An apparatus and method for embossing a substrate are disclosed. For example, the apparatus includes an embossing platform, a printhead to dispense ink on the embossing platform in a desired raised pattern on the embossing platform, a press to apply a load against a substrate placed on the desired raised pattern and the embossing platform to emboss the desired raised pattern onto the substrate, and an ink removal device to remove the ink that is dispensed on the embossing platform in the desired raised pattern.

In a shaping device, a sheet that distends due to being irradiated with electromagnetic waves is placed a conveyor belt. An irradiator irradiates the sheet placed on and conveyed by the conveyor belt with electromagnetic waves. At least one heater heats the conveyor belt.

Film articles with dual-sided structures are ones in which both of the major surfaces of the film have a structured surface. The structured film articles have a first major surface and second major surface, where each surface has a plurality of spaced apart protrusions forming a repeating pattern. Each repeating pattern has a major axis, where the major axis is one of the major axes in the translational direction of the repeating pattern. The major axis of the repeating pattern on the second major surface forms an oblique angle with the major axis on the first major surface, where the angle is in the range of 10-90% of the angle of rotational symmetry of the repeating pattern. The structured film is a unitary substrate. The structured film articles are prepared by providing a flowable material composition having two major surfaces and simultaneously contacting the major surfaces with a first microstructuring tool, and a second microstructuring tool. Each microstructuring tool has a structured surface including a pattern of a plurality of depressions.

A solid nano- or micro-structured thermoplastic foil including a nano- or micro-structured surface area is produced by providing an extrusion casting roller for an industrial polymer extrusion casting process using a thermoplastic material, applying a nano- or micro-structured surface on the extrusion casting roller, maintaining a temperature of the casting roller below a solidification temperature of the thermoplastic material while the casting roller and the counter roller are rotating, and continuously applying a melt of the thermoplastic material between a counter roller and the casting roller while the casting roller and the counter roller are rotating. A rotational velocity of the casting roller may be 10 meters/minute. The melt of the thermoplastic material is moved between the casting roller and the counter roller while the rollers are rolling, and the melt of the thermoplastic material is solidified upon contact with the casting roller to form the thermoplastic foil.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to an abrasive sheet. The abrasive sheet includes a first layer including an abrasive major surface and an opposite second layer defining a second major surface. The second major surface includes a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the second major surface. The protrusions include a first polymer component having at least one of a Shore A hardness ranging from about 5 to about 100 and a Shore D hardness ranging from about 1 to about 70. The first layer and the second layer are directly joined to each other.

A making plastic flooring having a backing contains: a body which has a substrate, a printing layer, and an anti-abrasion layer. A method of making the plastic flooring contains steps of: (A). producing a semi-finished plastic flooring, wherein the semi-finished plastic flooring has the substrate, the printing layer, and the anti-abrasion layer; (B). moving and positioning the semi-finished plastic flooring on a predetermined position of drop plastic equipment, wherein the semi-finished plastic flooring is faced upward; (C). molding the backing, wherein the backing material is melt and is spray onto a bottom of the substrate of the semi-finished plastic flooring by using drop plastic equipment, and the backing material is adhered on the bottom of the substrate of the semi-finished plastic flooring after being solidified; and (D). cutting, wherein the semi-finished plastic flooring having the backing is removed and is cut into a desired size, thus producing the body.

An antimicrobial protective film that can be applied to a surface such as a screen of a smartphone or computing device. The user is able to view items displayed on the screen and to interact with the screen via touch or the like. The protective film includes a base layer or film upon which a second layer is formed, and this second layer includes numerous structures, e.g., micro or nano structures. The structures have a geometry that is unfriendly for viruses and bacteria. The structures are embedded with antimicrobial and/or antiviral agents that migrate out of the structures and kill or at least detrimentally affect the viruses or bacteria received within the second layer. This effect is combined with the fact that the structures are made with geometries particularly devastating to microbes during elongation and contraction of the structures with the thermal-based expansion and contraction of the underlying base layer.

A method for the continuous in-register embossing of a stretchable film is provided where a repeating printed image or a laminate may be formed by way of the stretchable film in an embossing station. The embossing station may include a rotating embossing roll having an embossed image and an associated rotating counter-roll. The printed image length of the film may be stretched longitudinally before the embossing contact with the embossing roll to a length greater than or equal to or smaller than or equal to the embossed image length or the circumference of the embossing roll. The maintenance of register of the embossing may be achieved by way of a relative speed between the circumferential speed of the embossing roll and the web speed of the film in the embossing station.

Film articles with dual-sided structures are ones in which both of the major surfaces of the film have a structured surface. The structured film articles have a first major surface and second major surface, where each surface has a plurality of spaced apart protrusions forming a repeating pattern. Each repeating pattern has a major axis, where the major axis is one of the major axes in the translational direction of the repeating pattern. The major axis of the repeating pattern on the second major surface forms an oblique angle with the major axis on the first major surface, where the angle is in the range of 10-90% of the angle of rotational symmetry of the repeating pattern. The structured film is a unitary substrate. The structured film articles are prepared by providing a flowable material composition having two major surfaces and simultaneously contacting the major surfaces with a first microstructuring tool, and a second microstructuring tool. Each microstructuring tool has a structured surface including a pattern of a plurality of depressions.

There is provided an optical body with improved antireflection capability, a display device, and a method for manufacturing an optical body, the optical body including: a first concave-convex structure formed on a surface of a base material; and a second concave-convex structure superimposed on the first concave-convex structure. An average concave-convex period of the first concave-convex structure is larger than a wavelength in a visible light region, an average concave-convex period of the second concave-convex structure is less than or equal to the wavelength in the visible light region, and projecting parts of the second concave-convex structure extend in a direction normal to a flat plane of the base material.