A method and a device for manufacturing a base layer (3) having different degrees of hardness is disclosed. Further a workpiece with a base layer (3) manufactured by such method is disclosed.

The disclosure relates to maskless, laser-assisted methods for making a metal surface comprising at least one of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions; and at least one of micro- and nanostructured regions.

A surface treatment agent including a compound (P) represented by R.sup.1—P(═O) (OR.sup.2) (OR.sup.3) in which R.sup.1 is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a fluorinated alkyl group, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent; a compound (S) represented by R—SH . . . in which R is an alkyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms, a fluorinated alkyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent; and a solvent.

A fishing component includes a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions. The first end portion has a surface on which a first dye is disposed. The second end portion has a surface which is free of the first dye or on which the first dye is disposed with a smaller amount than the first dye disposed on the surface of the first end portion. The intermediate portion includes a gradation portion having a surface on which the first dye decreases in amount from the first end portion toward the second end portion. The gradation portion has a length greater than or equal to 20 mm in a dye gradation direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion.

The present disclosure generally relates to patterned gradient polymer films and methods for making the same, and more particularly to patterned gradient optical films that have regions that include variations in optical properties such as refractive index, haze, transmission, clarity, or a combination thereof. The variation in optical properties can occur across a transverse plane of the film as well as through a thickness direction of the film.

The disclosure provides a method of inking a polymer pen lithography tip array (PPL tip array), including applying an ink composition to a PPL tip array using at least two spray applicators to deposit the ink as a non-uniform ink layer. The disclosure further provides a method of depositing at least two ink compositions on PPL tip array, including applying a first ink to a first defined area using a first spray applicator, and applying a second ink to a second defined area using a second spray applicator. The disclosure further provides a method of scaling a linear ink composition gradient provided by at least two spray applicators to a PPL tip array having a length, L, including positioning the spray applicators at a distance of about 5.0 L to about 8.0 L relative to the surface of the PPL tip array, positioning the spray applicators at a distance of about 0.5 L to about 3.0 L relative to each other, and applying an ink composition.

A bicycle component or a fishing component includes a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions. The first end portion has a surface on which a first dye is disposed. The second end portion has a surface which is free of the first dye or on which the first dye is disposed with a smaller amount than the first dye disposed on the surface of the first end portion. The intermediate portion includes a gradation portion having a surface on which the first dye decreases in amount from the first end portion toward the second end portion. The gradation portion has a length greater than or equal to 20 mm in a dye gradation direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion.

The disclosure relates to maskless, laser-assisted methods for making a metal surface comprising at least one of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions; and at least one of micro- and nanostructured regions.

An apparatus for selectively restricting deposition of a spray coating on a substrate surface includes at least one substrate-contacting stabilizer with a lower stabilizer surface which is selectively attachable to the substrate surface. A restrictor fin has a fin body having longitudinally separated upper and lower fin surfaces. An inner fin edge is connected to an inner stabilizer edge with an obtuse angle formed therebetween when viewed in a lateral-longitudinal plane. A plurality of transversely oriented fin apertures extend through the fin body. Each laterally adjacent pair of fin apertures defines a transversely oriented restrictor bar from the fin body interposed laterally therebetween. The fin apertures permit at least a portion of the spray coating to pass substantially longitudinally therethrough toward the substrate surface. The restrictor bars selectively prevent passage of at least a portion of the spray coating toward the substrate surface.

A surface treatment agent including a compound (P) represented by R.sup.1P(O)(OR.sup.2)(OR.sup.3) in which R.sup.1 is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a fluorinated alkyl group, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent; a compound (S) represented by RSH . . . in which R is an alkyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms, a fluorinated alkyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent; and a solvent.