A flexible mold has a mold body having a nanoimprinting microstructure and is gradually thickened from its periphery to the middle. Also, a resist spreading nanoimprinting method that integrates a soft mold into a dovetailed meal ring and then deforms it to form a point contact with a substrate before an imprinting process is followed and then convert a loading force into a specific distributed contact pressure for driving the resist flow by using an elastomer cushion pad with a pre-designed convex surface.

The present disclosure relates to a method for transferring an embossed structure to at least a part of a surface of a coating (B2), using a composite (F1B1) composed of a substrate (F1) and of an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (B1), where the coating (B2) and the coating (B1) of the composite (F1B1) have embossed structures which are mirror images of one another. Also described herein is a composite (B2B1F1). Further described herein is a use of this composite for producing an at least partially embossed coating (B2) in the form of a free film or a composite (B2KF2) composed of a substrate (F2), at least one adhesive (K), and the coating (B2).

Foldable composite structures and methods for fabricating foldable composite structures are provided. For example, a method comprises selectively applying a rigidifying substance to a sheet of composite material to define a plurality of hinges; allowing the rigidifying substance to cure; and folding the sheet of composite material along the hinges to form the composite structure. As another example, a method comprises laying out flat a sheet of composite material; masking a plurality of hinges on the sheet; applying a polymer to a sheet face; curing the polymer; removing the masking; and folding the sheet along the hinges to form the composite structure. An exemplary foldable composite structure comprises a planar sheet of composite material folded to define a plurality of surface segments and a plurality of hinges. A portion of the hinges form peaks and the remainder of the hinges form valleys. The hinges are defined between adjacent surface segments.

The invention comprises a method of butt seaming artificial turf. The method comprises providing a piece of artificial turf comprising a primary backing material having an upper surface and a lower surface, a plurality of tufts of filament material formed in the primary backing material, wherein the tufts are arranged to simulate blades of grass extending outwardly from the upper surface of the primary backing material and the tufts have tuft backs formed on the lower surface of the primary backing material and a layer of a thermoplastic polymer formed on the lower surface of the primary backing material and the tuft backs such that the layer of thermoplastic polymer attaches the tuft backs to the primary backing material. The method further comprises heating a portion of the layer of thermoplastic polymer adjacent an edge of the artificial turf until the portion of the layer of thermoplastic polymer softens and pressing the softened portion of the layer of thermoplastic polymer into contact with a seaming tape.

A biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin film has at least one surface of which has protrusions each having a height of 1 nm or more and less than 2 nm at a density of 110.sup.7 to 110.sup.9 protrusions per mm.sup.2. The thermoplastic resin film is capable of suppressing generation of coarse protrusions and contaminants, and defects in a processing process while having slipperiness.

The present disclosure relates to a method for transferring an embossed structure to a surface of a coating composition (B2a), which includes the steps (1-i) and (2-i) or (1-ii) and (2-ii) and also the steps (3) and optionally (4), where the steps (1-i) and (2-i) or (1-ii) and (2-ii) are performed using a composite (F1B1) which is employed as an embossing die (p2) of an embossing tool (P2) and which is composed of a substrate (F1) and of an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (B1), and the coating composition (B1a) used for producing (B1) of the composite (F1B1) is a radiation-curable coating composition of defined constitution. Also described herein is a composite (F1B1).

The invention relates to a method for creating a surface structure on a mold, wherein first structural elements are created using a laser structuring process in a first step, and second structural elements, which are smaller than the first structural elements, are created using an anodic oxidation process in another step following the laser structuring process. The invention further relates to a mold of said type and finally to a plastic film or a plastic component having a surface structure as well as to a method for the production thereof.

A stamp for micro-transfer printing includes a support having a support stiffness and a support coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). A pedestal layer is formed on the support, the pedestal layer having a pedestal layer stiffness that is less than the support stiffness and a pedestal layer coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is different from the support coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). A stamp layer is formed on the pedestal layer, the stamp layer having a body and one or more protrusions extending from the body in a direction away from the pedestal layer. The stamp layer has a stamp layer stiffness that is less than the support stiffness and a stamp layer coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the support coefficient of thermal expansion.

A device and method enabling industrial continuous pressing, called extrusion of plastically/thermally mouldable substances such as metal, composite metal, plastic, composite or rubber, which is pressed to the profile by a process including a tool fixed member partially predefining the profile shape/cross-section before the profile is finally defined to a cross-section when the material passes rotating dies, which through contact with each other, cancel out main radial forces and the position of which may vary relative to other bearing surfaces or rotary bearing surfaces of the tool with which they define the final shape of the profile. The device and method enable the extrusion of pattern on the inside of hollow profiles and the extrusion of multiple profiles in one tool, because 80-98% of radial bearing forces are eliminated, allowing the installation of rotary dies where not previously possible, and almost unlimited opportunities in increased profile width.

The invention relates to imparting surfaces with nanometer sized structures that provide bactericidal properties to the surface and devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a bactericidal surface with nanometer sized pillars created by imprinting a softened polymer surface with a mold. In another embodiment, the nanometer sized pillars are part of a medical device with antibacterial properties.