Making the Micro-patterns Directly on a Curved Surface of Polymer by Micromolding

Micro-patterns on curved surfaces were generated by molding on molten polymers with a cured polydimethylsiloxane elastomeric stamp. Microstructures were easily and repeatedly produced with four thermoplastics of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) on some curved surfaces, even on the surface with a raising high made by a capillary tube in the normal laboratory condition. It was found that distinct patterns were difficult to obtain for crystallization polymers and polymers with big shrinkage when temperatures change. Clear microstructures or patterns could be obtained by molding with amorphous polymers such as PS and PMMA.