Custom laser nanotextured silicone for water- and oil-based product behaviors
FLITE Material Sciences offers custom laser nanotexturing for silicone surfaces, enabling precise control of hydrophobicity, oleophobicity, or philic wetting behavior without thermal or ablative damage. The process creates functional nanotextures with feature heights from 25 nm to 5 microns, is validated across 14 proof-of-concept projects on multiple substrate types, and is repeatable, scalable to mass manufacturing, and environmentally safe.
Overview
FLITE Material Sciences has developed a laser-based surface functionalization technology that creates custom nanotextures on silicone substrates to control their interaction with water- and oil-based fluids. Surfaces can be tuned to be hydrophobic (water-repellent), oleophobic (oil-repellent), or philic (wetting/wicking) depending on application needs, without thermal or ablative damage to the underlying material.
The technology offers a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical coatings, which are often toxic and can degrade over time. By physically retexturing the surface at the microscopic level, the functional behavior is embedded in the material itself, enhancing durability and reducing environmental impact.
Potential applications span consumer products, medical devices, and industrial components where controlled wetting of silicone parts is critical, including improved liquid handling, easier cleaning, reduced fouling, and enhanced fluid wicking.
Technical specifications
The laser nanotexturing process delivers controlled application of functional surface features:
- Tunable wetting behavior: hydrophobicity, oleophobicity, or philic/wicking surfaces
- Feature heights from 25 nm to 5 microns
- Demonstrated on silicone, metals, glasses, polymers, ceramics, and composites
- No thermal or ablative damage to the substrate
- Highly repeatable process suitable for mass manufacturing
- Environmentally safe, with no toxic chemicals
Customization is achieved through iterative design and validation, typically over several weeks, to match the target fluid's chemistry and product performance requirements.
Technology readiness level
The technology has been validated through 14 proof-of-concept projects demonstrating controlled nanotexture application across multiple substrate types and functional outcomes. Current development focuses on validating silicone substrates with specific water- and oil-based fluids, including analysis of material composition, fluid dynamics, and baseline performance. The next phase involves producing iterative nanotexture designs over 4–6 weeks, with internal imaging and validation testing, followed by partner quality assurance evaluation. The process is repeatable and positioned for scale-up to commercial manufacturing.
About FLITE Material Sciences
FLITE Material Sciences is a surface engineering company that utilizes laser surface functionalization to modify materials, offering an alternative to traditional, often toxic, chemical coatings. By retexturing the surface of materials such as metal, plastic, glass, and semiconductors at a microscopic level, the company enables these surfaces to autonomously repel substances like water, oil, ice, and bacteria. This process enhances material durability and performance without weakening the underlying substrate, providing a cleaner, more sustainable solution for industrial manufacturing. The technology is applicable across a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, defense, automotive, oil and gas, and life sciences.
For industrial partners and customers, FLITE’s solutions address critical maintenance and durability challenges by extending the operational life of equipment and reducing long-term upkeep costs. The company focuses on integrating its laser texturing techniques directly into manufacturing supply chains, aiming to make industrial products safer and more resilient while minimizing environmental impact. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Montreal, FLITE has engaged with numerous industry leaders to validate its technology through targeted projects and is actively working toward commercial-scale applications for complex industrial environments.
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