The present invention provides a method for producing an optical film excellent in anti-fouling properties and scratch resistance as well as anti-reflection properties. The method includes the steps of: (1) applying a lower layer resin and an upper layer resin; (2) forming a resin layer having the uneven structure on a surface thereof by pressing a mold against the lower layer resin and the upper layer resin from the upper layer resin side in the state where the applied lower layer resin and upper layer resin are stacked; and (3) curing the resin layer, the lower layer resin containing at least one kind of first monomer that contains no fluorine atoms, the upper layer resin containing a fluorine-containing monomer and at least one kind of second monomer that contains no fluorine atoms, at least one of the first monomer and the second monomer containing a compatible monomer that is compatible with the fluorine-containing monomer and being dissolved in the lower layer resin and the upper layer resin.

Disclosed are processes for In-Mold coating of a substrate. The processes include: introducing a curable composition to a mixhead at a first elevated pressure, the curable composition comprising a first polymeric component and a second polymeric component, the introducing of the curable composition to the mixhead comprising mixing the first and second polymeric components by impingement to form an intermediate composition; introducing the intermediate composition to a secondary mixer, the introducing of the intermediate composition to the secondary mixer comprising mixing the intermediate composition to form a coating composition; and introducing the coating composition into a mold containing a substrate to form a curable coating on a surface of the substrate.

A prepared mold tool having a thermoplastic surface layer polymer coating on the mold surface of the mold tool or prepared prepreg having a thermoplastic surface layer polymer coating on the surface of the thermoplastic fiber reinforced prepreg are described that enhance first ply laydown of thermoplastic fiber reinforced composite prepregs onto mold tools for prepreg forming or in situ tape placement. Resulting thermoplastic fiber reinforced composite parts from a thermoplastic fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material having structural reinforcement fibers with one or more high performance polymers, and a thermoplastic surface layer polymer coating which forms a polymer blend with the high performance polymers of the thermoplastic fiber reinforced composite material thereby imparting improved properties, and methods for making and using same, are provided herein.

A prepared mold tool having a thermoplastic surface layer polymer coating on the mold surface of the mold tool or prepared prepreg having a thermoplastic surface layer polymer coating on the surface of the thermoplastic fiber reinforced prepreg are described that enhance first ply laydown of thermoplastic fiber reinforced composite prepregs onto mold tools for prepreg forming or in situ tape placement. Resulting thermoplastic fiber reinforced composite parts from a thermoplastic fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material having structural reinforcement fibers with one or more high performance polymers, and a thermoplastic surface layer polymer coating which forms a polymer blend with the high performance polymers of the thermoplastic fiber reinforced composite material thereby imparting improved properties, and methods for making and using same, are provided herein.

A method for applying a polymer coating to a substrate wherein the resultant layer of polymer on the substrate has a substantial thickness. A mixture of polymer material, including reactor bead polymer and ground polymer, may be used in a powder coating process to achieve thicker polymer layers. In separate embodiments, the resultant polymer layer may remain on the substrate or may be removed from the substrate.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object is carried out by providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid; irradiating the build region through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid and advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer, while also concurrently with the irradiating and/or advancing steps: (i) continuously maintaining a dead zone of polymerizable liquid in contact with the build surface, and (ii) continuously maintaining a gradient of polymerization zone between the dead zone and the solid polymer and in contact with each thereof. The gradient of polymerization zone comprises the polymerizable liquid in partially cured form (e.g., so that the formation of fault or cleavage lines between layers of solid polymer in the three-dimensional object is reduced). Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

Fabricating a high refractive index photonic device includes disposing a polymerizable composition on a first surface of a first substrate and contacting the polymerizable composition with a first surface of a second substrate, thereby spreading the polymerizable composition on the first surface of the first substrate. The polymerizable composition is cured to yield a polymeric structure having a first surface in contact with the first surface of the first substrate, a second surface opposite the first surface of the polymeric structure and in contact with the first surface of the second substrate, and a selected residual layer thickness between the first surface of the polymeric structure and the second surface of the polymeric structure in the range of 10 μm to 1 cm. The polymeric structure is separated from the first substrate and the second substrate to yield a monolithic photonic device having a refractive index of at least 1.6.

Fabricating a high refractive index photonic device includes disposing a polymerizable composition on a first surface of a first substrate and contacting the polymerizable composition with a first surface of a second substrate, thereby spreading the polymerizable composition on the first surface of the first substrate. The polymerizable composition is cured to yield a polymeric structure having a first surface in contact with the first surface of the first substrate, a second surface opposite the first surface of the polymeric structure and in contact with the first surface of the second substrate, and a selected residual layer thickness between the first surface of the polymeric structure and the second surface of the polymeric structure in the range of 10 μm to 1 cm. The polymeric structure is separated from the first substrate and the second substrate to yield a monolithic photonic device having a refractive index of at least 1.6.

A washout tooling for a composite layup is provided. The washout tooling comprises a casting mold having an exterior surface. The casting mold comprises a particulate material and a water-soluble binder. The casting mold is adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution. The washout tooling further comprises a water-soluble coating layer overlying the exterior surface. The water-soluble coating layer is adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution. The washout tooling further comprises a curable composite layer overlying the water-soluble coating layer. The water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable composite layer.

A washout tooling for a composite layup is provided. The washout tooling comprises a casting mold having an exterior surface. The casting mold comprises a particulate material and a water-soluble binder. The casting mold is adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution. The washout tooling further comprises a water-soluble coating layer overlying the exterior surface. The water-soluble coating layer is adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution. The washout tooling further comprises a curable composite layer overlying the water-soluble coating layer. The water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable composite layer.