Abstract:
Methods of making transfer films to form bridged nanostructures are disclosed. The methods include applying a thermally stable backfill layer to a structured surface of a sacrificial template layer.
Abstract:
A method for making a microstructured tool having interspersed topographies, and for producing articles therefrom, includes modifying a molding tool, by coating a radiation curable resin (430) on the first microstructured surface of the molding tool (490), contacting a second molding tool (480) having a second microstructured surface against the radiation curable resin (430) coated on the first microstructured surface of the first molding tool (490), exposing the radiation curable resin to a patterned (450,451,452) irradiation (440), separating the second molding tool (480) from the partially cured resin, and then removing non-irradiated radiation curable resin (region 432) from the molding tool (490) to provide a modified microstructured surface (region 431) on the molding tool. Articles having discontinuous or different microstructural features are also claimed.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a microstructured article (830, 930) including a thermoplastic polymer shaped to have a curve. At least a portion of the curve includes a microstructured surface (1010B, 10, 1110A, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 810, 840, 910, 940) of utilitarian discontinuities and the microstructured surface (101B, 10, 1110A, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 810, 840, 910, 940) includes peak structures and adjacent valleys (810, 910). The peak structures and the curve are formed of a single piece of the thermoplastic polymer. A method of making the microstructured articles is also provided including a) obtaining a tool (820, 920) shaped to include at least one of a protrusion or a concavity; b) disposing a microstructured film (800A, 800C, 900) on at least a portion of the tool (820, 920) including the protrusion and/or the concavity; and c) thermoforming a single piece of thermoplastic polymer onto the tool (820, 920) to form a microstructured article (830, 930) shaped to include a curve. The curve is an inverse of the protrusion or the concavity of the tool (820, 920).
Abstract:
Methods of making transfer films to form bridged nanostructures are disclosed. The methods include applying a thermally stable backfill layer to a structured surface of a sacrificial template layer.
Abstract:
Structured surfaces are described. In one embodiment, the structured surface comprises a plurality of structures having complement cumulative slope magnitude distribution (Fcc) such that at least 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% of structures have a slope greater than 10 degrees; and less than 80% of the structures have a slope greater than 35 degrees. In other embodiments, the structures comprise peaks and valleys defined by a Cartesian coordinate system such that the peaks and valleys have a width and length in the x-y plane and a height in the z-direction and at least a portion of the peaks and/or valleys vary in height in the y direction and/or the x-direction by at least 10% of the average height. Articles and methods are also described.
Abstract:
Lightguides and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. A structured layer is provided with light extractors formed on a structured surface thereof. In some cases, the structured layer is removably laminated onto a substrate to provide uniform light extraction. In some cases, indicia are cut out of the structured layer and laminated onto the substrate. In some cases, the structured surface of the structured layer is selectively filled to form a pattern for light extraction. In some cases, a tool for producing a structured layer has a region of structures selectively filled to form a pattern for light extraction on the produced structured layer.