Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a part, where the apparatus includes a granular media made of a particulate material and a binding material, where at least a portion of the granular media being formed as a surface of a layup tool.

Abstract: A tie layer film, comprising an admixture of polyvinyl alcohol and a water dispersible polyester, for bonding a support film to a topcoat layer. The preferred tie layer comprises a sulfopolyester, preferably including terephthalate groups or isophthalate groups. Most preferred are sulfopolyesters produced from ingredients comprising monomers selected from the group consisting of dimethyl 5-sodiosulfoisophthalate, dimethyl terephthalate, dimethyl isophthalate, ethylene glycol, and polycaprolactone diol. Alternatively the support film may be a layered film. In a preferred embodiment, the topcoat layer is formed from the same PVA material as the tie layer and the support film includes at least a portion of the same sulfopolyester as the tie layer. The tie layer is capable of maintaining the bond between the support film and the topcoat layer when heat stretched to a stretch ratio in the range of 2 times to 10 times its original dimension.

Abstract: An optical film includes a reflective polarizing element and a particle-containing layer. The reflective polarizing element substantially reflects light having a first polarization state and substantially transmits a second polarization state. The particle-containing layer is disposed on the reflective polarizing element and in a same optical path as the reflective polarizing element. The particle-containing layer is configured and arranged to transmit light and includes a plurality of particles that roughen an exterior surface of the optical film. Preferably, using the optical film in an optical device does not substantially reduce the gain advantage of the optical device when compared with an optical device utilizing the same optical film without particles in the surface layer. Also described are optical devices using the optical film and methods of making and using the optical films.