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Micro And Nano R2r Embossing Of Extruded Polymers, Raymond S. Frenkel

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents a process for directly imprinting or embossing extruded polymers as an advancement in roll-to-roll (R2R) embossing methods that avoids the problems of converting preformed films, increases throughput, and reduces costs. A proof-of-concept R2R apparatus was designed and constructed for directly embossing extruded polymer, and experimental results were evaluated. This laboratory scale R2R apparatus employed a thin metal ribbon belt mold with micro or nano scale features in a calendering setup, with a close coupled induction heating (IH) coil to preheat the ribbon mold above glass transition temperature (T_g) of the polymer, prior to contact with …