Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a variety of techniques for altering a surface using fluid flow. Generally, the invention involves creating adjacent components of a fluid stream exhibiting laminar flow, the first and second components mixing only via diffusion and being free of turbulent mixing. The first and second components are made to flow adjacent first and second portions, respectively, of a surface, and the first and second portions of the surface can be altered, selectively, using the components of the fluid stream. For example, at the first portion of the surface etching, plating, biological deposition, or the like can be carried out, while at the second portion of the surface a different situation can exist. At the second portion the same interaction can be effected as at the first portion, but to a different extent, or a different interaction or no interaction at all can be effected. For example, plating of a metal can occur at the first portion of the surface while nothing can occur at the second portion, or at the second portion of the surface plating to a different extent, or with a different metal, or etching can be made to occur. Alternatively, or in addition, fluid components can be selected where reaction between the fluid components, at the boundary therebetween, can effect a change at a surface against which the boundary flows. Etching, plating, or the like can be carried out in this manner alone, or in addition to selective interactions effected by the first and second components of the fluid adjacent respective first and second portions of the surface. The surface can be tailored to be receptive to any of the described changes, selectively. The invention provides these techniques, and articles produced by these techniques.

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First Claim