A method for preparation of a mold (10) intended to form a slab from a mixture of agglomerate comprising the steps of depositing over the mold surfaces a sheet (15) of PVA-based plastic material so as to form with it a surface for subsequent contact with the mixture introduced into the mold for forming the slab, whereby in at least some areas a layer (14) of a fluid agent containing PVA in a solution is interposed between the sheet (15) and the mold surfaces. A plant for carrying out the method and a method for production of a slab are also described.

A film forming formulation is provided that includes reaction products of phosphoric acid with a strained ring alkoxy silane. The phosphoric acid and the strained ring alkoxy silane are present in a molecular ratio of from 0.9-3.3:1. The film formulation also includes an aqueous solvent. A mold release coating composition is also provided that includes the film forming formulation, a reactive release agent, a base, and an aqueous solvent.

An aggregate mixture for a mold, the aggregate mixture including an aggregate, a water-soluble binder, a water-soluble foaming agent, an aqueous mold release agent, and water.

An aggregate mixture for a mold, the aggregate mixture including an aggregate, a water-soluble binder, a water-soluble foaming agent, an aqueous mold release agent, and water.

What is provided is a molding device which enables a molded article to be excellently released, has a region that is on a molding surface and exhibits excellent abrasion resistance by being treated to show mold release properties, and can suppress the deterioration of mold release properties. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced composite material molded article. A fiber-reinforced composite material molding device (101) includes a molding die (130) for obtaining a fiber-reinforced composite material molded article by molding a fiber-reinforced composite material prepared by impregnating a reinforcing fiber base material with a resin composition, in which a surface free energy of a portion or the entirety of cavity surfaces (113a) and (123a) of the molding die (130) is equal to or lower than 25.0 mJ/m.sup.2 which is measured by a three liquid method. A portion or the entirety of the cavity surfaces (113a) and (123a) is preferably an implanted surface to which either or both of fluorine and silicon are implanted.

What is provided is a molding device which enables a molded article to be excellently released, has a region that is on a molding surface and exhibits excellent abrasion resistance by being treated to show mold release properties, and can suppress the deterioration of mold release properties. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced composite material molded article. A fiber-reinforced composite material molding device (101) includes a molding die (130) for obtaining a fiber-reinforced composite material molded article by molding a fiber-reinforced composite material prepared by impregnating a reinforcing fiber base material with a resin composition, in which a surface free energy of a portion or the entirety of cavity surfaces (113a) and (123a) of the molding die (130) is equal to or lower than 25.0 mJ/m.sup.2 which is measured by a three liquid method. A portion or the entirety of the cavity surfaces (113a) and (123a) is preferably an implanted surface to which either or both of fluorine and silicon are implanted.

A method and/or system for forming a micro-truss structure in an essentially arbitrary shape. A mold that has a transparent portion, and having an interior volume in the desired shape, is filled with photomonomer resin. The material for the transparent portion of the mold is selected to be a material that is index-matched to the photomonomer resin. The filled mold, placed into a bath of transparent fluid index-matched to the transparent portion of the mold, and illuminated, from outside the fluid, through a photomask, with collimated light. The collimated light travels through the photomask forming beams of light that enter the transparent fluid, propagate into the mold, and form a micro-truss structure in the shape of the interior volume of the mold. The micro-truss structure may then be removed from the mold, or part or all of the mold may be left adhered to the micro-truss structure, forming covering face sheets.

A method and/or system for forming a micro-truss structure in an essentially arbitrary shape. A mold that has a transparent portion, and having an interior volume in the desired shape, is filled with photomonomer resin. The material for the transparent portion of the mold is selected to be a material that is index-matched to the photomonomer resin. The filled mold, placed into a bath of transparent fluid index-matched to the transparent portion of the mold, and illuminated, from outside the fluid, through a photomask, with collimated light. The collimated light travels through the photomask forming beams of light that enter the transparent fluid, propagate into the mold, and form a micro-truss structure in the shape of the interior volume of the mold. The micro-truss structure may then be removed from the mold, or part or all of the mold may be left adhered to the micro-truss structure, forming covering face sheets.

A method of fabricating a photonic structure on a surface of a solid substrate including a first material comprises depositing a deformable layer of the first material onto the surface of the solid substrate, embossing the deformable layer with a mold bear a photonic structure pattern and solidifying the deformable layer to be integral with the surface of the solid substrate with the mold in place to form permanent photonic structures in the solidified layer.

A method of fabricating a photonic structure on a surface of a solid substrate including a first material comprises depositing a deformable layer of the first material onto the surface of the solid substrate, embossing the deformable layer with a mold bear a photonic structure pattern and solidifying the deformable layer to be integral with the surface of the solid substrate with the mold in place to form permanent photonic structures in the solidified layer.