Component comprising a microstructured functional element

Abstract

A metallic cast component includes at least one microstructured functional element on a predefined surface area of the component with a relief-shaped structure sized in a micrometer range in at least one spatial direction for realizing a particular function. The functional element has at least one characteristic dimension of a length of less than 100 μm.

1 . A metallic cast component, comprising at least one microstructured functional element on a predefined surface area of the component with a relief-shaped structure sized in a micrometer range in at least one spatial direction for realizing a particular function, said functional element having at least one characteristic dimension of a length of less than 100 μm. 
   
   
       2 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the functional element is a free formed area. 
   
   
       3 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic dimension is smaller than 10 μm. 
   
   
       4 . The component of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of said functional element. 
   
   
       5 . The component of  claim 4 , comprising at least one functional region formed from functional elements periodically arranged in a surface of the component. 
   
   
       6 . The component of  claim 5 , wherein the functional region includes a biomimetic surface structure. 
   
   
       7 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the relief-shaped structure is formed in the absence of any further refinishing step. 
   
   
       8 . A component with at least one microstructured functional element, said component being produced by an investment casting method comprising the steps of:
 producing a microstructure at a predefined area on a cavity-confronting surface of a molding tool;   introducing a substantially liquid metallic material in the cavity of the molding tool; and   molding a component in the cavity of the molding tool, thereby reproducing on an outside surface of the component a positive of the microstructure to form a microstructured functional element so as to provide the component at a defined area with a relief-shaped structure sized in a micrometer range in at least one spatial direction for realizing a particular function,   wherein the functional element has at least one characteristic dimension, with the characteristic dimension being a length of less than 100 μm.   
   
   
       9 . The component of  claim 8 , wherein the functional element is a free formed area. 
   
   
       10 . The component of  claim 8 , wherein the characteristic dimension is smaller than 10 μm. 
   
   
       11 . The component of  claim 8 , comprising a plurality of said functional element. 
   
   
       12 . The component of  claim 11 , comprising at least one functional region formed from functional elements periodically arranged in a surface of the component. 
   
   
       13 . The component of  claim 12 , wherein the functional region includes a biomimetic surface structure. 
   
   
       14 . The component of  claim 8 , wherein the relief-shaped structure is formed in the absence of any further refinishing step.