Dr. Marcello Papini

Anyone who enjoys the magic of power washing will appreciate Marcello Papini’s abrasive jet technology. While there is a key difference in application – the first to remove surface grime and the second to cut into surfaces – the use of speed and pressure overlap. “Plus, there’s the sheer joy of blasting stuff,” says Papini. “Students really get into it.”

With variations in nozzle size, particle size, velocity and angle, Papini’s jets can cut wide, narrow, deep or shallow, depending on the need. They can be used for delicate etching, shaping and carving tasks and have applications in automotive, aerospace, medical and other fields. For example, jets can deliver drugs through the skin in place of a hypodermic needle. They also show promise for the next generation of 3D components used in microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices.

Papini’s greatest interest lies in computer modelling: predicting the size and shape of micromachined features. “This technology has a lot of advantages. It can cut virtually any material, it doesn’t heat the material, it’s flexible and it’s environmentally friendly. It’s complicated and specialized, but at the same time, it has a broad appeal. Like power washing.”