There is provided an imprint apparatus for forming a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate by using a mold, the imprint apparatus including a mold holding unit configured to hold the mold, and a substrate holding unit configured to hold the substrate, in which a particle is captured by generating a first region and a second region charged to different polarities in at least either one of a peripheral region of a region covered by the mold of the mold holding unit and a peripheral region of a region covered by the substrate of the substrate holding unit.

Disclosed herein is a die assembly comprising a first attachment block having a passage, an inlet port and an exit port; where the passage is operative to transport a molten material from the inlet port to the outlet port; a die; and a conduit; where the conduit comprises a passage that is operative to transport the molten material from the first attachment block to an entry port of the die; where the die comprises a first outer tube; and an extrusion pin that comprises a post and fins; where the extrusion pin is located in the first outer tube using the fins and where the post extends from the fins in a direction away from the entry port of the die; and where the post comprises one or more passages; where at least of these passages open to the atmosphere to provide for pressure equalization; and a travelling template; the template being operative to contact an extrudate that emanates from the die and to transfer a texture to a surface of the extrudate by virtue of pressure applied by a guide tube to the extrudate via the travelling template.

Disclosed herein is a die assembly comprising a first attachment block having a passage, an inlet port and an exit port; where the passage is operative to transport a molten material from the inlet port to the outlet port; a die; and a conduit; where the conduit comprises a passage that is operative to transport the molten material from the first attachment block to an entry port of the die; where the die comprises a first outer tube; and an extrusion pin that comprises a post and fins; where the extrusion pin is located in the first outer tube using the fins and where the post extends from the fins in a direction away from the entry port of the die; and where the post comprises one or more passages; where at least of these passages open to the atmosphere to provide for pressure equalization; and a travelling template; the template being operative to contact an extrudate that emanates from the die and to transfer a texture to a surface of the extrudate by virtue of pressure applied by a guide tube to the extrudate via the travelling template.

A method for producing a molded body includes providing a composite including a first plate having a polymer film pressed into its surface, providing a third plate including roughened areas on at least part of one of its surfaces, placing the third plate opposite the polymer film without the third plate touching the composite, heating the third plate to a temperature above the glass transition temperature Tg of the polymer of the polymer film without heating the composite and without the heated third plate coming into contact with the surface of the polymer film, and structuring the surface of the polymer film facing the third plate by a relative movement which removes the third plate from the first plate while the polymer film remains soft and is thus extended lengthwise, thereby forming a modified composite that comprises the molded body.

Systems and methods wherein one or more processing operations on an identification document occur after a radiation curable material is applied to a surface of the identification document but before the radiation curable material is fully cured. The one or more processing operations can occur before any curing of the radiation curable material takes place. Alternatively, the one or more processing operations can occur after the radiation curable material has been partially cured, and before the radiation curable material is fully or completely cured.

Various geometries are described for forming retroreflective structures in polymeric sheets or films. The geometries enable venting of volatile gases that can otherwise become trapped between the embossing surface and the polymeric sheet or film. The geometries are incorporated in tooling belts or other pattern forming surfaces.

Polyvinyl acetal films with less blocking tendency and which allow for escape of gas during laminating to form laminated composities are prepared by a process for embossing a film comprising plasticized polyvinyl acetal with a roughness Rz on at least one surfaces of 20 to 100 μm by the steps of a. extruding of plasticised polyvinyl acetal to a film with a stochastic roughness of the surfaces of Rz=1 to 70 μm, b. embossing at least one surface of the film obtained in step a) with channels having a depth of 5-50 μm, a width of 10-200 μm and a pitch of 50-2500 μm, wherein c. the surface roughness of the elevations between the channels is at most 20% lower as obtained in step a).

A nanostructure die with a concavely curved nanostructured die surface for seamless embossing of at least one peripheral ring of a jacket surface of an embossing roll in a step-and-repeat process and an embossing roll for continuous embossing of nanostructures with an embossing layer, which has been applied on a body of revolution, with a jacket surface with at least one peripheral ring which is made seamless at least in the peripheral direction and which is embossed in the step-and-repeat process. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and a device for producing such an embossing roll for continuous embossing of nanostructures as well as a method for producing such a nanostructure die and a method for producing an embossing substrate.

Nonwoven materials having discrete three-dimensional deformations therein forming protrusions that extend outward from the first surface of the nonwoven material and wide base openings adjacent to the second surface of the nonwoven material are disclosed. At least some of the three-dimensional deformations may have improved protrusion dimensions after compressive forces are applied on the nonwoven material. In some cases, at least some of the protrusions may have one or more holes therein or completely therethrough. Methods of making the same are also disclosed.

A medical device for delivering a drug compound through a stratum corneum includes a support having an aperture, an array of microneedles extending outwardly from the support, a plurality of nanostructures associated with each microneedle, and a reservoir wherein the drug compound is retained. At least one microneedle contains a shaft extending from the support. The shaft includes a tip configured to penetrate the stratum corneum. The shaft defines a channel extending from the support to the tip. The channel is in at least partial alignment with the aperture. At least some of the microneedles of the array of microneedles each have a cross-sectional dimension of from about 1 micrometer to about 1 millimeter. At least some of the nanostructures have a cross-sectional dimension less than about 500 nanometers and greater than about 5 nanometers and an aspect ratio of from about 0.2 to about 5.