Method for forming selectively perforate bodies

Claim 1

A METHOD OF PREFORATING A SOLID BODY IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN COMPRISNG SUBJECTING SAID BODY TO A HOMOGENEOUS BOMBARDMENT OF CHARGE PARTICLES HAVING AN ENERGY LEVEL FORMING DAMAGE TRACKS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BODY, EXPOSING A SELECTIVE PORTION OF SAID HOMOGENEOUSLY BOMBARDED BODY IN AN OXYGEN CONTAINING AMBIENT TO RADIANT ENERGY FOR A PERIOD REQUIRED TO ALTER THE SOLUBILITY RATE OF SAID EXPOSED DAMAGE TRACKDS, ETCHING SAID BODY FOR A PERIOD SUFFICIENT TO ETCH THROUGH THOSE DAMAGE TRACKS LYING WITHIN THE SELECTIVELY EXPOSED PORTION OF SAID BODY, SAID ETCH PERIOD BEING INSUFFICIENT TO ETCH THROUGH DAMAGE TRACKS LYING OUTSIDE SAID EXPOSED PORTION OF SAID BODY, ANNEALING THE SELECTIVELY PERFORATE BODY FOR A PERIOD REQUIRED TO OBLITERATE THE ALTERED SOLUBILITY OF SAID DAMAGE TRACKS AND ETCHING SAID BODY TO ELARGE THE PERFORATIONS FORMED THROUGH SAID BODY DURING SAID INITIAL ETCH OF SAID BODY.

Claim 2

A METHOD OF PREFORATING A SOLID BODY IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN COMPRISNG SUBJECTING SAID BODY TO A HOMOGENEOUS BOMBARDMENT OF CHARGE PARTICLES HAVING AN ENERGY LEVEL FORMING DAMAGE TRACKS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BODY, EXPOSING A SELECTIVE PORTION OF SAID HOMOGENEOUSLY BOMBARDED BODY IN AN OXYGEN CONTAINING AMBIENT TO RADIANT ENERGY FOR A PERIOD REQUIRED TO ALTER THE SOLUBILITY RATE OF SAID EXPOSED DAMAGE TRACKDS, ETCHING SAID BODY FOR A PERIOD SUFFICIENT TO ETCH THROUGH THOSE DAMAGE TRACKS LYING WITHIN THE SELECTIVELY EXPOSED PORTION OF SAID BODY, SAID ETCH PERIOD BEING INSUFFICIENT TO ETCH THROUGH DAMAGE TRACKS LYING OUTSIDE SAID EXPOSED PORTION OF SAID BODY, ANNEALING THE SELECTIVELY PERFORATE BODY FOR A PERIOD REQUIRED TO OBLITERATE THE ALTERED SOLUBILITY OF SAID DAMAGE TRACKS AND ETCHING SAID BODY TO ELARGE THE PERFORATIONS FORMED THROUGH SAID BODY DURING SAID INITIAL ETCH OF SAID BODY.

Claim 3

A method of perforating the body of a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric resins and celluostic materials in a predetermined pattern comprising subjecting said body to a homogeneous bombardment of alpha particles to form damage tracks which are more susceptible to etching by an etchant for said material than adjacent undamaged material, covering a portion of the surface of the body with a metallic shield to mask an area of the predetermined pattern against ultraviolet radiation, exposing the masked homogeneously bombarded body in air to ultraviolet radiation for a period equivalent to at least 15 minutes exposure with a 100-watt black light lamp disposed at a distance of 1 cm. from said material, etching said body in an etchant for said material for a period of time sufficient to etch through those damage tracks lying within that portion of the body uncovered by said shield, said etch period being insufficient to etch through damage tracks lying within that portion of the body covered by said shield, annealing the shielded portion of said perforate body for a sufficient period of time and at a temperature to effectively remove said damage tracks and to obliterate the altered solubility of the regions of said damage tracks, and further etching said body in an etchant therefor to enlarge the perforations formed through said body during said initial etch of said body.

Claim 4

A method of perforating the body of a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric resins and celluostic materials in a predetermined pattern comprising subjecting said body to a homogeneous bombardment of alpha particles to form damage tracks which are more susceptible to etching by an etchant for said material than adjacent undamaged material, covering a portion of the surface of the body with a metallic shield to mask an area of the predetermined pattern against ultraviolet radiation, exposing the masked homogeneously bombarded body in air to ultraviolet radiation for a period equivalent to at least 15 minutes exposure with a 100-watt black light lamp disposed at a distance of 1 cm. from said material, etching said body in an etchant for said material for a period of time sufficient to etch through those damage tracks lying within that portion of the body uncovered by said shield, said etch period being insufficient to etch through damage tracks lying within that portion of the body covered by said shield, annealing the shielded portion of said perforate body for a sufficient period of time and at a temperature to effectively remove said damage tracks and to obliterate the altered solubility of the regions of said damage tracks, and further etching said body in an etchant therefor to enlarge the perforations formed through said body during said initial etch of said body.

Claim 5

A method of perforating a solid body of a material selected from the group consisting of synthetic resins annd cellulostic materials in a predetermined pattern comprising subjecting said body to a homogeneous bombardment of charged nuclear fragment particles having an energy level forming damage tracks which are more susceptible to etching by an etchant for said material than said undamaged material extending through said body, exposing a selective portion of said homogeneously bombarded body in an oxygen containing ambient to radiant energy selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength shorter than 4,000 A.U. and high energy electrons for a period required to increase the solubility rate of said selectively exposed damage tracks, etching said body in an etchant for said material for a period sufficient to etch through those damage tracks lying within the selectively exposed portion of said body, said etch period being insufficient to etch through damage tracks lying outside said selectively exposed portion of said body, annealing the selectively perforate body for a sufficient period of time and at a temperature to effectively remove said damage tracks and to obliterate the alterEd solubility of the regions of said damage tracks and further etching said body in an etchant therefor to enlarge the perforations formed through said body during said initial etch of said body.

Claim 6

A method of perforating a solid body of a material selected from the group consisting of synthetic resins annd cellulostic materials in a predetermined pattern comprising subjecting said body to a homogeneous bombardment of charged nuclear fragment particles having an energy level forming damage tracks which are more susceptible to etching by an etchant for said material than said undamaged material extending through said body, exposing a selective portion of said homogeneously bombarded body in an oxygen containing ambient to radiant energy selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength shorter than 4,000 A.U. and high energy electrons for a period required to increase the solubility rate of said selectively exposed damage tracks, etching said body in an etchant for said material for a period sufficient to etch through those damage tracks lying within the selectively exposed portion of said body, said etch period being insufficient to etch through damage tracks lying outside said selectively exposed portion of said body, annealing the selectively perforate body for a sufficient period of time and at a temperature to effectively remove said damage tracks and to obliterate the alterEd solubility of the regions of said damage tracks and further etching said body in an etchant therefor to enlarge the perforations formed through said body during said initial etch of said body.