Abstract: A method of making a coated abrasive article comprises sequential steps: disposing a curable composition on a major surface of a backing b) adhering abrasive particles to the curable composition; c) at least partially curing the free-radically polymerizable component; and d) at least partially curing the phenolic resin component to provide an at least partially cured composition. The curable composition comprises a phenolic resin component, a free-radically polymerizable component, and an organic polymeric rheology modifier, wherein the organic polymeric rheology modifier comprises an alkali-swellable/soluble polymer, and wherein, on a solid basis, the organic polymeric rheology modifier comprises from 0.001 to 5 weight percent of the phenolic resin component, the free-radically polymerizable component, and the organic polymeric rheology modifier combined. A variant wherein step b) effectively occurs after step c) is also disclosed. Abrasive articles made according to the methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing having first and second opposed major surfaces, a make layer disposed on at least a portion of the first major surface and bonding abrasive particles to the backing, a size layer overlaid on at least a portion of the make layer and the abrasive particles, and a supersize layer disposed on the size layer. The supersize layer comprises an at least partially cured water-based epoxy resin and an organic polymeric rheology modifier, and wherein the amount of the at least partially cured epoxy resin comprises from 75 to 99.99 weight percent of the combined weight of the at least partially cured epoxy resin and the organic polymeric rheology modifier. A method of making the coated abrasive article is also disclosed.

Abstract: An abrasive article is presented that includes a first set of shaped abrasive particles with a majority of the first set of shaped abrasive particles are oriented with respect to a backing in a first orientation. The abrasive article also includes a second set of shaped abrasive particles with a majority of the second set of shaped abrasive particles are oriented with respect to the backing in a second orientation, and wherein the second orientation differs from the first orientation. The first and second set of shaped abrasive particles are embedded within a coating layer on the baking.

Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing having first and second opposed major surfaces, a make layer disposed on at least a portion of the first major surface and bonding abrasive particles to the backing, a size layer overlaid on at least a portion of the make layer and the abrasive particles, and an optional supersize layer. At least one of the size layer or the optional supersize layer comprises an at least partially cured resole phenolic resin and an organic polymeric rheology modifier, and wherein the amount of the at least partially cured resole phenolic resin comprises from 75 to 99.99 weight percent of the combined weight of the at least partially cured resole phenolic resin and the organic polymeric rheology modifier. A method of making the coated abrasive article is also disclosed.

Abstract: A retroreflective article including a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements include a reflective layer that is embedded between the transparent microsphere and the binder layer. At least some of the embedded reflective layers are localized reflective layers.

Abstract: A sensor element and sensor comprising the sensing element. The sensor includes, in order, an absorptive layer, a metallic layer and an optically transparent, dielectric substrate. The absorptive layer has a polymer of intrinsic microporosity having an average pore volume of at least 0.1 nm3. The metallic layer has a plurality of openings each extending from the first to the second major surface of the metallic layer, the openings having a pitch in a range from 50 nm to 5000 nm, wherein the openings have an opening size in a range from 5% to 95% percent of the pitch.

Abstract: A retroreflective article including a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements include a reflective layer that is embedded between the transparent microsphere and the binder layer. At least some of the embedded reflective layers are localized reflective layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical film includes providing a base film. The base film includes a substrate defining a first surface and a second surface. The base film also includes a plurality of structures defining an upper surface and at least one side surface extending from the corresponding upper surface to a base portion. The method also includes depositing a catalyst material on each of the plurality of structures and the base portion to form a catalyst layer thereon. The method further includes selectively removing the catalyst layer from the upper surface of each of the plurality of structures and the base portion while retaining an activity of the catalyst layer on the at least one side surface of each of the plurality of structures. The method includes forming a metallic layer on the at least one side surface of each of the plurality of structures.

Abstract: A method of applying a pattern to a nonplanar surface. A stamp has a major surface with pattern elements having a lateral dimension of greater than 0 and less than about 5 microns. The major surface of the stamp has a functionalizing molecule with a functional group selected to chemically bind to the nonplanar surface. The stamp is positioned to initiate rolling contact with the nonplanar surface, and contacts the nonplanar surface to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the functionalizing material thereon and impart the arrangement of pattern elements thereto. The major surface of the stamp is translated with respect to the nonplanar surface such that: a contact pressure is controlled at an interface between the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface, and a contact force at the interface is allowed to vary while the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface are in contact with each other.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for printing an ink pattern on a moving web via die cutting are provided. A die roll including an inked pattern of die blades contacts a substrate to cut or cleave the substrate surface. While the die blades withdraw from the substrate, at least some of the ink transfers from the die blades to the cut substrate to form an ink pattern.

Abstract: A method of applying a pattern to a nonplanar surface with a radius of curvature. A stamp with a major surface has a relief pattern of pattern elements extending away from a base surface. Each pattern element has a stamping surface with a lateral dimension 0 to 5 microns. An ink applied on the stamping surface includes a functionalizing molecule with a functional group that chemically binds to the nonplanar surface. The stamp is positioned to initiate rolling contact between the nonplanar surface and the major surface of the stamp. The stamping surface of the pattern elements contacts the nonplanar surface to form a self-assembled monolayer of the functionalizing material on the nonplanar surface and impart the arrangement of pattern elements. A relative position of the stamping surface is controlled with respect to the nonplanar surface while the major surface of the stamp contacts the nonplanar surface.

Abstract: A method of applying a pattern to a nonplanar surface. A stamp has a major surface with pattern elements having a lateral dimension of greater than 0 and less than about 5 microns. The major surface of the stamp has a functionalizing molecule with a functional group selected to chemically bind to the nonplanar surface. The stamp is positioned to initiate rolling contact with the nonplanar surface, and contacts the nonplanar surface to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the functionalizing material thereon and impart the arrangement of pattern elements thereto. The major surface of the stamp is translated with respect to the nonplanar surface such that: a contact pressure is controlled at an interface between the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface, and a contact force at the interface is allowed to vary while the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface are in contact with each other.

Abstract: A method of applying a pattern to a nonplanar surface. A stamp has a major surface with pattern elements having a lateral dimension of greater than 0 and less than about 5 microns. The major surface of the stamp has a functionalizing molecule with a functional group selected to chemically bind to the nonplanar surface. The stamp is positioned to initiate rolling contact with the nonplanar surface, and contacts the nonplanar surface to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the functionalizing material thereon and impart the arrangement of pattern elements thereto. The major surface of the stamp is translated with respect to the nonplanar surface such that: a contact force is controlled at an interface between the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface, and the contact pressure at the interface is allowed to vary while the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface are in contact with each other.

Abstract: A method of patterning a cylindrical tool, including providing a stamp including a base and a layer of solid state ionic conductor thereon, applying a negative of a predetermined pattern of features on a major surface of the solid state ionic conductor, providing a cylindrical tool having a metallic surface positioned proximate the stamp, and applying an electric field between the metallic surface and a cathode while moving the stamp against the metallic surface in rolling line contact so as to impart the predetermined pattern of features onto the metallic surface, wherein the cathode is either the base or a conductive element positioned adjacent to the base. The positive of the predetermined pattern of features may include a multiplicity of nano-sized features.

Abstract: A retroreflective article including a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements include a reflective layer that is embedded between the transparent microsphere and the binder layer. At least some of the embedded reflective layers are localized reflective layers.

Abstract: A method of patterning a cylindrical tool, including providing a stamp including a base and a layer of solid state ionic conductor thereon, applying a negative of a predetermined pattern of features on a major surface of the solid state ionic conductor, providing a cylindrical tool having a metallic surface positioned proximate the stamp, and applying an electric field between the metallic surface and a cathode while moving the stamp against the metallic surface in rolling line contact so as to impart the predetermined pattern of features onto the metallic surface, wherein the cathode is either the base or a conductive element positioned adjacent to the base. The positive of the predetermined pattern of features may include a multiplicity of nano-sized features.

Abstract: A method includes providing an elastomeric stamp including a stamping surface with a first pattern element having a fill factor of 20 to 99 percent and including a continuous region and at least one discontinuous region, the discontinuous region including at least one of: (1) one or more elongated concavities, and (2) one or more interior voids. A second pattern element of the stamping surface has a fill factor of 0.25 to 10 percent, and includes traces with a width from 0.1 micrometers to 50 micrometers. The stamping surface is inked with an ink composition including a functionalizing molecule with a functional group selected to bind to a surface of the ink-receptive material. The inked stamping surface is contacted with an ink-receptive material selected from a sheet or a web for a contact time sufficient to bind the functional group with the surface of the ink-receptive material to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the functionalizing material.

Abstract: A method includes providing an elastomeric stamp including a stamping surface with a first pattern element having a fill factor of 20 to 99 percent and including a continuous region and at least one discontinuous region, the discontinuous region including at least one of: (1) one or more elongated concavities, and (2) one or more interior voids. A second pattern element of the stamping surface has a fill factor of 0.25 to 10 percent, and includes traces with a width from 0.1 micrometers to 50 micrometers. The stamping surface is inked with an ink composition including a functionalizing molecule with a functional group selected to bind to a surface of the ink-receptive material. The inked stamping surface is contacted with an ink-receptive material selected from a sheet or a web for a contact time sufficient to bind the functional group with the surface of the ink-receptive material to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the functionalizing material.

Abstract: Metalized web substrate is wet etched in a reaction vessel by contacting with oxidizing and metal complexing agent to remove metal from unpatterned region. Following etching, substrate is rinsed, and rinse is at least partly recycled. Concentrations of oxidizing and metal complexing agents in the etchant bath are maintained by delivering replenishment feeds of each. Concentration of metal in the etchant bath is maintained by discharging some of the etchant bath. Replenishment rates of oxidizing and metal complexing agents and etchant removal rate are determined based at least in part on rate that metal etched from the substrate enters the etchant bath.

Abstract: Metalized web substrate is wet etched in a reaction vessel by contacting with oxidizing and metal complexing agent to remove metal from unpatterned region. Following etching, substrate is rinsed, and rinse is at least partly recycled. Concentrations of oxidizing and metal complexing agents in the etchant bath are maintained by delivering replenishment feeds of each. Concentration of metal in the etchant bath is maintained by discharging some of the etchant bath. Replenishment rates of oxidizing and metal complexing agents and etchant removal rate are determined based at least in part on rate that metal etched from the substrate enters the etchant bath.