Silicone Molds
Silicone resins make good casting molds. (RDC 9/2/2011)
Silicone molds can be used for replicating surfaces bearing microstructures and/or nanostructures, in the production of shaped articles such as retroreflecting cube-corner sheeting, Fresnel lens elements, diffraction gratings, video discs, photonic crystal structures, microfluidic channels, and ophthalmic lenses. [Zhang and Pellerite, US Patent 7,891,636 (2/22/2011)]
Recent US Patents
2/22/2011
7,891,636
Silicone Mold and Use thereof
Zhang and Pellerite of 3M, Minnesota, have developed a silicone mold with an oxidized, patterned surface and a layer of perfluoroether silane release agent is described. The mold enables 2nd generation silicone molds to be replicated, i.e. silicone molds from silicone molds. These molds are used for casting retroreflecting cube-corner sheeting, Fresnel lens elements, diffraction gratings, video discs, photonic crystal structures, microfluidic channels, and ophthalmic lenses. (RDC 8/30/2011)