having various characteristic dimensions were fabricated by nickel electroforming onto Si mother microstructures. In addition, reverse nickel microstructures based on the electroformed nickel microstructures were successfully realized by electroforming with passivation process. The fabricated nickel microstructures were used as mold inserts for a replication of microstructured surfaces by microinjection molding. Microinjection molding experiment was carried out under three different processing conditions, which revealed effects of a packing stage and mold wall temperature. The microinjection-molded microstructured surfaces were characterized by using an atomic force microscope (AFM). It was found that mold wall temperature could enhance replication quality resulting in the precise microstructured surfaces.