Method for microstructuring surfaces of a workpiece and its use

1 . A method for microstructuring at least one surface of a workpiece, comprising:

a) placing the workpiece to be structured into a liquid medium;

b) providing a light source for producing a cavitation bubble in the liquid medium; and

c) producing the cavitation bubble using the light source in such a way that a subsequent collapse of the cavitation bubble structures the surface of the workpiece.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein step c) includes removing material from the surface.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid medium includes water.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the water is distilled water.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a laser.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein a focused laser beam is formed via a laser pulse of the laser in step c), a vapor bubble initially growing to a maximum bubble radius R max being produced as the cavitation bubble.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the cavitation bubble is produced at a distance s>0 from the surface of the workpiece in step c).

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the laser beam is focused onto a point at a distance s>0 from the surface of the workpiece in step c).

9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the distance s is selected in step c) such that a pressure pulse formed when the cavitation bubble collapses reaches the surface of the workpiece and structures the surface.

10 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein with respect to the laser, at least one of its intensity and pulse duration is selected in step c) such that the s/R max ratio is less than or equal to 0.9.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein step c) is repeated a plurality of times.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is used for a surface treatment of the workpiece for reducing at least one of a friction and a wear due to tribologic loads.