Abstract: A method of molding a plastic element having a microstructure embedded therein includes the steps of providing a master having a microstructure therein; casting a liquid surface coating over said master; solidifying the liquid surface coating to form a rigid molding tool containing said microstructure; placing the molding tool into a molding machine; introducing a plastic element into the molding machine; transferring the microstructure from the molding tool to the plastic element; and removing the molded plastic element from the molding machine. The molding tool may also be produced by machining directly into a molding base element a predetermined microstructure without machining through a transfer interlayer. An injection-molded binary optical element produced according to the method of the present invention provides an injection molded optical element which diffracts light.

Abstract: The advanced polymaleimide reaction product and solutions thereof resulting from the reaction of polymaleimides with alkenylphenols or alkenyl phenol ethers in the presence of specified molar amounts of an amine catalyst at elevated temperatures, the desired degree of resin advancement being reflected in solution stability and melt viscosity values.