RU2822393C1 - Method of transferring embossed structure onto coating surface and composite material used as die for embossing - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to a method of transferring an embossed structure onto at least part of the surface of a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1) as an embossing die. Method of transferring the embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of the coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1) includes steps of (1) providing a composite material (S1C1), (2-I) applying a coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the surface of a substrate (S2) to obtain a composite material (S2C2a), (3-I) at least partial embossing of composition (C2a) for coating composite material (S2C2a) using composite material (S1C1), (4) at least partial curing of embossed coating composition (C2a). Coating composition (C1a), which is used to obtain at least partially embossed and cured coating (C1) of composite material (S1C1), is a radiation-curable coating composition containing (a) 1–45 wt.% of at least one cross-linkable polymer and/or oligomer, (b) 40–95 wt.% of at least one reactive diluent, (c) 0.01–15 wt.% of at least one photoinitiator and (d) 0–5% by weight of at least one additive. At least one cross-linkable polymer and/or oligomer (a) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the total crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in coating composition (C1a) of at least one silicone (meth) acrylate oligomer. Group of inventions also relates to composite material (S1C1) and use of this material as die (e2) for embossing device (E2) to transfer the embossed structure onto a part of the surface of the coating composition (C2a).

EFFECT: group of inventions provides improved accuracy of molding along the entire width of the stamping plate.

18 cl, 5 tbl, 4 dwg

Description

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method for transferring an embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1) comprising a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) , after the following stages (1), (2-I) and (3-I) or (2-II) and (3-II), as well as at least stage (4) and optionally stage (5-I) or (5-II), wherein the coating composition (C1a) is a radiation-curable coating composition of a specific composition, and the composite material (S1C1) is preferably used as an embossing die (e2) of the embossing device (E2).

Prior Art

Currently, in a number of industrial applications it is customary to provide the surfaces of workpieces with structures whose structural characteristics are in the micrometer range or even in the nanometer range. Such structures are also called microstructures (structures with characteristics in the micrometer range) or nanostructures (structures with characteristics in the nanometer range). Such structures are, for example, used to influence the optical, bionic and/or tactile properties of material surfaces. Structures of this type are also called embossed structures, embossed structures or structured surfaces.

One common method for producing such structured surfaces is to transfer said structures onto a coating material. Transfer of structures to the coating material is often achieved through an embossing operation, during which a die containing the microstructures and/or nanostructures that will be used to form, in a negative form, is brought into contact with and pressed into the coating material.

The coating material is usually cured in situ, resulting in permanently formed structures.

WO 90/15673 A1 describes a method in which a radiation-curable coating material is applied to a film or embossed plate with a negative desired embossed structure, and then an embossing device is imprinted onto the foil, onto the foil provided with the coating material. While the radiation-curable coating material is still positioned between the foil and the embossing tool, curing is carried out and then, upon removal of the tool, a film is obtained which is provided with a radiation-curable coating material that contains the desired structure with positive elements . European patent EP 1 135 267 B1 also describes a method of this kind in which a curable coating material is applied to the surface of a decoration substrate and a corresponding embossed die with a negative pattern is pressed into the uncured coating layer. Thereafter, the coating layer is cured and the embossing die is subsequently removed. EP 3 178 653 A1 discloses an article comprising a flexible fabric that has a textured surface for use in replica molding of curable systems. The fabric may have polymer layers, which can be obtained through the use of mono- and polyfunctional acrylates.

US Patent No. 9,778,564 B2 discloses a stamp material that includes a component that necessarily contains a (meth)acrylamide structural unit, as well as an additional component having 2-6 polymerizable groups, this component also having alkylene oxide units. Once this material is applied to a substrate, the resulting film can be patterned while it is cured using UV light using a nickel embosser.

US 2007/0204953 A1 discloses a method for patterning adhesive resins that involves sequentially applying a curable layer of adhesive resin to a substrate, applying a structured pattern to said layer, and subsequently curing the layer so as to obtain a substrate provided with a cured adhesive resin, which contains the desired drawing.

WO 2015/154866 A1 relates to a method for producing a substrate with a structured surface. Here, first, a first UV-curable coating is applied to the substrate and cured. A second UV-curable coating is then applied on top of this cured coating as an embossing varnish, which is embossed to create a microstructure and subsequently cured.

DE 10 2007 062 123 A1 describes a method for applying an embossing varnish, for example such as a UV-crosslinkable embossing varnish, to a carrier film, structuring the embossing varnish in the micrometer range, and curing the embossing varnish applied to film, resulting in an embossed film whose microstructure is subsequently modeled by applying metal to the embossed surface, in other words, by metallizing the film. However, the disadvantage of such modeling using subsequent metallization is the resulting undesirable reduction in the quality of the modeling.

EP 2 146 805 B1 describes a method for producing a material having a textured surface. The method includes providing a substrate with a curable coating, contacting said coating with a texturing embossing medium, and then curing the thus embossed coating and removing it from the texturing medium. The texturizing medium contains a surface layer that contains 20% - 50% acrylic oligomer, 15% - 35% monofunctional monomer, and 20% - 50% polyfunctional monomer. WO 2016/090395 A1 and ACS Nano Journal, 2016, 10, pages 4926 - 4941 describe similar methods, clearly stating in each case that large portions of triply ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMP(EO)) must be used to obtain the surface layer of texturizing medium ) ₃ TA), in order to ensure the creation of a relatively hard cliché texturing medium. Moreover, according to WO 2016/090395 A1, the coating composition that is used to obtain the surface layer must also necessarily include a structural unit that has at least two thiol groups, for example, such as trimethylolpropane tris(3 -mercaptopropionate). However, the use of such thiols in suitable coating material compositions is often disadvantageous because such compositions do not always have sufficient storage stability and because coatings prepared from them do not have sufficient weather resistance. An additional factor is the unpleasant odor resulting from the use of thiols, which is of course also undesirable.

KR 2009/0068490 A relates to a method for transferring an embossed structure from small patterns of tens of nanometers, through the use of a polymer cliche, wherein the polymer cliche consists of I) an acrylate selected from silicone (meta) acrylate and fluorine (meta) acrylate, II) a certain multifunctional urethane (meth)acrylate, III) a UV-curable monomer, and (IV) a photoinitiator, as well as a method for its manufacture, to improve the separation of the polymer cliche from the substrate without swelling under the influence of an organic solvent, while the polymer cliche has excellent flexibility, mechanical strength and wear resistance, compared to cliches made from PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane).

Finally, WO 2019185832 A1 and WO 2019185833 A1 describe a method for transferring an embossed structure onto the surface of a coating composition (B2a) using a composite material (F1B1) consisting of a substrate (S1) and an embossed and cured coating (B1) in accordance with in certain steps, wherein the coating composition (B1a) which is used to obtain (B1) the composite material (F1B1) is a radiation-curable coating composition of a certain composition, and the use of the composite material (F1B1) as a stamp ( p2) for embossing, an embossing device (P2) for transferring an embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of the coating composition (B2a).

However, embossing methods known from the prior art, in particular such as those described in EP 2 146 805 B1, WO 2016/090395 A1, and ACS Nano Journal, 2016, 10, pages 4926 - 4941, do not are always sufficiently effective regarding embossing transfer, in particular in the micrometer range and/or nanometer range, that is, microstructures and/or nanostructures, in particular, without reducing the molding accuracy to an unacceptable degree in the event of such transfer. At the same time, embossings are not always reproduced satisfactorily or, as stated in WO 2019185832 A1 and WO 2019185833 A1, a high degree of reproduction and separation of the embossed and cured coating without destruction can only be obtained when the composite material used as a cliche for embossing, stand for a certain period of time and immediately separate the embossing cliche and the embossed and cured coating after curing.

Therefore, there is a need for an embossing method that does not have the above disadvantages.

Task

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for transferring embossed structures onto coating compositions, and onto substrates containing such coating compositions, and in particular, a method of the kind that allows for the transfer of corresponding microstructures and/or nanostructures, and which provides sufficient molding accuracy and a high degree of success in reproducing the transfer of embossed structures, also over larger areas of the substrate, in such a way that embossing is not accompanied by a loss of modulation depth, and which, in particular, allows the creation of stamping cliches that are very largely reusable for transfer of the embossed structure, and/or which can be carried out by using an embossing cliché of this kind. At the same time, it is necessary that the embossing structures to be transferred can be reproduced to a very high degree, without any disadvantages of the method due in particular to undesirable or unsatisfactory characteristics of some of the coatings and coating compositions used, such as poor adhesion, in particular poor adhesion in terms of the ability of the embossed coating composition to release from the cliché by dewatering the embossed coating composition due to a mismatch in surface energies, resulting in reduced fill cliché and loss of modulation, whereby particularly good separation of the embossing cliché and the embossed and cured coating is achieved regardless of the time elapsed after the embossing cliché has been manufactured and the embossing cliché has been brought into contact with the coating composition to be embossed. Moreover, it is necessary to improve the molding accuracy across the entire width of the embossing cliche. Technical solution

This object is achieved by the subject matter claimed in the claims, as well as by preferred embodiments of said subject matter, as described below.

Therefore, the first object of the present invention is a method of transferring an embossed structure to at least a portion of the surface of a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1), said method comprising at least steps (1), (2-I) and (3-I) or (2-II) and (3-II), as well as at least stage (4) and optionally stage (5-I) or (5-II), namely:

(1) providing a composite material (S1C1) consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1);

And

(2-I) applying at least one coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S2) so as to obtain a composite material (S2C2a);

(3-I) applying a composite material (S1C1) to at least a portion of the composite material coating composition (C2a) (S2C2a) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2aS2);

or

(2-II) applying at least one coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured surface of the composite material (S1C1), and at least partially embossing the composition (C2a) for coating using a composite material (S1C1), so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2a);

(3-II) optionally applying a substrate (S2) to at least a portion of the surface formed by the composition (C2a) for coating a composite material (S1C1C2a), thereby obtaining a composite material (S1C1C2aS2); And

(4) at least partially curing the at least partially embossed coating composition (C2a), optionally applied to a substrate (S2), which is in contact with the composite material (S1C1) throughout at least partial curing, with in order to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2) or (S1C1C2S2);

And

(5-I) optionally removing the composite material (C2S2) located in the composite material (S1C1C2S2) from the composite material (S1C1) to restore the composite material (S1C1) provided in step (1);

or

(5-II) optionally removing the coating (C2) located in the composite material (S1C1C2) from the composite material (S1C1) to restore the composite material (S1C1) provided in step (1);

wherein a coating composition (C1a) that is used to obtain an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1) that is used in step (1) and recovered in step (5-I ) or in step (5-II), is a radiation-curable coating composition containing

(a) 1 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer,

(b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent,

(c) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and

(d) 0-5% by weight of at least one additive;

wherein (i) the stated total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), and (ii) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) for coating, is 100% by weight;

wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the method according to the invention makes it possible to transfer embossed microstructures and/or nanostructures, in particular in the range of structure widths from 10 nm to 1000 μm and in the range of structure depths from 1 nm to 1000 μm, onto the composition to be embossed for application coating, while providing a very high degree of successful reproduction, regardless of the time elapsed after the composite material (S1C1) was prepared and applied to it with the coating composition (C2a), and the time elapsed between embossing and curing of the coating composition (C2a), applied to such a composite material (S1C1), preferably used as an embossing cliché, without losing the high quality of reproduction, which suffers from less filling of the cliché, with the composite material (S1C1), preferably used as a cliché (e2) for the embossing fixture (E2 ) for embossing, has improved layer thickness uniformity across the entire width of the embossing die, providing a more uniform application of pressure to the composite material (S1C1), if used.

In this context, in particular, it has been unexpectedly discovered that the method according to the invention makes it possible to transfer embossed structures with very high molding accuracy and a high level of reproduction success over the entire width of the cliché, whereby the composite material (S1C1) can be obtained by coating with a curable under the influence of radiation of a composition (C1a) for coating a preferably moving substrate (S1), and which is then preferably used as a cliché (e2) for embossing the embossing device (E2).

Moreover, it has surprisingly been found that the method according to the invention can be used with such advantage because the coating (C1) on the substrate (S1) has very good adhesion and very good release characteristics, regardless of the storage time of the composite material (S1C1) and time elapsed after embossing and curing of the coating composition (C2), and for this reason the corresponding composite material (S1C1) can also be very effectively used as an embossing block (e2).

Moreover, it has been surprisingly discovered that the composite material (S1C1) used as the embossing die (e2) of the embossing device (E2) in the method according to the invention can be used to transfer embossed structures such as microstructures and/or nanostructures , reusable, in particular in the form of clichés for continuous embossing, which is advantageous for economic reasons. Moreover, surprisingly, said composite material (S1C1), which is preferably presented in the form of a continuous embossing block (e2), is not only reusable and therefore reusable, but can also be produced inexpensively and quickly on a large industrial scale.

Therefore, a further object of the present invention is also a composite material (S1C1), which consists of a substrate (S1) and at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1), and which can be obtained by at least partially curing the composition (C1a) for applying a coating applied to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S1), and at least partially embossed as a result of radiation curing,

wherein the coating composition (C1a) is a radiation-curable coating composition containing

(a) 1 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer,

(b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent,

(c) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and

(d) 0 - 5% by weight of at least one additive;

wherein (I) the stated total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), and (II) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) for coating are 100% by weight;

wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a).

Preferably, said composite material (S1C1) can be obtained by carrying out method steps (6) to (9), which are described in more detail below.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the at least partially embossed composite material (S1C1) according to the invention can not only be used as a reusable embossing die (e2), preferably as a reusable die (e2) for continuous embossing, in an embossing process such as a method according to the invention, but also that with the help of the components present in the radiation-curable coating composition (C1a) which is used to obtain this composite material (S1C1), it is possible to achieve a very effective separation between the composite material (S1C1 ), which can be used as an embossing die (e2) in an embossing fixture (E2), and an embossed coating (C2) and/or a corresponding composite material, such as a composite material (S2C2), containing such an embossed coating, such as a coating (C2), especially when performing the process according to the invention and in its optional step (5-I) or (5-II), with a very high separation quality, regardless of the time elapsed after obtaining the composite material (S1C1) used in as an embossing cliché, and after application of the coating composition (C2a), or regardless of the time elapsed after embossing and curing of the resulting coating (C2). In addition, in particular, it was found that, in particular, when passing through stages (6) - (9) of the method for producing a composite material (S1C1), the embossed structure of the coating (C1) can be obtained with high reproduction success and quality of reproduction of cliche elements for embossing, due to the complete filling of the cliche along the entire width of the cliche in the form of a layer of uniform thickness.

Moreover, a further object of the present invention is the use of a composite material (S1C1) according to the invention as an embossing die (e2) of an embossing device (E2) for transferring an embossed structure, preferably an embossed structure having a microstructured and/or nanostructured surface, according to on at least a portion of the surface of the coating composition (C2a), optionally applied to the substrate (S2).

Detailed description

When, in the context of the present invention, a formal standard is referred to, it means the version of the standard that was in effect on the filing date of the application, or, if there was no current version on that date, then it means the latest version in force.

The term “at least” in the context of this invention, for example in connection with a coating composition (C1a) containing at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer, is to be understood as one that includes a certain amount of ( one or more) components, for example, the coating composition (C1a) consists of one, two, three, or four different or identical crosslinkable polymers and/or oligomers. The mathematical symbol in relation and interpretation of the term "at least" is similar to "≥". The same applies to the interpretation of the term "at least" in combination with specified numerical ranges, for example, an expression such as "at least 25% by weight" should be interpreted in the context of the invention to mean 25% by weight - 100% by weight . The term “less,” for example, such as less than 75% by weight, is understood to mean that it does not include the amount referred to (“75”), and should be interpreted as ranging from 0% by weight to 75% by weight. The mathematical symbol with respect to the interpretation of the term "less" is similar to "<".

In this specification, for convenience, the terms “polymer” and “resin” are used interchangeably and include resins, oligomers, and polymers.

The term "poly(meth)acrylate" refers to both polyacrylates and polymethacrylates. Therefore, poly(meth)acrylates may consist of acrylates and/or methacrylates, and may contain additional ethylenically unsaturated monomers such as, for example, styrene or acrylic acid. The term "(meth)acryloyl" as used herein includes methacryloyl compounds, acryloyl compounds and mixtures thereof.

In the context of this invention, C ₁ -C ₄ -alkyl means methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyl, preferably methyl, ethyl and n-butyl, more preferably methyl and ethyl and most preferably methyl.

The term "comprising" in the sense of the present invention, in connection with the coating compositions used in accordance with the invention, for example, such as the coating composition (C1a), and in connection with the method according to the invention and its steps, is preferably has the definition meaning "consisting of". Moreover, with regard to, for example, the coating composition (C1a) which is used in accordance with the invention in addition to components (a) and (b), as well as (c) and optionally (d) - it is possible when one or Several other components listed below and optionally present in the coating composition (C1a) used in accordance with the invention are to be included in this composition. Each of the components may be present in the preferred embodiments set forth below. As regards the method according to the invention, it is, in addition to steps (1), (2-I) and (3-I) or (2-II) and (3-II), as well as at least step 4 ) and, optionally, steps (5-I) or (5-II), may include additional optional process steps, such as, for example, steps (6) - (9).

A method for transferring an embossed structure in accordance with the invention, comprising at least steps (1), (2-I) and (3-I) or (2-II) and (3-II), as well as at least step (4 ) and optionally stage (5-I) or (5-II)

The first aspect of the present invention is a method according to the invention of transferring an embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1), said method comprising at least steps (1), (2- I) and (3-I) or (2-II) and (3-II), as well as at least step (4) and optionally step (5-I) or (5-II), as described below.

The method according to the invention is preferably a continuous process.

The embossed structure is transferred or maintained by at least partial embossing in accordance with process steps (2-I) and (3-I) of the coating composition (C2a) applied at least partially to the surface of the substrate (S2). An alternative possibility is transfer via process steps (2-II) and (3-II). The term "embossing" refers to at least partially providing an embossed structure to a coating composition (C2a), optionally as part of a composite material (S2C2a), on at least a portion of its surface. In this case, at least a certain area of the coating composition (C2a) is provided with an embossed structure. Preferably, the entire surface of the coating composition (C2a), optionally as part of a composite material (S2C2a), is provided with an embossed structure. Similar comments apply in connection with the term "embossing" in relation to at least partially embossed composite material (S1C1), preferably used as a die (e2) for embossing the embossing device (E2), and which consists of a substrate (S1) and at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1), which can be obtained in accordance with steps (6) - (9), which are described below.

Stage (1):

In step (1) of the method according to the invention, a composite material (S1C1) is provided, consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially cured and at least partially embossed coating (C1).

The embossed structures of the composite material (S1C1), the embossing cliches (e1), as well as the composite material (S2C2a) and the composite material (S2C2), which are described in the following steps, are based, preferably and in each case independently of each other, on a repeating and /or a pattern located at regular intervals, or they are completely arbitrary. In each case, the structure may be a continuous embossed structure, such as a continuous ribbed structure, or a series of preferably repeating individual embossed structures. In this case, the respective individual embossed structures may in turn be advantageously based on a ribbed structure having more or less strongly defined ridges (embossing projections) which define the embossing height of the embossed structure. According to the corresponding geometry of the ridges of the preferably repeating individual embossed structure, the top view may show a number of preferably repeating individual embossed structures, each of which is different, for example, preferably wavy, sawtooth, hexagonal, rhombic, rhomboid, parallelogram, honeycomb, round, dotted shapes, star shapes, rope shapes, mesh shapes, polygonal shapes, preferably triangular shapes, quadrangular shapes, more preferably rectangular and square shapes, pentagonal shapes, hexagonal shapes, heptagonal shapes and octagonal shapes, wire shapes, ellipsoidal shapes, oval shapes, and lattice shapes, Moreover, at least two patterns can be superimposed on top of each other. The protruding parts of the individual embossed structures can also have a curvature, that is, have a convex and/or concave structure.

Preferably, the embossed coating (C1) contains at least one microstructured and/or nanostructured surface containing micro-sized and/or nano-sized surface elements. Corresponding embossed micro-scale and/or nano-scale surface features can be described by their width, such as the width of the ridges, in other words by the width of the structure, and also by the height of the embossing, in other words by their height of the structure (or depth of the structure). The width of the structure, such as the width of the ridges, can be up to one centimeter in length, but is preferably in the range of 10 nm to 1 mm. The height of the structure is preferably in the range from 0.1 nm to 1 mm. However, preferably the corresponding embossed structure is a microstructure and/or a nanostructure.

Accordingly, the size of a particular micro-sized or nano-sized surface feature is defined as its maximum extent in any direction parallel to the surface, that is, for example, as the diameter of a cylindrical surface feature or the diagonal of the surface of the base of a pyramidal surface feature. In the case of surface features having macro-scale extent in one or more directions within the surface (or parallel to the surface), and micro-scale or nano-scale extent in one or more other directions within the surface, the term surface feature size refers to the micro-scale and/or nano-scale extent of such surface elements. Accordingly, the length of a particular micro- or nano-sized surface element is defined as its extent in the direction of the length of the structured surface. Likewise, the width of a particular micro-sized or nano-sized surface feature, respectively, is defined as its extent in the direction of the width of the structured surface.

The height of a projecting (or rising) surface element is determined by its corresponding extent measured from the adjacent bottom surface on which the corresponding projecting surface element is located, in a direction perpendicular to such bottom surface. Likewise, the depth of a surface element extending in a downward direction from an adjacent upper open surface is determined by its corresponding downward extent measured from the adjacent upper surface from which the recess extends, in a direction perpendicular to such upper surface.

The distance between two adjacent surface elements is defined as the distance between two maximum values or two relative maximum values, respectively, between such surface elements in a direction within the structured surface. Structured surfaces having a repeating sequence of surface features in one or more specified directions parallel to the surface may be characterized by one or more lengths between the highest points in such directions. In a certain direction parallel to the surface, the term length between the highest points means the distance between the corresponding points of two adjacent, repeating surface elements at equal intervals. This can be illustrated in relation to structured surfaces containing an alternating sequence of surface elements such as grooves and slats, both surface elements, in a first longitudinal direction, on a macroscopic scale, extending substantially parallel to each other, and each of them having micro- and, optionally, a nano-sized cross-section located perpendicular to the specified longitudinal direction). The length between the highest points of such a structured surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is the sum of the width of the groove type surface element and the width of the slatted surface element in such perpendicular direction.

Preferably, the corresponding microstructured and/or nanostructured surface to be transferred by embossing contains micro-sized and/or nano-sized surface features, the width of the structure preferably being in the range of 10 nm to 1000 µm, preferably from 10 nm to 500 µm, more preferably in the range from 25 nm to 400 µm, very preferably in the range from 50 nm to 250 µm, in particular in the range from 100 nm to 100 µm, and the height of the structure is preferably in the range from 10 nm to 1000 µm, preferably in the range from 10 nm to 500 µm, more preferably in the range from 25 nm to 400 µm, very preferably in the range from 50 nm to 300 µm, in particular in the range from 100 nm to 200 µm. The specified dimensions apply to the embossed structures of both the composite material (S1C1) and the composite material (C2S2) and the coating (C2), and therefore also to the cliches (e1) for embossing in the optional step (7).

The structure width and structure height of a corresponding surface containing microstructured and/or nanostructured surface elements are preferably determined by obtaining a cross-section of the surface and determining the structure height and structure width of said cross-section using optical and/or scanning electron microscopy.

The composite material (S1C1) provided in step (1) of the method according to the invention can be produced by various methods, for example, by lithographic methods such as nanoimprinting lithography, laser lithography and photolithography.

It is preferable to obtain the composite material (S1C1) through steps (6) to (9), as specified in more detail below.

Composite material (S1C1), preferably used as a block (e2) for embossing in stage (3-I) and stage (2-II), and consisting of a substrate (S1) and at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) is also referred to in this invention as a “template substrate” or “template film”. Moreover, the substrate (S1) is a film, and the corresponding template film is referred to as a “template foil”. Moreover, the substrate (S1) is a foil roll, and the corresponding template film is referred to as a “template foil roll”. The master film coating (C1) is also referred to hereinafter as "at least partially cured master coating" or "template coating film", and the coating composition (C1a) which is used to obtain the cured master coating is referred to as "template coating" . Preferably, there is no additional layer (coating) between the substrate (S1) and the coating (C1) in the composite material (S1C1). However, it is possible in this case for at least one adhesion promoting layer to be provided between the substrate S1) and the coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1), in which case said layer is preferably UV-permeable.

Stage (2-I) and (3-I)

After step (1), in a first alternative, the coating composition (C2a) is applied at least partially onto the substrate (S2) to form a composite material (S2C2a), followed by at least partial embossing of the composition (C2a) for coating the composite material (S2C2a), by using the composite material (S1C1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2S2). This first alternative method according to the invention is described in this application using steps (2-I) and (3-I).

Stage (2-I)

Step (2-I) of the method according to the invention provides for applying a radiation-curable coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S2) so as to obtain a composite material (S2C2a).

The substrate (S2) is a carrier material for the coating composition (C2a) or coating (C2) to be applied thereto. The substrate (S2) or, if a coated substrate is used, the layer located on the surface of the substrate (S2) and in contact with the coating composition (C2a) preferably consists of at least one thermoplastic polymer selected in particular from the group consisting of polymethyl(meth)acrylates, polybutyl(meth)acrylates, polyethylene terephthalates (PET), polybutylene terephthalates (PBT), polyvinylidene fluorides, polyvinyl chlorides, polyesters including polycarbonates and polyvinyl acetate, preferably polyesters such as PBT and PET, polyamides, polyolefins , such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, as well as polybutadiene, polyacrylonitrile, polyacetal, polyacrylonitrile-ethylene-propylene-diene-styrene copolymers (A-EPDM), polyimide (PI), polyetherimides (PEI), cellulose triacetate (TAC), phenolics resins, urea resins, melamine resins, alkyd resins, epoxy resins, polyurethanes, including thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyether ketones, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethers, polyvinyl alcohols, and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred substrates or layers on their surface are polyolefins, such as, for example, PP (polypropylene), which may alternatively be isotactic, syndiotactic or atactic and, alternatively, may be non-oriented or oriented due to uniaxial or biaxial stretching, SAN (styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers), PC (polycarbonates), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylates), PBT (poly(butylene terephthalate)s), PA (polyamides), ASA (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylic ester copolymers) and ABS (acrylonitrile copolymers , butadiene and styrene), as well as their physical mixtures (combinations). Particularly preferred are PP, SAN, ABS, ASA, as well as combinations of ABS or ASA with PA or PBT or PC. Particularly preferred are PET, PBT, PP, PE, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or impact resistant PMMA. Particularly preferred for use as the support material (S2) is a polyester, most preferably PET. Alternatively, the substrate (S2) as such, optionally regardless of the layer of at least one of the above-mentioned polymers deposited thereon, can be made of various materials such as glass, ceramic, metal, paper and/or fabric. In this case, the substrate (S2) is preferably a plate, and can be used, for example, in a roll-to-plate (R2P) embossing apparatus.

The coating composition (C2a) is preferably exposed to radiation through the substrate (S2) or composite material (S1C1), preferably through the substrate (S2). Therefore, the radiation permeability of the substrate (S2) preferably corresponds to the absorption maximum, or is at least in the absorption range of the at least one photoinitiator that is used in the coating composition (C2a). In the composite material (S2C2a), between the substrate (S2) and the composition (C2a), additional layers may be present, for example adhesion promoting layers, which are preferably UV-permeable. It is preferred, however, if the composite material (S2C2a) does not have an additional layer between the substrate (S2) and the composition (C2a). Alternatively, if radiation to the coating composition (C2a) occurs through the composite material (S1C1), then the substrate (S2) may also be impervious to the applied radiation, such as UV radiation. In addition, the substrate (S2) may also be selected from polymer substrates coated on one side with (I) single-sided or double-sided adhesive tape, optionally containing a protective film, or (II) a self-adhesive layer, or the substrate may be selected from self-adhesive polymer substrates .

The thickness of the substrate (S2) is preferably 2 μm - 5 mm. A particularly preferred layer thickness is 25 - 1000 µm, in particular 50 - 300 µm.

The substrate (S2) is preferably a film, more preferably a film roll, very preferably a continuous film roll. In this case, the substrate (S2) can preferably be used in a roll-to-roll (R2R) embossing apparatus or a plate-to-roll (P2R) embossing apparatus.

In the sense of the present invention, the term "continuous film" or "continuous film roll" preferably refers to a film having a length of 100 m - 10 km.

When carrying out stage (2-I) (and preferably also when carrying out stages (3-I), (4) and (5-I) of the method, as well as when carrying out stages (2-II), (3-II), ( 4) and (5-I) or (5-II) of the method according to the invention), the substrate (S2) is preferably moving and is therefore a moving substrate. During steps (2-I) and (3-II), the substrate (S2) is preferably moved by a moving device such as a conveyor belt. The corresponding device which is used to carry out step (2-I) as well as step (3-II) therefore preferably contains such a moving device. The corresponding device which is used to carry out step (2-I) further comprises means for applying, preferably, a radiation-curable coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S2). Similar comments apply to the corresponding device that is used to carry out step (3-II) and optional steps (6) - (9).

The coating composition (C2a) provided in steps (2-I) and (2-II) of the method according to the invention may be any type of coating composition, which is described further below. Preferably, the coating composition (C2a) which is applied in steps (2-I) and (2-II) is applied with a dry film thickness of at least 0.5 µm, preferably at least 1 µm - 1,000 µm, and more preferably at least 5 µm to 1,000 µm.

Preferably, the coating composition (C2a) which is applied in steps (2-I) and (2-II) is applied with a dry film thickness of at least 0.5 µm, preferably 5 - 1000 µm, more preferably 6 to 900 µm, even more preferably 7 to 700 µm, in particular 8 to 500 µm, particularly preferably 9 to 400 µm, particularly preferably 10 to 300 µm, as determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2808 :2007-05, procedure 12A. Dry film thickness in the sense of the present invention preferably means the film thickness of the dry film above the protruding parts of the embossed structure, preferably containing micro-sized and/or nano-sized surface features of the coating (C2) or, similarly, the coating (C1).

Stage (3-I)

Step (3-I) of the method according to the invention provides for at least partial embossing, by means of a composite material (S1C1), of a coating composition (C2a) applied at least partially onto the surface of the substrate (S2), the composite the material (S1C1) is preferably used as a cliché (e2) for embossing the embossing device (E2), wherein the composite material (S1C1) consists of a substrate (S1) and at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1 ), providing as a product, at least partially embossed, a composite material (S1C1C2aS2). The composite material (S1C1), preferably used as the embossing die (e2), may be pre-wetted with the coating composition (C2a) before the composite material (S1C1) is brought into contact with the coating composition (C2a), on which is embossed.

The at least partial embossing transfers the embossed structure, at least partially, onto the surface of the coating composition (C2a) applied to the substrate (S2). The term "embossing" refers to a process in which at least a portion of the surface of the coating composition (C2a) after steps (3-I) and (4), as part of the composite material (S2C2), exhibits an embossed structure. In this case, at least a certain area of the composition (C2a) for coating the composite material (S2C2) is provided with an embossed structure. Preferably, the entire surface of the composite material coating composition (C2a) (S2C2) is provided with an embossed structure. Similar comments apply in connection with the term "embossing" in relation to steps (2-II) and (4) of the method according to the invention and the optional steps (7) and (8) of providing the composite material (S1C1). The elements or structure embossed onto the coating composition (C2a) (or, in the case of providing a composite material (S1C1), onto the coating composition (C1a) are thus a mirror image of the structured surface of the embossing block. In the method According to the invention, the embossed structure of the composite material (S1C1) is transferred to the coating composition (C2a) or, after at least partial curing, to the coating (C2), the composite material (S1C1) being preferably used as a cliche (e2) for embossing device (E2) for embossing.Therefore, the structure embossed on the composition (C2a) for coating is a mirror image of the embossed structure of at least one surface of the composite material (S1C1) containing the substrate (S1) and at least partially cured and an at least partially embossed coating composition (C1).Therefore, the image of the embossed surface of the at least partially embossed coating composition (C2a) and the at least partially cured and partially embossed coating composition (C2) may correspond to the image. an embossing die (e1), wherein the embossing die (e1) was used to emboss the composite material coating composition (S1C1) as described further below.

In step (3-I), microstructures and/or nanostructures in the form of an embossed structure are preferably transferred to the coating composition (C2a).

The corresponding device, which is preferably used for carrying out step (3-I) (and similarly for carrying out steps (2-II) and (3-II) of the method), contains means for at least partially embossing the composition (C2a) for application a coating applied at least partially to the surface of the substrate (S2) using at least one embossing device (E2) containing at least one embossing block (e2). The device used preferably further comprises means for pressing the die (e2) for embossing the embossing device (E2), that is, the composite material (S1C1), onto the substrate (S2), preferably used in the form of a continuous roll of film, after applying the radiation-curable film composition (C2a) for coating the substrate (S2), said means being preferably positioned behind the means for applying the radiation-curable coating composition (C2a) as viewed in the direction of movement of the substrate (S2).

If necessary, stage (3-I) can be carried out at elevated temperatures, for example at a temperature of 30°C - 100°C or at a temperature up to 80°C. In this case, the composite material (S2C2a) is first passed through a heating roller mechanism, optionally followed by irradiation with infrared radiation, before the actual embossing procedure, that is, curing occurs upon contact with the embossing tool (E1). After embossing and curing, the embossed composite material (S2C2) optionally passes through a chill roller mechanism to cool. Alternatively, curing can also occur with cooling: in this case, the composite material (S2C2a) to be embossed is first passed through a cooling roller mechanism, before the actual embossing procedure described above takes place. Instead of using a separate heating roller mechanism or a roller mechanism involved in curing, it is also possible to heat or cool the embossing device (E2).

Thus, the corresponding device preferably used for embossing the coating composition (C2a) applied to the substrate (S2) preferably contains the following means:

(a) moving means for moving the substrate (S2), preferably a conveyor belt,

(b) means for applying a preferably radiation-curable composition (C2a) to coat at least a portion of the surface of the moving substrate (S2),

(c) an embossing device (E2) comprising at least one embossing die (e2), preferably located behind the means for applying the radiation-curable coating composition C2a) as viewed in the direction of movement of the substrate (S2), wherein The embossing device (E2) optionally comprises means for pressing the embossing die (e2) of the embossing device (E2) onto the substrate (S2),

(d) optionally heating means, preferably a heating roller mechanism, optionally in combination with infrared means,

(e) optionally means for cooling, preferably a cooling roller mechanism, and

(f) means for radiation, preferably UV radiation. The embossing device (E2) may preferably be an embossing calender, which preferably contains a force application mechanism, more preferably a roller mesh mechanism. Said calender has counter-rotating rollers, preferably arranged one above the other in the height direction, at a certain interval, and the composite material (S2C2a), which must be provided with an embossed structure, is fed to the rollers, and is guided through the formed gap between the rollers, Moreover, the width of the gap can be adjusted depending on the need. In this case, the roller mesh mechanism preferably comprises a first roller, such as a metal roller, such as a steel roller, a steel roller coated with a layer of metal, such as a layer of copper or nickel, optionally containing small amounts of phosphorus, or a roller coated with a nickel casing. , which optionally contains small amounts of phosphorus, or a quartz-based roll. However, as an alternative, soft materials such as rubber or polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) may also be used, for example as the first roll, or the rolls may be coated with at least one soft material such as rubber or PDMS. Moreover, they may use rolls that are coated with at least one plastic material. Moreover, the roller mesh mechanism comprises a second roller, the second roller preferably being a pressure roller made of steel or a roller coated with at least one plastic material or soft material such as rubber or PDMS. The second roll serves as a pressing or pressing roll. The composite material (S2C2a) to be embossed, for example in the form of a roll of film coated at least partially with the coating composition (C2a), is moved by a second roller or pinch roller in a direction opposite to the first roller. At the gap between the rollers, formed by counter-rotating rollers located at a certain distance from each other, embossing occurs in accordance with stage (3-I). The first roller, on which the composite material (S1C1) is located as an embossing cliche (e2), serves in this case to emboss the composite material (S2C2a), which is guided by a second roller opposite to this embossing roller, the second roller pressing the composite material (S2C2a), which is to be provided with an embossed structure, to the first embossing roll. As a result of this step, the mirror image of the embossed surface structure of the coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1) is transferred to the surface of the coating composition (C2a) of the composite material (S2C2a) in step (3-I) or (2-II) of the method.

During step (3-I), the embossing tool (E2) which contains the embossing die (e2) is preferably pressed at least partially against the applied coating composition (C2a).

The composite material (S1C1) can be used as a reusable die (e2) for continuous embossing of the embossing fixture (E2), and provides a very effective separation between the composite material (S1C1) and the at least partially cured and at least partially embossed coating (C2 ), optionally applied to a substrate (S2) containing a structured surface, preferably in the method according to the invention, the latter necessarily comprising step (5-I) or (5-II). Preferably, step (3-I) transfers microstructures and/or nanostructures having the dimensions previously described in connection with the composite material (S1C1) provided in step (1).

The embossing cliche (e2), in other words preferably a composite material (S1C1), preferably contains as a substrate (S1) a roll of film which contains an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1). Particularly preferably, the substrate (S1) is a continuous roll of film that contains an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1), thereby providing a composite material (S1C1) that is used as an embossing die (e2) for continuous embossing, this is especially important when the substrate (S2) is also a continuous roll of film.

Stages (2-II) and (3-II)

After step (1), and as an alternative to steps (2-I) and (3-I), the coating composition (C2a) can also be first applied, at least partially, to the composite material (S1C1) and at least to be at least partially embossed, that is, before optionally the substrate (S2) is at least partially applied to the surface formed by the coating composition (C2a). Said second alternative method according to the invention, compared to the first alternative method according to the invention, which includes steps (2-I) and (3-I), is here described using steps (2-II) and (3-II).

Stage (2-II)

Step (2-II) of the method according to the invention provides for the application of at least one coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured surface of the composite material (S1C1), as well as at least partially embossing a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2a);

The composite material (S1C1), preferably used as the die (e2) for embossing the embossing device (E2), may optionally be pre-wetted before applying the coating composition (C2a).

The coating composition (C2a) provided in step (2-I) and (2-II) of the method according to the invention may be any type of coating composition, preferably a radiation-curable coating composition as described further below. Preferably, the coating composition (C2a) applied in steps (2-I) and (2-II) is applied with a dry layer thickness of at least 0.5 μm, preferably of at least 1 μm, and more preferably, at least 5 µm to 1,000 µm.

As a result of step (2-II), the desired (mirror image) of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) on the substrate (S1) of the composite material (S1C1) must be transferred from the composite material (S1C1) to the composition (C2a) for coating and, after step (4), onto the coating (C2), by applying preferably a radiation-curable coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the at least partially embossed surface of the composite material (S1C1 ). Therefore, the composite material (S1C1) functions not only as a carrier material for (C2a) or (C2), but also, in addition, as an embossing die, preferably as an embossing die (e2) of the embossing device (E2).

At least partial embossing in step (2-II) preferably occurs by pressing the applied coating composition C2a) onto a composite material (S1C1), preferably used as an embossing die (e2) of an embossing device (E2). Said application of pressure can, for example, be achieved by means such as a roller or a roller mesh mechanism comprising at least one roller after application of the coating composition (C2a). The pressure typically used is in the range of 1 to 10 bar, preferably 2 to 8 bar, more preferably 3 to 7 bar. The roll mesh mechanism in this case preferably comprises a metal roll such as, for example, a steel roll, a steel roll coated with a layer of metal such as a layer of copper, a layer of nickel optionally containing small amounts of phosphorus, or a roll coated with a nickel casing which optionally contains small amounts of phosphorus. amount of phosphorus, or a quartz-based roller or a roller coated with at least one plastic material, rubber or silicone, such as PDMS. Optionally, the applied coating composition (C2a) may be temporarily covered with foil to protect the coating composition (C2a), preferably from exposure to oxygen and mechanical stress, at least during embossing and curing steps (2-II) - (4 ), as well as during stage (5). After removing the temporarily applied foil, preferably having a thickness of 5 µm - 250 µm, a composite material (S1C1C2) is obtained. Suitable materials for the temporary applied foil are selected from the same materials that can also be used to make the substrate (S2) as described above. In this case, they refer directly to the corresponding places in the description. Alternatively, said foil may be selected from materials typically used for protective films or from cellulose triacetate (CAC). Preferably, the temporarily applied foil consists of PET or TAC.

Stage (3-II)

Step (3-II) of the method according to the invention optionally applies a substrate (S2) to at least part of the surface formed by the composition (C2a) for coating a composite material (S1C1C2a), resulting in a composite material (S1C1C2aS2).

Preferably, the composite material (S1C1) preferably used as the embossing block (e2) in step (2-II), after applying the coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of its at least partially embossed surface, results in to obtain the composite material (S1C1C2a), is sent, during step (3-II), through the first roller as part of the embossing device (E2), and the substrate (S2), which is used in step (3-II), is sent through a second roll that is opposite and rotates in the opposite direction to the first roll or rotates in the same direction as the first roll, preferably rotates in the opposite direction.

At least partial embossing according to step (3-II) preferably occurs at the level of the nip between the rollers, which is formed by two mutually opposite rollers rotating in the opposite direction or in the same direction (in the same direction), with the composition (C2a ) to coat the composite material (S1C1C2a) facing the substrate (S2). At least partial embossing is in this case preferably achieved by pressing or pressing the substrate (S2) onto the composite material (S1C1C2a), for example using a second roller or a pressure roller.

The corresponding apparatus as described previously, preferably used for carrying out steps (2-I) and (3-I) of the method, can be used equally, in substantially the same way, for carrying out steps (2-II) and (3-II) way.

Stage (4)

Following stages (2-I) and (3-I) in the first alternative embodiment of the method in accordance with the invention, or following stages (2-II) and (3-II) in the second alternative embodiment of the method in accordance with the invention, stage (4) the method according to the invention ensures at least partial curing of the at least partially embossed coating composition (C2a), optionally applied to the substrate (S2) obtained after step (3-I) or (3-II), which, throughout at least partial curing, is in contact with a composite material (S1C1), preferably used as an embossing die (e2), resulting in a composite material (S1C1C2) or (S1C1C2S2).

In step (4), the applied coating composition (C2a) is at least partially cured, resulting in an at least partially embossed and partially cured coating material, optionally containing a substrate (S2). The term “at least partially cured” with respect to a coating composition (C2a) is to be understood as meaning the transformation of said coating composition (C2a) into a state in which at least a portion of the coating composition is converted into a film, allowing carry out subsequent processing or handling of the formed coating (C2), such as an additional step to increase the conversion ratio of double bonds or removal of the coating (C2) either as part of the composite material (S2C2) or as a separate film (C2).

Preferably, throughout at least partial curing in step (4), the agent that is used in steps (2-I) and (3-I) or in steps (2-II) and (3-II) to apply pressing or pressing the applied coating composition (C2a) onto at least one composite material (S1C1), preferably used as an embossing die (e2), is in contact with the coating composition (C2a) and/or at least with a partially cured coating (C2) formed therefrom.

Step (3-I) or step (2-II) and (3-II) as well as step (4) are preferably carried out simultaneously. In this case, at least partial curing according to step (4) preferably occurs in situ during step (3-I).

Therefore, the corresponding device preferably used in carrying out step (4) preferably contains at least one radiation source for irradiating the coating composition (C2a) with curing radiation. Since the coating composition (C2a) is preferably a UV-curable coating composition, the curing radiation used is preferably UV radiation. If the coating composition (C2a) is not a radiation-curable composition, a chemically curable composition is preferable. In this case, the curing in step (4) occurs thermally, for example through the use of suitable sources of thermal radiation. Of course, combined curing, that is, thermal curing and UV curing, is also possible.

Examples of suitable radiation sources for radiation curing include low-pressure, medium-pressure, and high-pressure mercury radiation sources, as well as fluorescent lamps, pulsed radiation sources, metal halide radiation sources (halogen lamps), lasers, LEDs, and in addition electronic pulsed equipment , providing curing using radiation without a photoinitiator, or excimer radiation sources. Radiation curing occurs due to exposure to high-energy radiation, that is, UV radiation or sunlight, or due to bombardment by high-energy electrons. The radiation dose typically sufficient for crosslinking in the case of UV curing is in the range of 80 to 3000 mJ/cm ² . Of course, it is also possible to use two or more curing radiation sources, for example two to four. Each of these sources can also emit in different wavelength ranges.

At least partial curing in step (4) occurs through the substrate (S2) and/or the composite material (S1C1), preferably by irradiation. Preferably, irradiation is carried out through the composite material (S1C1). If there is no substrate in step (3-II) and the composite material (S1C1) is preferably used as at least one die (e2) for embossing the embossing device (E2), then irradiation is preferably carried out through the composite material (S1C1) used as a substrate. In both cases, the permeability of the substrate (S2) is advantageous, optionally containing on one side (I) single- or double-sided adhesive tape, optionally containing a protective film, or (II) having a self-adhesive layer or consisting of self-adhesive polymer substrates, and/or having additional layers between the substrate (S2) and the coating composition (C2a), or the permeability of the substrate (S1) in the composite material (S1C1), which must correspond to the absorption maximum or at least be in the absorption range of at least one photoinitiator used, which is preferably present in the coating composition (C2a). Thus, for example, the PET material as the substrate (S2), therefore, the PET film, for example, is transparent to radiation having a wavelength below 400 nm. Photoinitiators that form radicals as a result of such radiation include, for example, diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide, ethyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphinate and phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide Therefore, in this case, at least one such photoinitiator should preferably be present in the coating composition (C2a).

Optional stage (5-I) or (5-II)

After step (4), an optional step (5-I) or (5-II) is carried out, depending on the presence of the substrate (S2). Thus, in the first alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, defined by steps (2-I) and (3-I), the support (S2) is necessarily present. Therefore, only the optional step (5-I) can be carried out. In a second alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, defined by steps (2-II) and (3-II), the optional step (5-I) can be carried out when the optional support (S2) in step (3-II) was applied to at least part of the surface formed by the coating composition (C2a), however, if the optional support (S2) was not used in step (3-II), then only step (5-II) can be carried out in this case.

Step (5-I) and (5-II) in the method according to the invention ensures the optional removal of the embossed coating (C2), optionally applied to the substrate (S2), from the composite material (S1C1), preferably used as a cliché (e2) for embossing, providing a composite material (S2C2) consisting of a substrate (S2) and at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C2), or, in the absence of an optional substrate (S2), removing a separate coating (C2) , with the restoration of the composite material (S1C1) provided in step (1) of the method. Preferably, step (5-I) or (5-II) is carried out.

Said removal from the composite material (S1C1), preferably used as an embossing die (e2), can be accomplished, for example, by peeling off the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C2), optionally applied to the substrate (S2) from the composite material (S1C1) or vice versa. Peeling can either be done manually or by using a well-known mechanical separation means.

Alternatively, removal from the composite material (S1C1) may include the following steps:

5-I-a) applying at least one adhesive layer (AL) to the surface of the substrate (S2) not in contact with at least partially the embossed coating (C2), resulting in a composite material (S1C1C2S2AL);

5-I-b) optionally at least partially attaching the composite material (S1C1C2S2AL) to the product (O1);

5-I-c) removing, preferably peeling, the composite material (S1C1) from the composite material (C2S2AL), optionally at least partially attached to the product (O1), or vice versa;

or

5-II-a) applying at least one adhesive layer (AL) to at least part of the unstructured surface of the at least partially embossed coating (C2), resulting in a composite material (S1C1C2AL);

5-II-b) optionally, at least partially attaching the composite material (S1C1C2AL) to the product (O1);

5-II-c) removing, preferably peeling, the composite material (S1C1) from the composite material (C2S2AL), optionally at least partially attached to the product (O1), or vice versa.

The adhesive layer (AL), for example, can be a laminate adhesive such as a polyacrylate or a polyacrylate-based adhesive. However, preferably the adhesive layer (AL) is a self-adhesive layer or a multi-layer structure. Such a self-adhesive layer can be applied by generally known methods such as lamination with an adhesive or spraying with an adhesive. Such multilayer structures, for example, contain a polymer middle layer (PL), also called an inner layer, which is coated with an adhesive (AN) on both surfaces. Each of these adhesives (AH) may be a polyacrylate or a polyacrylate-based adhesive. In principle, any type of polymer can be used to form the polymer middle layer (PL). Examples of such polymers are the polymers already described as support (S2). In this case, reference is made directly to these paragraphs. Preferred polymer core layers (PL) are poly(meth)acrylates, polyesters such as PET and/or PBT, polyvinylidene fluorides, polyvinyl chlorides, polyamides and/or polyolefins. In particular, a polyester such as PET can be used. The layer thickness of the polymer layer (PL) can be in the range from 5 to 55 μm, preferably from 6 to 50 μm, more preferably from 7 to 40 μm, in particular from 8 to 30 μm. Each adhesive may initially be coated with a protective film, such as silicone paper, for ease of handling. However, before it is used as an adhesive layer (AL) in step (5-I) or step (5-II), one of the two protective films is removed. The other protective film is preferably removed in a subsequent step of the method according to the invention, more preferably according to at least before partially attaching the composite material (S1C1C2) or (S1C1C2S2) to at least one product (O1). Therefore, before separating the composite material (S1C1) from the coating (C2) or the composite material (C2S2) containing the adhesive layer (AL), said composite materials are attached to the product (O1), and only then the composite material (S1C1) is preferably removed by peeling, from the coating (C2) or composite material (C2S2) at least partially attached by means of an adhesive layer (AL) to the product (O1). Suitable products (O1) can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, reinforced materials, glass, rubber, fabric, leather, paper, wood, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, at least one article (O1) is selected from the group consisting of surfaces in contact with liquids and gases, such as aircraft, ships and automobiles, rotor blades, drilling platforms, pipelines, lighting systems, display devices, photovoltaic modules , structural elements and decorative elements.

Steps (5-I-a) and (5-I-b), or (5-II-a) and (5-II-b), can either be performed manually or by means of a mechanism containing at least one means for moving the adhesive layer (AL), at least one pressure supply means for applying pressure to attach the adhesive layer (AL) to at least a portion of the unstructured surface of the at least partially embossed coating (C2) or to a surface of the substrate (S2) not located in contact with at least partially the embossed coating (C2), and at least one separation means for removing, preferably peeling, the coating (C2) or the composite material (S2C2), respectively, from the composite material (S1C1), preferably used as cliche (e2) for embossing device (E2) for embossing, or vice versa.

Removal of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C2) or composite material (S2C2), respectively, from the composite material (S1C1) is preferably carried out easily, without destroying the structured and embossed surface and without leaving significant residues, preferably without leaving any residue on the surface of the coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1).

Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a device that can be used to carry out steps (1), (2-1) and (3-1), as well as step (4) and optionally step (5-1) of the method according to the invention, and which is used to exemplarily illustrate the method in accordance with the invention. Said device can equally also be used, in substantially the same way, to carry out steps (1), (2-II) and (3-II), as well as step (4) and optionally step (5-I) or (5 -II) method in accordance with the invention. With this device, it is possible to transfer structures such as microstructures and/or nanostructures, preferably from an embossing die (S1C1, e2) present as a template film onto a substrate (S2) coated with (C2a). Therefore, this device is also generally referred to as a transfer device, and is referred to as (10) in FIG. 1.

The main part of the transfer device (10) is the embossing section (1), on which the printing roller (2) is located, having a roller casing made of quartz glass. The printing shaft (2) is rotated. Next to the printing roller (2) there is a radiation source in the form of a lighting unit (3), which generates UV radiation and can, in particular, be a series of UV LEDs located in the longitudinal direction of the printing roller (2). As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting unit (3) can also be located in the internal space of the printing roller (2). The pressure roller (4) is located on the embossing section (1) so as to be pressed against the printing roller (2). Inside the forming frame (5) of the transfer device (10) there are two rolls (6) and (7) of film rolls, which can be driven into rotation by a motor. Of course, the rollers (6) and (7) of the film rolls can also be installed and located other than inside the forming frame (5), for example, in the housing element or outside the transfer device (10) itself. On the rolls (6) and (7) of film rolls, which in this case are shown as located inside the forming frame, is wound a roll (8) of template film, which is a cliche for continuous embossing. On the transfer surface, the template film roll (8) is provided with a template coating layer (C1) that has negative shapes as surface relief, microstructures and/or nanostructures to be transferred. The template coating layer (C1) is at least partially cured and thus the relief-like structures within it are stable. The template film roll (8) can be obtained by performing steps (6) to (9) of the method according to the invention and is thus a composite material (S1C1). The template film roll (8) comes off the first film roll roll (6), is fed by means of various variable direction roller systems to the embossing section (1), and passes as seen in FIG. 1, perpendicular from above into the area between the printing roller (2) and the pressure roller (4). In this area it is directed in contact in a tensioned state along part of the perimeter of the printing roller (2), and then again leaves the printing roller (2) and, again through systems of changing the direction of the rollers together with roll tension mechanisms, is fed to the second roller roll (7) film on which it is wound. The film roll (9), which forms the substrate (S2), which must be provided with structures such as microstructures and/or nanostructures, is fed starting from the film roll roll (11), in this case again through various systems of direction-changing rollers with roll tension devices, to the embossing area (1), and it passes in a tense state along the circumferential part of the pressure roller (4), from where it enters the contact area of the pressure roller (4) with the printing roller (2) or to the gap area between the rollers, which is formed between the specified elements. The film roll (9) leaves the indicated area, as shown in FIG. 1, is perpendicular downwards and is guided again by means of systems of reversing rollers and roll tensioners onto a roller (12) of the film roll onto which it is wound as a fully processed product. On its way to the embossing area (1) or into the roll gap between the printing roller (2) and the pinch roller (4), the film roll (9) is provided with a layer of coating on its surface facing the printing roller (2) in the area (1 ) embossing, using a coating unit (27), which in this case is located outside the embossing area (1). The coating unit (27) therefore applies the coating composition (C2a) to the film roll (9) which is used as the substrate (S2), in accordance with step (2-I) of the method according to the invention. At the embossing section (1), the film roll (9) is then brought into contact, with its surface provided by the still uncured coating layer, with the surface provided by the template coating layer of the template film roll (8), to carry out step (3-I) method according to the invention. In this case, the film roll (9) passes through the pressure roller (4), and the template film roll (8) passes through the printing roller (2). Both rolls, the film roll (9) and the template film roll (8), face each other with their surfaces provided with a corresponding coating layer (in the case of the template film roll (8), an at least partially cured template coating layer corresponding to the coating (C1 ); in the case of a film roll (9), an uncured coating layer corresponding to the coating composition (C2a). In the portion where the pressure roller (4) is pressed against the printing roller (2), a negative image of the structures to be transferred, such as microstructures and/or nanostructures, which are formed in the template coating layer (C1), is pressed into the uncured coating layer corresponding to the composition (C2a) for coating, and as a result the structures are transferred. At the same time, the lighting unit (2) carries out UV irradiation and, therefore, at least partial curing of the uncured coating layer corresponding to the coating composition (C2a) of the coating layer on the film roll (9) is carried out until said coating layer is still in contact with the template coating layer (8). Accordingly, immediately during the transfer of the structure in situ, at least partial curing of the coating layer occurs. The irradiation of the film roll (9), or the uncured coating layer applied to it, in this case is carried out through the film material (9), in the case of irradiation of the printing cylinder (2) from the outside. Alternatively, irradiation is carried out through the quartz glass material of the outer surface of the printing cylinder (2), as well as through the material of the template film roll (8) and the template coating layer applied thereto. Accordingly, the template film roll (8) and the template coating layer are provided to be transparent to the applied radiation, in this case, UV radiation. The outer surface of the printing roller (2) is described in this case as consisting of quartz glass. However, in this case, in principle, any other material is also suitable, provided that it is permeable to the curing radiation (which may be other than UV radiation) emanating from the interior of the printing roller (2). Alternatively, instead of the lighting unit (3) providing UV irradiation, it is also possible, for example, to use a thermal radiation source in the case where the coating composition (C2a) is not a radiation-curable coating composition. After at least partial curing by UV irradiation, additional treatment is possible, for example by IR irradiation. At the end of said curing according to optional step (5-I) of the method according to the invention, the film roll (9) and the template film roll (8) are separated from each other, separating the newly structured composite material layer (S2C2) and the template films (S1C1). The thus coated film roll (9), provided with the desired structuring (ie composite material (S2C2)), is fed as a finished product onto the film roll roller (12) and is wound onto it. If irradiation is carried out by means of the illumination unit (3) onto the printing roller (2) from the outside, then the coated film roll (9) provided with the desired structure (i.e. composite material (S2C2)) can also be opaque if the arrangement is chosen in this way, that the template film roll (8) (ie, composite material (S1C1)) and the film roll (9) (ie, composite material (S2C2)) are swapped. Thus, coating by means of the coating unit (27) according to step (2-I) of the method according to the invention can take place without limiting the operation on the template film roll (8).

Preparation of composite material (S1C1):

The composite material (S1C1) provided in step (1) of the method according to the invention can be produced by various methods, for example lithographic methods such as nanoimprinting lithography, laser lithography and photolithography. It is preferable to obtain the composite material (S1C1) using steps (6) - (9), as specified in more detail below. Therefore, to obtain a composite material (S1C1) that can be used as a cliché (e2) for embossing the embossing device (E2), steps (6) to (9) of the method according to the invention are carried out. Fig. 2 provides an exemplary illustration of steps (6) to (9) of the method in accordance with the invention, as will also become apparent from the description of this figure below.

Optional steps (6) - (9) of the method according to the invention for producing a composite material (S1C1)

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the composite material (S1C1) provided in method step (1), consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1), is produced by repeating transfer and/or a regularly spaced pattern of a die (e1) for embossing an embossing device (E1) onto a composition (C1a) for coating, at least partially curing said coating composition, and removing the structured and at least partially cured composition to apply the coating (i.e., composite material (S1C1)) from the embossing tool. Thus, the preferred composite material (S1C1) provided in step (1) is obtained by

(6) applying a radiation-curable composition (C1a) to coat at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1a);

(7) at least partially embossing a coating composition (C1a) applied at least partially onto the surface of the substrate (S1) by at least one embossing tool (E1) comprising at least one cliche (e1 ) for embossing;

(8) at least partially curing the at least partially embossed coating composition (C1a) applied at least partially to the substrate (S1), which is in contact with at least with one cliche (e1) for embossing device (E1) for embossing;

(9) removing the composite material (S1C1) from the embossing die (e1) of the embossing fixture (E1) so as to obtain an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured composite material (S1C1), or vice versa.

Stage (6)

Step (6) of the method according to the invention provides for the application of a radiation-curable coating composition (C1a) to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S1). The support (S1) is a carrier material for the coating composition (C1a) or for the coating (C1), respectively. Suitable materials for the substrate (S1) or for its surface layer are the same materials that can also be used for the manufacture of the substrate (S2) as described above. In this case, they refer directly to the corresponding places in the description. In the composite material (S1C1), additional layers may be present between the substrate (S1) and the layer (C1), for example adhesion promoting layers, which are preferably UV-permeable. However, it is preferable if the composite material (S1C1) does not have an additional layer between the substrate (S1) and the layer (C1). The substrate (S1) is preferably a film roll, preferably a moving film roll or a continuous film roll, more preferably a continuously moving film roll. In this case, the substrate (S1) can preferably be used in a roll-to-roll embossing apparatus (R2R). The preferred material for the support (S1) is a polyester, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The thickness of the substrate (S1) is preferably from 2 μm to 5 mm. A particularly preferred layer thickness is 25 - 1000 µm, in particular 50 - 300 µm.

The coating composition (C1a) provided in the optional step (6) of the method according to the invention is a radiation-curable coating composition, as described in detail below. Preferably, the coating composition (CTa) applied in step (6) is applied with a dry layer thickness of at least 0.5 µm, preferably at least 1 µm, and more preferably at least 5 µm to 1 000 microns.

During step (6) (and preferably also during method steps (7), (8) and (9) the substrate (S1) preferably moves and is therefore a moving substrate. During step (6), the substrate (S1) is preferably moved by a moving means such as a conveyor belt. The corresponding device which is used to carry out step (6) therefore preferably contains a moving means of this kind. The corresponding device which is used to carry out step (6) further comprises application means for applying a preferably radiation-curable coating composition (C1a) to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S1).

Stage (7)

Step (7) of the method according to the invention provides for at least partial embossing of a coating composition (C1a) applied at least partially onto the surface of the substrate (S1), using at least one embossing device (E1), having at least one stamping cliche (e1), optionally pre-moistened with the coating composition (C1a). Said embossing die (e1) may be a resin embossing die (e1) or a metal embossing die (e1), preferably a metal embossing die (e1). Optionally, after the first composite material (S1C1) has been produced, said first or previously produced composite material (S1C1) may be used as an embossing die (e1). The at least partial embossing transfers the embossed structure, at least partially, onto the surface of the coating composition (C1a) applied to the substrate (S1). The term "embossing" has been defined above and reference is made directly to the relevant paragraphs.

Step (7) preferably transfers microstructures and/or nanostructures as an embossed structure onto the coating composition (C1a), which then have dimensions such as structure width and structure height as described previously. In this case, the previously described places in the description are directly referenced.

The corresponding device which is used to carry out step (7) therefore comprises means for at least partially embossing a coating composition (C1a) applied at least partially onto the surface of the substrate (S1), by means of at least one devices (E1) for embossing. The device, which is preferably used, further comprises means for pressing the embossing die (e1), as part of the embossing device (E1), onto the substrate (S1), which is preferably used in the form of a continuous roll of film, after applying the radiation-curable composition ( C1a) for coating the substrate (S1), said means being preferably positioned behind the means for applying the radiation-curable coating composition (C1a) as viewed in the direction of movement of the substrate (S1).

At least partial embossing according to step (7) of the method according to the invention is carried out using an embossing device (E1). The embossing device (E1) may preferably be an embossing calender, which preferably contains a force-applying mesh mechanism, more preferably a roll mesh mechanism. This calender has counter-rotating rollers, preferably arranged one above the other in the height direction at a certain interval, and a composite material (S1C1a), which should be provided with an embossed structure, is fed onto the rollers and guided through the formed gap between the rollers, the width of the gap can be regulated. The roller mesh mechanism in this case preferably comprises a first roller, such as a metal roller, such as a steel roller, a steel roller coated with a layer of metal, such as a layer of copper or a layer of nickel, optionally containing small amounts of phosphorus, or a roller coated with a nickel casing , which optionally contains small amounts of phosphorus, as well as a second roll. The first roll (embossing roll), as part of the embossing fixture (E1), contains several embossing cliches (e1) having a mirror image of the embossed structure to be embossed on the surface of the composite material (S1C1a). The image of the structure of the embossing die (e1) therefore corresponds to the image obtained by embossing the composite material (S1C1), preferably used as an embossing die (e2), on the coating composition (C2a), in steps (3-I) or (2-II). The second roll serves as a pressing or pressing roll. In the gap between the rollers, which is formed by rollers rotating in opposite directions, located at a certain distance from each other, embossing occurs. The embossing device (E1) used may also be a traditional printing cylinder, preferably made of a metal roll, for example a steel roll, a steel roll coated with a metal layer, such as a copper layer or a nickel layer, optionally containing small amounts of phosphorus, on which there is a mirror image of an embossed structure that is to be embossed onto the surface of the composite material (S1C1a), and can be pressed against the composite material (S1C1a) for at least partial embossing. The mirror image consists of a microstructured and/or nanostructured surface consisting of microscale and/or nanoscale surface features as described in step (1) above. In this case, they refer directly to the corresponding places in the description. A mirror image of the structure to be embossed is obtained on the embossing fixture (E1) in accordance with methods familiar and known to a person skilled in the art; Depending on the structure and materials, certain methods may be particularly advantageous. The composite material (S1C1a) to be embossed, for example in the form of a film roll coated at least partially with the coating composition (C1a), is moved by a second roller or pinch roller in a direction opposite to the first roller. At the gap between the rollers, which is formed by counter-rotating rollers located at a certain distance from each other, embossing occurs in accordance with stage (7). The first roller, on which the embossing cliche (e1) is located, serves in this case to emboss the composite material (S1C1a), which is guided by a second roller opposite to said embossing roller, wherein the second roller presses the composite material (S1C1a), which must be provided with an embossed structure, to the first embossing roll. The embossing tool (E1) is preferably a metal embossing tool, more preferably made of steel, or a steel roll coated with a metal layer, such as a copper layer or a nickel layer, optionally containing small amounts of phosphorus, or a roll covered with a nickel casing, which optionally contains small amounts of phosphorus. Accordingly, the embossing die (e1) is preferably metallic, more preferably made of steel, copper or nickel, in particular made of nickel, which contains small amounts of phosphorus. However, alternatively, the embossing die (e1) may be composed of materials such as silicones (i.e. polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS)) or a previously manufactured composite material (S1C1) may be used as the embossing die (el) to reproduce the pattern , originally obtained by the first embossing on the first composite material (S1C1). In addition, rollers coated with at least one plastic material can be used. Moreover, the embossing tool (E1) may have a structured coating such as a UV-curable coating as the embossing die (e1).

If necessary, step (7) can be carried out at elevated temperatures, for example at a temperature of 30°C - 100°C or up to 80°C. In this case, the composite material (S1C1a) is first passed through a heating roller mechanism, optionally followed by irradiation with infrared radiation, before the actual embossing procedure, that is, curing occurs during contact with the embossing tool (E1). After embossing and curing, the embossed composite material (S1C1) optionally passes through a chill roller mechanism to cool. Alternatively, curing can also occur with cooling: in this case, the composite material (S1C1a) to be embossed is first passed through a cooling roller mechanism, before the actual embossing procedure, which is described previously, occurs. Instead of using a separate heating roller mechanism or a roller mechanism involved in curing, it is also possible to heat or cool the embossing tool (E1).

Stage 8

Step (8) of the method according to the invention ensures at least partial curing of the at least partially embossed coating composition (C1a) applied at least partially to the substrate (S1), which is at least partially curing is in contact with at least one stamping cliche (e1) of the embossing device (E1).

Steps (7) and (8) are preferably carried out simultaneously. In this case, the curing according to step (8) preferably occurs in situ during the implementation of step (7).

Therefore, the corresponding device that is used to carry out step (8) preferably contains at least one radiation source for irradiating the radiation-curable coating composition (C1a) with curing radiation, preferably UV radiation.

Examples of suitable radiation sources for radiation curing have been described previously with respect to curing the coating composition (C2a). In this case, they refer directly to the corresponding places in the description.

Curing in step (8) preferably occurs by irradiation through the substrate (S1). In this case, it is advantageous that the permeability of the substrate (S1) to the applied radiation corresponds to the permeability of at least one photoinitiator contained in the coating composition (C1a). Thus, for example, the PET material as the substrate (S1), hence the PET film, for example, is transparent to radiation having a wavelength below 400 nm. Photoinitiators that form radicals due to such radiation include, for example, diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide, ethyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphinate and phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphineoxide .

Stage (9)

Step (9) of the method according to the invention removes the composite material (S1C1) from the embossing tool (E1), resulting in the desired product, namely the composite material (S1C1), which can be used as a cliché (e2) for embossing, and consists of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1).

Optionally, the composite materials (S1C1) or template films, after being separated from the embossing die (e1), can be further exposed to a suitable radiation source, such as a UVA lamp, in order to increase or maximize the conversion of double bonds, in particular on the surface of the coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1), to reduce or minimize covalent cross-linking with the coating composition (C2a). Any of the radiation sources previously described are suitable, with reference directly to the previous paragraphs.

Preferably, the surface of the at least partially cured and at least partially embossed coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1) is a microstructured and/or nanostructured surface.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a device that can be used to carry out steps (6) to (9) of the method according to the invention to produce a composite material (S1C1), preferably used as an embossing die (e2), that is, to obtain template film, and which is used to roughly illustrate the method according to the invention with respect to steps (6) to (9). With this device, it is possible to transfer structures, such as microstructures and/or nanostructures, onto a substrate (S1) coated with (C1a) using an embossing tool (E1), and after at least partial curing, obtain a composite material (S1C1) referred to as the template film roll (8) in FIG. 2 which can be used as a template film, wherein said composite material is capable of being used as an embossing block (e2) as described above in the method illustrated in connection with FIG. 1.

The template transfer device (30) shown in FIG. 2 operates according to the transfer principle, whereby the desired negative structures are embossed directly, from a structured impression cylinder or impression roller, which in this case is the template impression cylinder (17), onto the still uncured coating layer applied to a roll (8b) of a template film corresponding to the composite material (S1C1a), and then said coating layer is at least partially cured, together with the structures deposited thereon, the curing occurring in situ by means of a lighting unit (3), resulting in which results in a roll (8) of template film - corresponding to the composite material (S1C1). In this method, a roll (8a) of film, which is used as a substrate (S1), is pulled from a roll (18) of a film roll that contains only a carrier material, in other words, a blank film without an applied template coating (C1a), and is directed through various systems of direction-changing rollers and a roll tension system, and is fed to the embossing section (1) of the device. In this case, the film roll (8a) passes from the coating means (27), where there is a still uncured master coating layer (corresponding to the coating composition (C1a)), to the embossing area between the pressure roller (4) and the impression cylinder ( 17) template. Said coating corresponds to step (6) of the method according to the invention. In the embossing portion (1), in which the template film roll (8b) with the still uncured template coating layer (C1a) runs along the outer surface portion of the template impression cylinder (17), micro-sized and/or nano-sized surface features of the microstructured and/or nanostructured surface , embossed on the outer surface of the template printing cylinder (17), are introduced as a negative image into the template coating layer of the template film roll (8b) and transferred. This corresponds to step (7) of the method according to the invention. Next, the template film roll (8b) containing the uncured coating composition (C1a) is at least partially cured in accordance with step (8) of the method according to the invention. Curing here occurs in situ by irradiating UV light using a lighting unit (3), for example a unit consisting of UV LEDs. The resulting template film (8), in other words, the composite material (S1C1), is subsequently removed, in accordance with step (9) of the method according to the invention, from the outer surface of the impression cylinder (17) of the template, and the resulting roll (8) the template film is wound onto the roller (19) of the film roll. Thus, the film roll roll (19) contains a finished roll (8) of template film with a layer of template coating applied thereto and with negative images of microstructures and/or nanostructures embossed thereon. This film roll roll (19) can be removed and then used as the first film roll roll (6) in the transfer device (10) in accordance with FIG. 1 or in another transfer device operating on the same principle.

Coating compositions (C1a) and (C2a) used in accordance with the invention

Composition (C1a) for coating

The coating composition (C1a) is a radiation-curable coating composition. In this case, the terms "radiation curable" and "radiation curing" are used interchangeably. The term "radiation curing" preferably refers to the radical polymerization of polymerizable compounds under the influence of electromagnetic radiation and/or particle radiation, examples of which are radiation from visible to (N)IR radiation in the wavelength range λ=400 - 1200 nm , preferably 700 - 900 nm, and/or UV radiation in the wavelength range λ=100 - 400 nm, preferably λ=200 - 400 nm, and more preferably λ=250 - 400 nm, and/or radiation electrons in the range from 150 to 300 keV, and more preferably with a radiation dose of at least 80, preferably 80 -3000 mJ/cm ² . Particularly preferably, radiation curing is carried out using UV radiation. The coating composition (C1a) can be cured by using a suitable radiation source. Therefore, (C1a) is preferably a UV-curable coating composition.

The coating composition (C1a) preferably contains:

(a) 5 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer,

(b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent,

(c) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and

(d) 0-5% by weight of at least one additive;

wherein (i) the total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), and (ii) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) for coating, are 100% by weight;

wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer.

The coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 5 - 45% by weight, preferably 8 - 40% by weight, more preferably 9 - 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a) of at least at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer, at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on total weight of the total crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer is at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer.

The term "oligomer" refers to compounds of relatively low molecular weight, consisting of several, usually from 2 to less than 10 monomer units. The monomer units may be structurally the same or similar, or they may be different from each other. The oligomeric compounds are generally liquid at room temperature of 23°C and ambient pressure, provided that the dynamic viscosity is preferably less than 500 Pa*s, and more preferably less than 200 Pa*s at a temperature of 23°C, measured according to with DIN EN ISO 2555 standard (Brookfield method). The term "crosslinkable" refers to polymers or oligomers that have on average at least one, preferably at least two, unsaturated groups capable of generating free radicals for crosslinking reactions. The crosslinkable oligomeric and/or polymeric compounds are preferably soluble in one or more reactive diluents.

Silicone (meth)acrylate oligomers or polymers used in the present invention can generally be prepared by a condensation reaction between (meth)acrylic acid and hydroxyl-functional silicones (eg, α,ω-polydimethylsilicondiols). Due to their silicone backbone, silicone acrylates tend to improve the elasticity and elongation of structured surfaces, but reduce their tensile strength and impact resistance. Highly functional silicone (meth)acrylates are often used due to their low surface energy properties. Examples of useful silicone(meth)acrylates include silicone(meth)acrylates available commercially from Sartomer Co. under the trade name SARTOMER (for example, SARTOMER CN 9800), UCB Radcure Inc. under the trade name EBECRYL (for example, EBECRYL 350, EBECRYL 1360), as well as methacrylates from Shin-Etsu Silicones Europe B.V. under the product name X-22 (for example, X-22-164, X-22-164A).

Particularly preferably, the coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, of calculating the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a) of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, preferably exactly one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, more preferably exactly one silicone ( meth)acrylate oligomer containing on average 2-3 unsaturated groups.

Other crosslinkable polymers and/or oligomers optionally present in the coating composition (C1a) along with the silicone(meth)acrylates are preferably selected from (meth)acrylated oligomeric or polymeric compounds, urethane(meth)acrylates, vinyl(meth)acrylates acrylates, epoxy(meth)acrylates, polyester(meth)acrylates, poly(meth)acrylates, polyether(meth)acrylates, olefin(meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylated oils, and mixtures thereof, preferably urethane(meth)acrylates acrylate oligomers. The coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 0-75% by weight, preferably 0-50% by weight, more preferably 0-10% by weight, and very preferably 0% by weight, based on the total weight of all capable to crosslinking the polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a) with said other crosslinkable polymers and/or oligomers. In other words, the coating composition (C1a) very preferably does not contain other crosslinkable polymers and/or oligomers, along with at least one silicone (meth)acrylate.

Urethane (meth)acrylates can be prepared, for example, by reacting polyisocyanates with hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates and optionally chain extenders such as diols, polyols, diamines, polyamines or dithiols or polythiols. Urethane (meth)acrylates, dispersible in water without the addition of emulsifying agents, additionally contain ionic and/or nonionic hydrophilic groups, which are introduced into the urethane through synthesis components, for example, hydroxycarboxylic acids. Such urethane (meth)acrylates contain mainly the following synthesis components:

(a) at least one organic aliphatic, aromatic or cycloaliphatic di- or polyisocyanate,

(b) at least one compound having at least one isocyanate-reactive group, preferably a hydroxyl-containing monomer, and at least one radically polymerizable unsaturated group, and

(c) optionally at least one compound having at least two isocyanate-reactive groups, such as, for example, a polyhydric alcohol.

Urethane (meth)acrylates preferably have a number average molar mass M _n of 200 - 20,000, in particular 500 - 10,000, very preferably 600 - 3000 g/mol (as determined by gel permeation chromatography with tetrahydrofuran as eluent and polystyrene as a reference standard). Urethane (meth)acrylates preferably contain from 1 to 5, more preferably from 2 to 4 moles of (meth)acrylic groups per 1000 g of urethane (meth)acrylate.

Epoxide (meth)acrylates can be prepared by reacting epoxides with (meth)acrylic acid. Examples of contemplated epoxides include epoxidized olefins, aromatic glycidyl ethers or aliphatic glycidyl ethers, preferably aromatic or aliphatic glycidyl ethers. Examples of possible epoxidized olefins include ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, isobutylene oxide, 1-butene oxide, 2-butene oxide, vinyl oxirane, styrene oxide or epichlorohydrin; wherein ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, isobutylene oxide, vinyl oxirane, styrene oxide or epichlorohydrin are preferred, wherein ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or epichlorohydrin are particularly preferred, and ethylene oxide and epichlorohydrin are particularly preferred. Aromatic glycidyl ethers, for example, are bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol F diglycidyl ether, bisphenol B diglycidyl ether, bisphenol S diglycidyl ether, hydroquinone diglycidyl ether, phenol/dicyclopentadiene alkylation products, for example, 2,5-bis[(2, 3-epoxypropoxy)phenyl]octahydro-4,7-methane-5H-indene, tris[4-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)phenyl]methane, phenol-based epoxy novolacs and cresol-based epoxy novolacs. Aliphatic glycidyl ethers are, for example, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, 1,6-hexanediol diglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropanetriglycidyl ether, pentaerythritol tetraglycidyl ether, 1,1,2,2-tetrakis[4-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)phenyl]ethane, diglycidyl ethers of polypropylene glycol (α,ω-bis(2,3-epoxypropoxy)poly(oxypropylene) (and (2,2-bis[4-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)cyclohexyl]propane) hydrogenated bisphenol A). Epoxide (met )acrylates preferably have a number average molar mass M _n of 200 - 20,000, more preferably 200 - 10,000 g/mol, and very preferably 250 - 3,000 g/mol; the number of (meth)acrylic groups is preferably 1-5, more preferably 2 - 4, per 1000 g epoxide (meth)acrylate (as determined by gel permeation chromatography with polystyrene as standard and tetrahydrofuran as eluent).

(Meth)acrylated poly(meth)acrylates are corresponding esters of α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, preferably (meth)acrylic acid, more preferably acrylic acid, with polyacrylate polyols, which can be obtained by esterification of poly(meth)acrylate polyols (meth) acrylic acid

Carbonate (meth)acrylates are available with varying amounts of functional groups. The number average molecular weight of M _n carbonate (meth)acrylates is preferably less than 3,000 g/mol, more preferably less than 1,500 g/mol, very preferably less than 800 g/mol (as was determined by gel permeation chromatography with polystyrene as standard and tetrahydrofuran as eluent). Carbonate (meth)acrylates can be prepared in a simple manner by transesterification of carbonic acid esters with polyhydric, preferably dihydric, alcohols (diols, e.g. hexanediol), and subsequent esterification of free OH groups with (meth)acrylic acid, or transesterification with (meth)acrylic acid. )acrylic esters, for example as described in EP 0 092 269 A1. They can also be prepared by reacting phosgene, urea derivatives with polyhydric alcohols, e.g. dihydric alcohols. Also possible are meth(acrylates) polycarbonate polyols, such as the reaction product of one of these diols or polyols and a carbonic acid ester, as well as containing hydroxyl (meth)acrylate. Examples of suitable carbonic acid esters are ethylene, 1,2- or 1 ,3-propylene carbonate, dimethyl, diethyl or dibutyl carbonate. Examples of suitable hydroxyl (meth)acrylates include 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2- or 3-hydroxypropyl(meth)acrylate, 1,4-butanediol mono(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycol mono (meth)acrylate, glyceryl mono- and di(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane mono- and di(meth)acrylate, and pentaerythritol mono-, di- and tri(meth)acrylate. Preferably, the carbonate(meth)acrylates are aliphatic carbonate(meth)acrylates. acreage payments.

Particularly preferably, the coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 5 - 45% by weight, preferably 8 - 40% by weight, more preferably 9 - 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a) , at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer selected from the group consisting of I) at least one silicone(meth)acrylate oligomer, preferably exactly one silicone(meth)acrylate oligomer, very preferably exactly one silicone(meth)acrylate ) an acrylate oligomer containing on average 2-3 unsaturated groups, and ii) another cross-linkable polymer and/or oligomer selected from (meth)acrylated oligomeric or polymeric compounds, urethane (meth)acrylates, vinyl (meth)acrylates, epoxy (meth)acrylates, polyester(meth)acrylates, poly(meth)acrylates, polyether(meth)acrylates, olefin(meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylate oils, and mixtures thereof, preferably urethane(meth)acrylate oligomers.

Therefore, the coating composition (C1a) particularly preferably contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, based on the total weight of everything capable of crosslinking the polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a) with at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, in particular exactly one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer containing on average 2-3 unsaturated groups, and less than 75% by weight, preferably less than 50% by weight, more preferably less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the total crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), another crosslinkable polymer and/or an oligomer selected from (meth)acrylated oligomeric or polymeric compounds, urethane(meth)acrylates, vinyl(meth)acrylates, epoxy(meth)acrylates, polyester(meth)acrylates, poly(meth)acrylates, polyether( meth)acrylates, olefin(meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylated oils, and mixtures thereof, preferably urethane(meth)acrylate oligomers.

The coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 40 - 85% by weight or 95% by weight, preferably 50 - 95% by weight or 85% by weight or 83% by weight, more preferably 55 - 83% by weight weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), of at least one reactive diluent. Suitable reactive diluents are capable of polymerizing with polymeric and/or oligomeric compounds to form a template substrate containing a copolymerized elastomeric network of the cured template coating (C1). The term "reactive diluent" refers to low molecular weight monomers that are capable of participating in a polymerization reaction to form a polymeric material. The weight average molecular weight M _w of such monomer compounds is preferably less than 1000 g/mol, and more preferably less than 750 g/mol, as determined by GPC.

Preferably, the reactive diluents are free radical polymerizable monomers, and include, for example, ethylenically unsaturated monomers such as (meth)acrylates, styrene, vinyl acetate and mixtures thereof. Preferred monomers include (meth)acryloyl-functional monomers, such as alkyl(meth)acrylates, aryloxyalkyl(meth)acrylates, hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylates, N-vinyl compounds, and combinations thereof. Suitable monomers are known to one skilled in the art and are, for example, listed in WO 2012/006207 A1.

Particularly preferred coating compositions (C1a) contain as a reactive diluent at least one multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, that is, a compound that has at least two polymerizable double bonds in one molecule, as a reactive diluent to increase the cross-link density . Typical examples of such multifunctional monomers are listed, for example, in WO 2012/006207 A1. Particularly preferred reactive diluents are selected from hexanediol diacrylate and/or compounds containing at least two, preferably at least three, namely exactly three, structural units, which may differ from each other or be at least partially the same, of the general formula (I )

wherein

radicals R ¹ , independently of each other, represent C ₂ -C ₈ alkylene groups, very preferably C ₂ alkylene groups,

the R ² radicals are independently H or methyl, and

the variables m are, independently of each other, an integer in the range from 1 to 15, very preferably from 1 to 4 or 2 to 4, provided that in at least one of the structural units of formula (I) the variable m is at least 2, preferably exactly 2. Particularly preferably, said compound contains 3 identical structural units of the general formula (I), the variable m being 2.

All structural units of the general formula (I) are attached by means of the symbol to the main circuit of said reactive diluent. Said coupling preferably occurs through the establishment of a bond between the oxygen atom of the radical -[OR ¹ ] _m - and the carbon atom of the main chain of the component. Thus, at least two structural units of the general formula (I) are present in one component, namely, in the reactive diluent b). Suitable backbones are, for example, selected from neopentyl glycol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane or pentaerythritol.

Said compound preferably contains a total number of ether groups of the general formula "-OR ¹ -" in the range of 4 to 18, more preferably in the range of 5 to 15, very preferably in the range of 6 to 12. Said compound preferably has a number average molecular weight ( M _n ) in the range from 300 to 2000 g/mol, more preferably from 400 to 1000 g/mol.

Said compound preferably has exactly three structural units of formula (I). In this case, the specified compound has exactly three functional (meth)acrylic groups. Alternatively, each of the structural units of formula (I), as part of the specified compound, may also be present more than three times. In this case, for example, said compound may have more than three functional (meth)acrylic groups, for example 4, 5 or 6 (meth)acrylic groups.

Each of the above R ¹ radicals, independently of each other, represents a C ₂ -C ₈ alkylene group, preferably a C ₂ -C ₆ alkylene group, more preferably a C ₂ -C ₄ alkylene group, very preferably, each independently of each other , an ethylene group and/or a propylene group, especially preferably an ethylene group. In particular, all radicals R ¹ represent an ethylene group.

Suitable propylene groups in each case are radicals R ¹ which have the structure -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -CH ₂ - or the structure -CH(CH ₃ )-CH ₂ -, or the structure -CH ₂ -CH(CH ₃ ) -. However, the propylene structure -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -CH ₂ - is particularly preferred in each case.

The variables m, in each case independently of each other, are an integer in the range from 1 to 15. Since said compound has at least two, preferably at least three, structural units of formula (I), and since the variable m is at least 2 in at least one of the structural units of formula (I), said compound includes in general at least three, preferably at least four, ether groups of the general formula "-OR ¹ -".

Preferably, said compound generally has at least five, more preferably at least six, ether groups of the general formula "-OR ¹ -". The number of ether groups of the general formula "-O-R ¹ -" in said compound is preferably in the range of 4 to 18, more preferably in the range of 5 to 15, very preferably in the range of 6 to 12.

The proportion of -[OR ¹ ether segments present in the structural units of formula (I) of said compound is in general at least 35% by weight, more preferably at least 38% by weight, very preferably at least 40% by weight, more preferably even at least 42% by weight, in particular at least 45% by weight, in each case based on the total weight of said compound.

Said compound preferably has a number average molecular weight ( _Mn ) in the range from 300 to 2000 g/mol, more preferably from 350 to 500 g/mol, in particular from 400 to 1000 g/mol, as determined by GPC.

A particularly preferred multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer is at least one compound of general formula (IIa) and/or (IIb),

in which, in each case independently of each other,

R ¹ and R ² as well as m have the definitions given above in connection with the structural units (I), including the preferred embodiments indicated above, and

R ³ is H, C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, OH or OC _1-8 alkyl, more preferably is C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, OH or O-C _1-4 alkyl, and very preferably is C ₁ - C ₄ alkyl or OH, or

R ³ represents the radical -[OR ¹ ] _m -OC(=O)-C(R ² )=CH ₂ , where R ¹ , R ² and m have the definitions given above in connection with the structural unit (I), including their preferred embodiments listed above.

Particular preference is given to the use as a reactive diluent of a multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer of at least one compound of general formula (IIa), in which

each of the radicals R ¹ independently of each other represents a C ₂ -C ₈ alkylene group,

each of the radicals R ² independently of each other represents H or methyl,

the variables m, in each case independently of each other, are an integer variable in the range from 1 to 15, preferably in the range from 1 to 10, more preferably in the range from 1 to 8 or 2 to 8, very preferably in the range from 1 to 6 or 2 to 6, in particular in the range from 1 to 4 or 2 to 4, but with the proviso that in at least one, and preferably in all structural units of formula (I), the variable m is at least at least 2.

R ³ is C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl, OH or OC _1-8 alkyl, more preferably C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, OH or O-C _1-4 alkyl, very preferably C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl or OH.

Particularly preferred compounds containing at least two structural units of general formula (I) are (meth)acrylates of neopentylglycol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane or pentaerythritol, in general with a 4-fold - 20-fold or 4-fold - 12-fold alkoxylated, such as ethoxylated, propoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated, and in particular exclusively ethoxylated, neopentyl glycol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane or pentaerythritol. Most preferred are the corresponding (meth)acrylates derived from alkoxylated trimethylolpropane. Products of these types are available on the market and are, for example, sold under the names Sartomer® SR 499 and Sartomer® SR 502, as well as Sartomer® SR 415 and Sartomer® SR 9035 and Sartomer® SR 501.

The coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 40 - 95% by weight, preferably 50 - 85% by weight, more preferably 55 - 83% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a) of at least at least one reactive diluent, preferably hexanediol diacrylate and/or (meth)acrylates derived from 6-fold ethoxylated trimethylolpropane.

The coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 0.01 - 15% by weight, preferably 0.5 - 10% by weight, more preferably 1 - 8% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), at least one photoinitiator designed for curing using visible to (B)IR and/or UV radiation. Said photoinitiator can be cleaved, by means of the emitted wavelength, into radicals, which in turn are capable of causing radical polymerization. Conversely, in the case of curing using electron radiation, there is no need for the presence of such photoinitiators. The coating composition (C1a) preferably includes at least one photoinitiator, which can be cleaved, by means of the emitted wavelength, into radicals, which in turn are capable of causing radical polymerization.

Photoinitiators such as UV photoinitiators are known to one skilled in the art. Examples of such photoinitiators include phosphine oxides such as (alkyl)-benzoylphenylphosphine oxides, benzophenones, α-hydroxyalkylaryl ketones, thioxanthones, anthraquinones, acetophenones, benzoin and benzoin ethers, ketals, imidazoles or phenylglyoxylic acids and mixtures thereof.

Phosphine oxides are, for example, monoacyl or bisacylphosphine oxides, such as diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide, ethyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphinate, phenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine or bis(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphine oxide. Benzophenones, for example, are benzophenone, 4-aminobenzophenone, 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone, 4-phenylbenzophenone, 4-chlorobenzophenone, Michler's ketones, o-methoxybenzophenone, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzophenone, 4-methylbenzophenone, 2,4-dimethylbenzophenone, 4-isopropylbenzophenone, 2-chlorobenzophenone, 2,2'-dichlorobenzophenone, 4-methoxybenzophenone, 4-propoxybenzophenone or 4-butoxybenzophenone; α-hydroxyalkylaryl ketones, for example, are 1-benzoylcyclohexan-1-ol (1-hydroxycyclohexylphenylketone), 2-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylacetophenone (2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one), 1- hydroxyacetophenone, 1-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-propan-1-one or a polymer containing copolymerized 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-(4- isopropen-2-ylphenyl)propan-1-one. Xanthones and thioxanthones are, for example, 10-thioxanthanone, thioxantan-9-one, xanthan-9-one, 2,4-dimethylthioxanthone, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, 2,4-diisopropylthioxanthone, 2,4-dichlorothioxanthone or chloroxanthanone; Anthraquinones, for example, are β-methylanthraquinone, tert-butylanthraquinone, anthraquinone carbon esters, benz[de]anthracen-7-one, benzo[a]anthracene-7,12-dione, 2-methylanthraquinone, 2-ethylanthraquinone, 2- tert-butylanthraquinone, 1-chloroanthraquinone or 2-amyl-anthraquinone. Acetophenones, for example, are acetophenone, acetonephthoquinone, valerophenone, hexanophenone, α-phenylbutyrophenone, p-morpholinopropiophenone, dibenzosuberone, 4-morpholinobenzophenone, p-diacetylbenzene, 4'-methoxyacetophenone, α-tetralone, 9-acetylphenanthrene, 2-acetylphenanthrene , 3 -acetylphenanthrene, 3-acetylindole, 9-fluorenone, 1-indanone, 1,3,4-triacetylbenzene, 1-acetonaphthone, 2-acetonaphthone, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, 2,2-diethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone , 1,1-dichloroacetophenone, 1-hydroxyacetophenone, 2,2-diethoxyacetophenone, 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholinopropan-1-one, 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2- diphenylethan-2-one or 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-butan-1-one. Benzoins and benzoin ethers, for example, are 4-morpholinodeoxybenzoin, benzoin, benzoinisobutyl ether, benzoinetetrahydropyranyl ether, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin butyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether or 7H-benzoin methyl ether. Ketals, for example, are acetophenone dimethyl ketal, 2,2-diethoxyacetophenone, or benzyl ketals such as benzyl dimethyl ketal. Common mixtures contain, for example, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-2-one and 1-hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone, bis(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphine oxide and 2-hydroxy-2 -methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one, benzophenone and 1-hydroxycyclohexylphenylketone, bis(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphineoxide and 1-hydroxycyclohexylphenylketone, diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) )phosphine oxide and 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzophenone and 4-methylbenzophenone or 2,4,6-trimethylbenzophenone and 4-methylbenzophenone and diphenyl(2,4,6 -trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide.

Particularly preferred photoinitiators are diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide, ethyl (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphinate, phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide, bis(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)( 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphine oxide, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenylketone, benzophenone, 1-benzoylcyclohexan-1-ol, 2-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylacetophenone and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone and mixtures thereof. Commercially available photoinitiators include, for example, Irgacure® 184, Irgacure® 500, Irgacure® TPO, Irgacure® TPO-L and Lucirin®, as well as Darocure® 1173 from IGM Resins B.V.

The coating composition (C1a) may optionally further contain at least one additive. The concept of an additive is known to one skilled in the art, for example from the Römpp Lexikon publication "Lacke und Druckfarben", Thieme Verlag, 1998, page 13. The preferred additive that is used is at least one rheological additive. This term is also known to the person skilled in the art, for example from Römpp Lexikon "Lacke und Druckfarben", Thieme Verlag, 1998, page 497. The terms "rheological additive", "rheological improver" and "additive improver". rheological properties" are interchangeable in this case. The optional additive is preferably selected from the group consisting of flow control additives, surfactants such as surfactants, wetting agents and dispersants, as well as thickeners, thixotropes, plasticizers, lubricants and anti-blocking agents, and mixtures thereof. These terms are also known to one skilled in the art, for example from Römpp Lexikon, "Lacke und Druckfarben", Thieme Verlag, 1998. Flow control additives are components that, by reducing viscosity and/or surface tension, promote the formation of a film of materials coatings that spread evenly. Wetting agents and dispersants are components that reduce surface tension, or generally interfacial tension. Lubricants and anti-block additives are components that reduce mutual adhesion (clumping).

Examples of additives available on the market are the products Efka® SL 3259, Byk® 377, Tego® Rad 2500, Tego® Rad 2800, Byk® 394, Byk-SILCLEAN 3710, Silixan® A250, Novec FC 4430 and Novec FC 4432. Suitable general the amounts of at least one additive are, for example, 0.01 - 5% by weight, 0.2 or 0.5 - 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a).

In the context of this invention, the additive, such as a surfactant, may contain silicone (meth)acrylates. Such additive containing silicone (meth)acrylates cannot be compared with crosslinkable silicone (meth)acrylate oligomers, which are used as crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer, at least due to the small total amount of additive contained in the application composition coating, as well as due to the different number of chemical functional groups or reactivity of the silicone (meth)acrylate additive, which has a completely different technical effect on the coating composition. For example, an additive containing silicone (meth)acrylate affects only the surface energy of the coating composition, and only to a minor extent affects the backbone of the (co-)polymerized network formed by the crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer or reactive diluent. Unlike the silicone(meth)acrylate-containing additive, the silicone(meth)acrylate oligomer used as a crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contains unsaturated unsaturated groups capable of generating free radicals for crosslinking reactions and forms with reactive diluents copolymerized elastomeric network of the cured template coating (C1).

Particularly preferably, each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) contained in the coating composition (C1a) is different from each other and therefore not the same.

Thus, particularly preferred template coatings (C1a) contain, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), the following components:

- 9 - 35% by weight of exactly one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer containing on average 2 unsaturated groups,

- 55 - 83% by weight hexanediol diacrylate and/or (meth)acrylates obtained from 6-fold ethoxylated trimethylolpropane (i.e. a compound containing three structural units of general formula (I)),

- 1 - 10% by weight ethyl (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphinate and/or 1-benzoylcyclohexan-1-ol and

- 0 or 0.5 - 3% by weight of lubricating and anti-caking additive.

The double bond conversion of the at least partially cured coating (C1) derived from (C1a) is preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 75%, more preferably even at least 80%, very preferably at least 85 %, in particular at least 90%.

The coating composition (C1a) may contain at least one additional component (e) different from components (a) - (d), for example, such as fillers, pigments, thermally activated initiators, for example, such as potassium peroxodisulfate , dibenzoyl peroxide, cyclohexanone peroxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, cyclohexylsulfonylacetyl peroxide, diisopropyl percarbonate, tert-butyl peroctoate or benzopinacol, cumene hydroperoxide, dicumyl peroxide, tert-butyl perbenzoate, silylated pinacols, alkoxyamines, and organic solvents, as well as stabilizer s. However, preferably, organic solvents are not used in the coating composition (C1a). The coating composition (C1a) may contain at least one component (e) in a total amount of 0 - 10% by weight, preferably 0 - 5% by weight, more preferably 0 - 1% by weight, based on the total weight composition (C1a) for coating.

The coating composition (C1a) may be solvent-based or it may be a solid coating composition. In order to facilitate rapid curing and prevent the generation of a large amount of evaporating solvents during curing, the coating composition (C1a) is preferably a solid coating composition. Thus, the coating composition (C1a) preferably contains a total amount of less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 5% by weight, more preferably less than 1% by weight, very preferably 0% by weight of solvents, based on the total weight of the composition (C1a) for coating, or does not contain them. Thus, the coating composition (C1a) preferably has a solids content of 75 to 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), as determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 3251:2008- 06 at a temperature of 125°C for 60 minutes. Moreover, it preferably contains a total amount of compounds (a), (b), (c) and optionally (d) of 90 - 100% by weight, preferably 95 - 100% by weight, more preferably 99 - 100% by weight , based on the total mass of the composition (C1a) for coating. Most preferably, the coating composition (C1a) consists of compounds (a), (b), (c), and optionally (d).

The coating composition (C1a) preferably does not contain thiols, in particular does not contain trimethylolpropantris(3-mercaptopropionate).

Composition (C2a) for coating

Any type of coating composition can be used as the coating composition (C2a) in step (2-I) or (2-II) of the method according to the invention. The coating composition (C2a) may be a physically drying, thermally curable, chemically curable and/or radiation-curable coating composition (C2a). Preferably, the coating composition (C2a) is a chemically curable, thermally curable and/or radiation-curable coating composition, more preferably a radiation-curable coating composition. Accordingly, at least partial curing according to step (4) preferably occurs by radiation curing. The coating composition (C2a) may be identical to the coating composition (C1a). However, preferably, the composition (C2a) is different from the composition (C1a). Composition (C2a) preferably consists of similar, but not identical, components (a) to (e) which are also used in the preparation of composition (C1a), although the quantities specific to composition (C1a) should not apply to composition (C1a). C2a).

Physical drying in this case preferably refers to the normal evaporation of the solvent(s) to form a coating (C2). Thermal curing in this case preferably causes a curing mechanism that is associated with a temperature above room temperature (>23°C). This may be, for example, the formation of radicals or ions, preferably radicals from an initiator, which is destroyed at elevated temperatures and thus causes radical or ionic polymerization. Examples of such thermally activated initiators are those that have a half-life at 80° C. of less than 100 hours. Chemical curing preferably refers to the reaction of at least two different and complementary reactive functional groups, for example, by polycondensation, such as the reaction of an -OH group with a COOH group, or polyaddition (the reaction of an NCO group with an OH group or an amino group).

If the coating composition (C2a) is a physically drying, thermally curing and/or chemically curing coating composition, it is prepared by using at least one conventional polymer known to the person skilled in the art as a binder. In the case of thermally or chemically curable coating compositions, said binder preferably has cross-linkable functional groups. In this context, any conventional cross-linkable functional group known to one skilled in the art is suitable. In particular, the cross-linkable functional groups are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl groups, amino groups, carboxylic acid groups, thiol groups, isocyanates, polyisocyanates and epoxides. The polymers can preferably be cured or crosslinked exothermically or endothermically, preferably in the temperature range from -20°C to 250°C, or from 18°C to 200°C. Particularly suitable as a polymer is at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyethers, polyesters, polyamides, polyureas, polyvinyl chlorides, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, poly(meth)acrylates, epoxy resins, phenol-formaldehyde resins, melamine-formaldehyde resins. Said polymers may in particular have an OH function. In this case, they may be grouped under the general term "polyols". Such polyols may, for example, be poly(meth)acrylate polyols, polyester polyols, polyether polyols, polyurethane polyols, polyurea polyols, polyester polyacrylate polyols, polyester polyurethane polyols, polyurethane-polyacrylate polyols, polyurethane-modified alkyd resins, fatty acid-modified acid polyesters of polyurethane polyols, as well as mixtures of these polyols. Preferred are poly(meth)acrylate polyols, polyester polyols and polyether polyols.

In this case, it is possible to use at least one polymer which is cured with the participation of isocyanate and/or oligomerized isocyanate groups, very preferably at least one corresponding polyurethane and/or at least one corresponding polyurea (for example, so-called "aliphatic binders" "). Aliphatic binders are components that are obtained by reacting amine-functional compounds, particularly secondary amines, with isocyanates. If at least one polyurethane is used, then particularly suitable are polyurethane-based resins, which can be obtained through a polyaddition reaction between hydroxyl-containing components, such as polyols, and at least one polyisocyanate (aromatic and aliphatic isocyanates, di-, tri- and/or polyisocyanates). Typically, this requires a stoichiometric reaction of the OH groups in the polyols with the NCO groups in the polyisocyanates. However, the stoichiometric ratio used can also be varied, since the polyisocyanate can be added to the polyol component in such an amount that "over-cross-linking" or "under-cross-linking" may occur. If epoxy resins, that is, epoxide-based resins, are used, then preferably epoxy-based resins are suitable which are derived from glycidyl ethers having terminal epoxy groups and, internally, hydroxyl groups as functional groups. These are preferably the reaction products of bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin and/or bisphenol F with epichlorohydrin, as well as mixtures thereof, which are also used in the presence of reactive diluents. Curing or cross-linking of such epoxy resins is generally accompanied by polymerization of the epoxy groups of the epoxy ring, through a polyaddition reaction in the form of the addition of other reactive compounds, such as hardeners, in a stoichiometric amount, with the epoxy groups, in which case it is accordingly necessary the presence of one active hydrogen equivalent per epoxy group (that is, one active hydrogen equivalent per epoxy equivalent is required for curing), or by polycondensation through the mediation of epoxy groups and hydroxyl groups. Examples of suitable hardeners are polyamines, in particular (hetero)aliphatic, (hetero)aromatic and (hetero)cycloaliphatic polyamines, polyamidoamines, polyaminoamides, as well as polybasic carboxylic acids and their anhydrides.

The concept of "radiation curing" has already been described above in connection with the coating composition (C1a), with reference directly to the corresponding places in the description.

The coating composition (C2a) can be cured by using a radiation source, preferably by using UV radiation. Therefore, preferably, the composition (C2a) is a UV-curable coating composition.

Thus, a preferred product of the coating composition (C2a) contains

a) at least one compound having on average at least two unsaturated groups,

b) optionally at least one photoinitiator; and

c) optionally at least one additive. The coating composition (C2a) preferably has on average at least two unsaturated carbon double bonds, more preferably (meth)acrylic groups. To this end, the coating composition (C2) may contain any of the crosslinkable polymers and/or oligomers or reactive diluents mentioned above in connection with the composition (C1a), in particular such as polyesters, polyethers, carbonates, epoxides , poly(meth)acrylates, urethane(meth)acrylates, and/or silicone(meth)acrylate oligomers and/or at least one unsaturated polyester resin and/or one-, two-, and/or three-functional (meth)acrylic esters in groups.

When cured by visible to (B)IR and/or UV radiation, the coating composition (C2a) preferably contains at least one photoinitiator which is capable of being degraded into radicals by irradiation of the emitted wavelength, which radicals are capable of causing radical polymerization. Conversely, in the case of curing using electron radiation, the presence of such photoinitiators is not necessary. As photoinitiators it is possible to use the same components, in the same quantities, as indicated above in connection with the photoinitiators of the coating composition (C1a).

The coating composition (C2a) may contain at least one additional additive. In this case, as an additive or additional component (e) of the composition (C1a) for coating, it is possible to use the same components, in the same quantities, as indicated above.

The coating composition to be used as the coating composition (C2a) is more preferably a composition having (meth)acrylic groups. Preferably, said coating composition (C2a) contains at least one urethane (meth)acrylate. Moreover, preferably, it includes at least one photoinitiator.

The coating composition (C2a) may be a solvent-based composition or a solid coating composition. In order to facilitate rapid curing and prevent the generation of a large amount of evaporating solvents during curing, the coating composition (C2a) is preferably a solid coating composition or a coating composition containing a small amount of solvents. Thus, it preferably has a solids content of 75 - 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C2a), as determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 3251:2008-06 at a temperature of 125°C for 60 minutes. Moreover, it preferably contains a total amount of compound (a), and optionally compounds (b) and (c), amounting to 90 - 100% by weight, preferably 95 - 100% by weight, more preferably 99 - 100% by weight, of calculating the total mass of the composition (C2a) for coating.

Composite material (S1C1) according to the invention

A further aspect of the present invention is a composite material (S1C1) consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1), wherein the coating (C1) can be obtained by at least partially curing the composition ( C1a) for applying a coating applied to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S1), and at least partially embossing, as a result of radiation curing, wherein the coating composition (C1a) is a radiation-curable coating composition containing

(a) 5 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer,

(b) 40 - 95% by weight or 85% by weight, preferably 50 - 95% by weight or 85% by weight or 83% by weight, of at least one reactive diluent,

(c) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and

(d) 0 - 5% by weight of at least one additive;

wherein (I) the stated total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), and (II) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) for coating are 100% by weight;

wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer.

Preferably, each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are different from each other.

All preferred embodiments described above in connection with the method according to the invention, in particular in connection with the coating composition (C1a) used therein and in connection with the substrate (S1) as well as the coating (C1) , are also preferred embodiments with respect to the composite material (S1C1) according to the invention.

Preferably, the composite material (S1C1) according to the invention can be obtained by carrying out the above-described steps (6) to (9) of the method according to the invention. The substrate (S1) is preferably a film roll, preferably a moving film roll, more preferably a continuously moving film roll.

Use according to the invention

A further object of the present invention is the use of a composite material (S1C1) according to the invention as an embossing die (e2) of an embossing device (E2) for transferring an embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of the coating composition (C2a), or on at least a portion of the surface of the coating composition (C2a), which is at least partially applied to the substrate (S2).

All preferred embodiments described above in connection with the method according to the invention and the composite material (S1C1) according to the invention are also preferred embodiments with respect to the above-mentioned use of the composite material (S1C1) according to the invention.

The coating composition (C2a) in this case is preferably a radiation-curable coating composition.

In particular, the invention is described by means of the following embodiments:

Embodiment 1: A method of transferring an embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1), said method comprising at least steps (1), (2-I) and (3- I) or (2-II) and (3-II), as well as at least stage (4) and optionally stage (5-I) or (5-II), namely:

(1) providing a composite material (S1C1) consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1);

And

(2-I) applying at least one coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S2) so as to obtain a composite material (S2C2a);

(3-I) at least partially embossing a composition (C2a) for coating a composite material (S2C2a) using a composite material (S 1C 1) so as to obtain a composite material (SlClC2aS2);

or

(2-II) applying at least one coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured surface of the composite material (S1C1), and at least partially embossing the composition (C2a) for coating using a composite material (S1C1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2a);

(3-II) optionally applying a substrate (S2) to at least a portion of the surface formed by the coating composition (C2a) of the composite material (S1C1C2a), thereby obtaining a composite material (S1C1C2aS2);

And

(4) at least partially curing the at least partially embossed coating composition (C2a), optionally applied to a substrate (S2), which is in contact with the composite material (S1C1) throughout at least partial curing, with in order to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2) or (S1C1C2S2);

And

(5-I) optionally removing the composite material (C2S2) located in the composite material (S1C1C2S2) from the composite material (S1C1) to restore the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1);

or

(5-II) optionally removing the coating (C2) located in the composite material (S1C1C2) from the composite material (S1C1) to restore the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1);

wherein a coating composition (C1a) which is used to obtain an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1) used in step (1) and restored in step (5-I) or stage (5-II), is a radiation-curable coating composition containing

(a) 5 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer,

(b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent,

(c) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and

(d) 0 - 5% by weight of at least one additive;

wherein (I) the stated total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), and (II) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) for coating, are 100% by weight;

wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer.

Embodiment 2: A method of transferring an embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1), said method comprising at least steps (1), (2-I) and (3- I), as well as at least step (4) and optionally step (5-I), namely:

(1) providing a composite material (S1C1) consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1);

(2-I) applying at least one coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S2) so as to obtain a composite material (S2C2a);

(3-I) at least partially embossing a composition (C2a) for coating a composite material (S2C2a) using a composite material (S1C1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2aS2);

(4) at least partially curing the at least partially embossed coating composition (C2a), optionally applied to a substrate (S2), which is in contact with the composite material (S1C1) throughout at least partial curing, with in order to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2S2);

(5-I) optionally removing the composite material (C2S2) located in the composite material (S1C1C2S2) from the composite material (S1C1) to restore the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1);

wherein a coating composition (C1a) which is used to obtain an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1) used in step (1) and recovered in step (5-I), is a radiation-curable coating composition containing

(a) 5 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer,

(b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent,

(c) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and

(d) 0 - 5% by weight of at least one additive;

wherein (I) the stated total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), and (II) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) for coating, are 100% by weight;

wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer.

Embodiment 3: A method of transferring an embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1), said method comprising at least steps (1), (2-II), as well as at least stage (4) and optionally stage (5-II), namely:

(1) providing a composite material (S1C1) consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1);

(2-II) applying at least one coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured surface of the composite material (S1C1), and at least partially embossing the composition (C2a) for coating using a composite material (S1C1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2a);

(4) at least partially curing the at least partially embossed coating composition (C2a) which is in contact with the composite material (S1C1) throughout the at least partial curing time to form a composite material (S1C1C2) ;

And

(5-II) optionally removing the coating (C2) located in the composite material (S1C1C2) from the composite material (S1C1) to restore the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1);

wherein a coating composition (C1a) which is used to obtain an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1) used in step (1) and recovered in step (5-II), is a radiation-curable coating composition containing

(a) 5 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer,

(b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent,

(c) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and

(d) 0-5% by weight of at least one additive;

wherein (I) the stated total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), and (II) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) for coating, are 100% by weight;

wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer.

Embodiment 4: A method of transferring an embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1), said method comprising at least steps (1), (2-II) and (3- II), as well as at least stage (4) and optionally stage (5-II), namely:

(1) providing a composite material (S1C1) consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1);

(2-II) applying at least one coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured surface of the composite material (S1C1), and at least partially embossing the composition (C2a) for coating using a composite material (S1C1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2a);

(3-II) applying a substrate (S2) to at least a portion of the surface formed by the coating composition (C2a) of a composite material (S1C1C2a), thereby obtaining a composite material (S1C1C2aS2);

(4) at least partially curing the at least partially embossed coating composition (C2a) applied to the substrate (S2), which is in contact with the composite material (S1C1) throughout the at least partial curing time, so that to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2S2);

(5-I) optionally removing the composite material (C2S2) located in the composite material (S1C1C2S2) from the composite material (S1C1) to restore the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1);

wherein a coating composition (C1a) which is used to obtain an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1) used in step (1) and recovered in step (5-I), is a radiation-curable coating composition containing

(a) 5 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer,

(b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent,

(c) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and

(d) 0 - 5% by weight of at least one additive.

wherein (I) the stated total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), and (II) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) for coating are 100% by weight.

wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer;

Embodiment 5: The method according to any of embodiments 1-4, wherein at least one coating composition (C2a) in step (2-I) and step (2-II) is applied with a dry layer thickness of at least 0.5 µm, preferably at least 1 µm, more preferably at least 5 µm.

Embodiment 6: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the embossed structure to be transferred is a microstructure and/or nanostructure, preferably having a structure width in the range of 10 nm to 500 μm, more preferably in the range of 25 nm to 400 µm, very preferably in the range from 50 nm to 250 µm, in particular in the range from 100 nm to 100 µm, and preferably the structure height in the range from 10 nm to 500 µm, more preferably in the range from 25 nm to 400 µm, very preferably in the range from 50 nm to 300 µm, in particular in the range from 100 nm to 200 µm.

Embodiment 7: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein at least one adhesive is applied to a surface of the substrate (S2) that is not to be in contact with the coating composition (C2a).

Embodiment 8: The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein in step (5-I), the composite material (C2S2) is obtained by exfoliation from the composite material (S1C1C2S2) with additional restoration of the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1), or vice versa.

Embodiment 9: The method according to any one of embodiments 1-7, wherein the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C2) in step (5-II) is obtained as a loose film by peeling from the composite material ( S1C1C2) with additional restoration of the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1), or vice versa.

Embodiment 10: The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein removal from the composite material (S1C1) comprises the following steps:

(5-I-a) applying at least one adhesive layer (AL) to the surface of the substrate (S2) not in contact with at least partially the embossed coating (C2), resulting in a composite material (S1C1C2S2AL);

(5-I-b) optionally at least partially attaching the composite material (S1C1C2S2AL) to the product (O1);

(5-I-c) removing, preferably peeling, the composite material (S1C1) from the composite material (C2S2AL), optionally at least partially attached to the article (O1), or vice versa.

Embodiment 11: The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein removal from the composite material (S1C1) comprises the following steps:

(5-II-a) applying at least one adhesive layer (AL) to at least a portion of the unstructured surface of the at least partially embossed coating (C2), resulting in a composite material (S1C1C2AL);

(5-II-b) optionally at least partially attaching the composite material (S1C1C2AL) to the product (O1);

(5-II-c) removing, preferably peeling, the composite material (S1C1) from the composite material (C2S2AL), optionally at least partially attached to the product (O1), or vice versa.

Embodiment 12: The method according to any of Embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1) is used as an embossing die (e2) of the embossing device (E2) so as to transfer an embossed coating structure (C1) as an embossed structure on the composition (C2a) for coating in stage (2-I), and in stages (2-II) and (3-II),

wherein a mirror image of the structured surface of the coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1), which is used as a cliche (e2) for embossing, is embossed onto the surface of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C2), optionally applied to the substrate ( S2).

Embodiment 13: The method according to any of Embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the substrate (S1) is a film roll, preferably a moving film roll or a continuous film roll, more preferably a continuously moving film roll.

Embodiment 14: The method according to any of Embodiments 1 to 13, wherein the substrate (S2) is a film roll, preferably a moving film roll, more preferably a continuously moving film roll.

Embodiment 15: The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the composite material (S1C1) which is used in step (2-I) and in steps (2-II) and (3-II) can be reused , and can be reused to transfer at least one embossed structure when method step (5-I) or (5-II) is carried out.

Embodiment 16: The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein during step (3-I), the composite material (S1C1) in step (3-I) is guided by the first roller functioning as a tool ( E2) for embossing and the composite material (S2C2a) is guided by a second roller, which is located opposite the first roller and rotates in the opposite direction to it or rotating in the same direction as it,

And

during step (3-II), the composite material (S1C1C2a) in step (3-II) is guided by the first roller functioning as an embossing tool (E2), and the substrate (S2) which is used in step (3 -II), is guided by a second roller, which is located opposite the first roller and rotates in the opposite direction with respect to it or rotates in the same direction as it.

Embodiment 17: Method according to Embodiment 16, wherein at least partial embossing in step (3-I) occurs at the level of the nip between the rollers, which is formed by two mutually opposing rollers, the rollers rotating in the opposite direction or rotating in the same direction wherein at least partially the embossed coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1) faces the composition (C2a) for coating the composite material (S2C2a), and

at least partial embossing in step (3-II) occurs at the level of the gap between the rollers, which is formed by two mutually opposite rollers, the rollers rotating in the opposite direction or rotating in the same direction, and the composition (C2a) for coating a composite material (S1C1C2a ) facing the substrate (S2).

Embodiment 18: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the composite material (S1C1) provided in step (1) can at least be obtained by

(6) applying a radiation-curable composition (C1a) to coat at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1a);

(7) at least partially embossing a coating composition (C1a) applied at least partially onto the surface of the substrate (S1) by at least one embossing tool (E1) comprising at least one cliche (e1 ) for embossing;

(8) at least partially curing the at least partially embossed coating composition (C1a) applied at least partially to the substrate (S1), which is in contact with at least with one cliche (e1) for embossing device (E1) for embossing;

(9) removing the composite material (S1C1) from the embossing die (e1) of the embossing fixture (E1) so as to obtain an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured composite material (S1C1), or vice versa.

Embodiment 19: Method according to embodiment 18, wherein the at least one coating composition (C1a) in step (6) is applied with a dry layer thickness of at least 0.5 μm, preferably at least 1 μm , more preferably at least 5 µm.

Embodiment 20: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 5 to 45% by weight, preferably 8 to 40% by weight, more preferably 9 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer.

Embodiment 21: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the total crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, preferably exactly one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, more preferably exactly one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer containing an average of 2-3 unsaturated groups.

Embodiment 22: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 21, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 5 to 45% by weight, preferably 8 to 40% by weight, more preferably 9 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer selected from the group consisting of I) at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, preferably exactly one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, very preferably exactly one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer containing on average 2-3 unsaturated groups, and ii) another cross-linkable polymer and/or oligomer selected from (meth)acrylated oligomeric or polymeric compounds , urethane(meth)acrylates, vinyl(meth)acrylates, epoxy(meth)acrylates, polyester(meth)acrylates, poly(meth)acrylates, polyether(meth)acrylates, olefin(meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylated oils , and mixtures thereof, preferably urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer.

Embodiment 23: The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains free radical polymerizable monomers, preferably ethylenically unsaturated monomers, more preferably multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomers, as a reactive diluent.

Embodiment 24: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 23, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains at least one reactive diluent selected from hexanediol diacrylate and compounds containing at least two, preferably at least 3, more preferably 3, structural units, which may differ from each other or be at least partially the same, of general formula (I)

wherein

radicals R ¹ , independently of each other, represent C ₂ -C ₈ alkylene groups, very preferably C ₂ alkylene groups,

the R ² radicals are independently H or methyl, and

the variables m are, independently of each other, an integer in the range from 1 to 15, very preferably from 1 to 4 or 2 to 4, provided that in at least one of the structural units of formula (I) the variable m is at least 2, preferably exactly 2.

Embodiment 25: The method according to Embodiment 24, wherein said compound contains three identical structural units of formula (I) and the variable m is at least 2, preferably exactly 2.

Embodiment 26: The method according to any of Embodiments 24 or 25, wherein the at least one reactive diluent compound contains at least two structural units of general formula (I) selected from neopentyl glycol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane or pentaerythritol (meth)acrylates , with a total of 4-fold - 20-fold or 4-fold - 12-fold alkoxylation, preferably ethoxylated, propoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated, very preferably ethoxylated, neopentylglycol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane or pentaerythritol, most preferably from (meth)acrylates , obtained from alkoxylated trimethylolpropane.

Embodiment 27: The method according to any of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 40 to 95% by weight, preferably 50 to 85% by weight, more preferably 55 to 83% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), of at least one reactive diluent, preferably hexanediol diacrylate and/or (meth)acrylates derived from 6-fold ethoxylated trimethylolpropane.

Embodiment 28: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 27, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains at least one photoinitiator in a total amount of 0.01 to 15% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 10% by weight by weight, more preferably 1 to 8% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a).

Embodiment 29: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 28, wherein the photoinitiator contained in the coating composition (C1a) is selected from phosphine oxides including (alkyl-)benzoylphenylphosphine oxides, benzophenones, α-hydroxyalkylaryl ketones, thioxanthones, anthraquinones, acetophenones , benzoins and benzoin ethers, ketals, imidazoles or phenylglyoxylic acids and mixtures thereof, preferably diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide, ethyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphinate, phenylbis(2,4,6- trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide, benzophenone, 1-benzoylcyclohexan-1-ol, 2-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylacetophenone and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone and mixtures thereof.

Embodiment 30: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 29, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains at least one additive in a total amount of 0.01 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.2 or 0.5 - 5% by weight, more preferably 0.5 - 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), of at least one additive.

Embodiment 31: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 30, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 5% by weight, more preferably less than 1% by weight of organic solvents, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), very preferably the composition (C1a) does not contain organic solvents.

Embodiment 32: The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 30, wherein the coating composition (C1a) comprises, in a total amount of 90 to 100% by weight, preferably 95 to 100% by weight, more preferably 99 - 100% by weight of components (a), (b), (c), and optionally (d), based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a).

Embodiment 33: composite material (S1C1) consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1), wherein the coating (C1) can be obtained by at least partially curing the composition (C1a) for applying a coating applied to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S1), and at least partially embossing, as a result of radiation curing, wherein the coating composition (C1a) is a radiation-curable coating composition containing

(a) 5 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer,

(b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent,

(c) 0.01 to 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and

(d) 0 - 5% by weight of at least one additive;

wherein (I) the stated total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c), and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a), and (II) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) for coating, are 100% by weight;

wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer.

Embodiment 34: The composite material (S1C1) according to embodiment 33, wherein the composite material (S1C1) can be obtained by carrying out method steps (6) to (9) that are described in Embodiment 18 or 19.

Embodiment 35: The composite material (S1C1) according to Embodiment 33 or 34, wherein the substrate (S1) is a film roll, preferably a moving film roll, more preferably a continuously moving film roll.

Embodiment 36: Using a composite material (S1C1) according to any one of embodiments 33 to 35 as an embossing die (e2) of an embossing device (E2) for transferring an embossed structure to at least a portion of the surface of the composition (C2a) to be applied coating, or at least a portion of the surface of the coating composition (C2a), which is at least partially applied to the substrate (S2).

Embodiment 37: The method according to any of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the radiation-curable coating composition (C1a) contains 50 to 95% by weight, or 50 to 85% by weight, or 50 to 83% by weight weight of at least one reactive diluent, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a).

Embodiment 38: The composite material according to any of embodiments 33 to 36, wherein the radiation-curable coating composition (C1a) contains 50 to 95% by weight, or 50 to 85% by weight, or 50 to 83% by weight of at least one reactive diluent, based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a).

Determination methods

1. Definition of cliche filling

The cliche filling is determined using a commercially available scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using SEM it is possible, accordingly, to compare, for example, the surface topography of a certain lattice structure of different template films (S1C1) after embossing, having, for example, elements from 10 nm to 1000 μm structure width, and structure depths in the range from 1 nm to 1000 μm . The filling of the cliché is considered complete if the sharp elements, such as the tip of the triangular shaped structure, are completely reproduced. As well as comparing the surface topography of different template films (S1C1), the filling of the cliches can also be compared.

2. Determination of flow time

The flow time is determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2431 (date: March 2012). The method involves determining the flow time using a 4 mm cup viscometer (No. 4), a 5 mm cup viscometer (No. 5), or a 6 mm cup viscometer (No. 6) at room temperature (20°C).

Flow times ranging from 40 or 50 to 100 s, measured in a 4 mm cup viscometer, from 30 to 100 s, measured in a 5 mm cup viscometer, and from 30 to 200 s, preferably 30 to 150 s, more preferably 30 to 115 s measured in a 6 mm cup viscometer is considered acceptable. Accordingly, coating compositions with a flow time >200 s in a 6 mm cup viscometer are considered unsuitable because the coating compositions will not spread quickly enough to a uniform layer thickness across the entire width of the substrate or composite material, resulting in poor quality of the cliché fill. and reproduction, wherein the risk of air entrapment in the applied coating composition increases with increasing flow time. On the other hand, a flow time of <40 or 50 s in a 4 mm cup viscometer is considered a disadvantage since the coating compositions will simply flow off the substrate when applied, for example in a roll-to-roll (R2R) embosser, without providing such in a manner of sufficient cohesion within the layer, allowing to provide a layer thickness sufficient for embossing microstructures and nanostructures with sufficient cliche filling and transfer quality.

3. Adhesion determination

3.1 Determination of adhesion using the grid cut method

Adhesion is determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2409 (date: June 2013) using the grid cut adhesion test. In this test, in a duplicate determination process, the adhesion of the coating layer under study to the substrate is examined. A Byk Gardner grid cut adhesion tester with a cut distance of 2 mm was used manually. Then, Tesa tape No. 4651 is pressed onto the damaged area and removed to remove the peeled parts. The evaluation is based on characteristic values on a scale from 0 (minimal delamination) to 5 (very severe delamination). In this case, an average value of less than or equal to 3.5 is considered sufficient.

3.2 Determination of adhesion using the St. Andrew's cross method

Adhesion is determined using a specially developed adhesion test using the lattice notch method. In this test, a St. Andrew's cross (length: 10 cm, angle: 45°) is manually cut into the coating layer using a scalpel. Then, Tesa tape No. 4651 is pressed onto the damaged area and removed to remove the peeled parts. If the coating layer does not show visible peeling after making cuts and/or after removing the tape, then the adhesion of the coating layer is rated as "GOOD". If the coating layer shows visible peeling after making cuts and/or after removing the tape, then the adhesion of the coating layer is rated as "Unsatisfactory".

4. Determination of successful reproduction

The success of reproduction is determined visually, and the percentage of successfully reproduced area is determined. The range in this case is from 0% to 100% of the successfully reproduced area. If less than 100% of the area is reproduced, this means that the corresponding portion of the area could not be removed from the embossing die, in other words, said composite material coating C1 S1C1 remained partially adhered to the embossing die (e1) of the embossing fixture (E1), or this coating C2 remained partially adhered to the composite material (S1C1) after peeling off.

5. Determination of layer thickness distribution

The layer thickness distribution is determined by measuring the layer thickness of the composite material S1C1 including the printed structures. In other words, the determined total thickness of the layer stack S1C1 is the sum of the individual heights of the substrate S1, the residual coating layer C1, and the structures formed in or on the coating C1. Thickness was determined according to DIN EN ISO 2808 (date: May 2007), procedure 12A using an ElektroPhysik MiniTest® 2100 microprocessor coating thickness gauge in combination with an F1.6 sensor (measurement error: ±(1% + 1 µm)) . In the absence of a ferromagnetic substrate, the measurement was carried out by placing the S1C1 composite material on a flat ferromagnetic plate. In an area S1C1 measuring 15 cm × 15 cm, the layer thickness is determined at 9 predefined points located in a 3 × 3 matrix. All measurement points are spaced 5 cm apart, with the first point or starting measurement point 2.5 cm on the top side and 2 5 cm on the left side of the 15 cm × 15 cm area S1C1. Therefore, the second point measurement is located at a distance of 2.5 cm from the top side and 7.5 cm from the left side of the area S1C1 measuring 15 cm × 15 cm.

6. Definition of flexibility

The flexibility of the corresponding composite material (S1C1) was determined by bending it through 180°. If, during and/or after bending, no visible cracks and/or damage were observed in the coating (C1), then it is assessed as “GOOD”. If visible cracks and/or damage were observed in the coating (C1) during and/or after bending, it is assessed as “unsatisfactory”.

Examples according to the invention and comparative examples

The examples in accordance with the invention and the comparative examples given below serve to illustrate the invention and should not be interpreted as imposing any limitations.

Unless otherwise indicated, quantities expressed in parts are parts by weight, and quantities expressed as percentages are in each case percentages by weight.

1. Ingredients and materials used

Hostaphan® GN CT01B is a commercially available PET film, double-sided chemically treated to improve coating adhesion, with a layer thickness of 175 microns.

Commercially available PET film, double-sided urethane coated, to enhance adhesion to paints and coatings, particularly UV-curable paints, with a layer thickness of 125 microns, provided by SKC, South Korea.

Laromer® UA 9033 (L UA 9033) - aliphatic urethane acrylate from BASF SE

Laromer® UA 9089 (L UA 9089) - aliphatic urethane acrylate from BASF SE

Hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA)

Hydroxypropylacrylate (HPA)

Sartomer® CN9800 (CN9800) - aliphatic silicone acrylate from Sartomer

Sartomer® 499 (SR 499) - TMPTA (trimethylolpropane triacrylate) with 6-fold ethoxylation, from Sartomer

Sartomer® SR 344 (Arkema Inc.) - polyethylene glycol (400) diacrylate

Irgacure® 184 (1-184) is a commercially available photoinitiator from BASF SE,

Irgacure® TPO-L (I-TPO-L) is a commercially available photoinitiator from BASF SE,

Tego® Rad 2500 (TR 2500) - lubrication and anti-caking additive from Evonik (silicone acrylate),

2. Examples

2.1 Preparation of coating compositions (C1a) according to the invention (C1a-1) and the corresponding comparative coating composition (C1a-2)

Coating compositions suitable as the coating composition (C1a) for producing composite materials (S1C1) were prepared in accordance with Table 1 below. The flow time, which was determined at room temperature (20°C), ranges from 26 to 172 s in the case of C1a-5 and C1a-9.

The flow time, which was determined by the method described above in paragraph 2. (Determination of the flow time), of examples in accordance with the invention C1a-2 to CTa-8 having a total amount of reactive diluent from 40 to 80% by weight, based on the total weight composition (C1a) for coating is in an acceptable range from 50 s, as measured in a 4 mm cup viscometer, to 200 s, as measured in a 6 mm cup viscometer. Flow times of comparative examples C1a-1 (total reactive diluent 35% by weight), C1a 10 (total reactive diluent 25% by weight) and C1a-11 (total reactive diluent 25% by weight, composition according to KR 2009 /0068490 A, example 1) is unfavorably high and therefore unacceptable.

2.2 Preparation of composite materials (S1C1) by using a coating composition according to the invention (C1a-5) and a comparative coating composition (C1a-9)

Several different composite materials (S1C1) were produced in accordance with Table 2 below by using a roll-to-plate embosser (R2P) with an embossing die (e1) made of nickel containing the desired image of the structure to be embossed. Thus, the image of the structures in the stamping plate (e1) corresponds to the image of the structures to be embossed onto the composition (C2a) for coating in the subsequent stage.

In the above examples, stamping cliches (e1) were used, made of nickel with different positive structures, namely with:

• microstructure M1 (three-dimensional triangular structure with a height of 61 microns and a periodic repetition of 130 microns, or with

• microstructure M2 (two-dimensional triangular structure with a height of 42 microns and a distance between structures of 55 microns,

For this purpose, each of the above-described coating compositions C1a-5 and C1a-9 is applied to the embossing die (e1) of the embossing device (E1), and a PET film is applied thereto as a substrate (S1). The resulting assembly of film and corresponding coating composition is then passed under a pressure roll and, while the embosser is in contact with the coating composition of the corresponding assembly, the coating compositions are at least partially cured using a UV LED lamp . The at least partially cured coating together with the film having a negative structure as compared to the embossing die (e1) is then separated from the embossing apparatus, resulting in a structured film (template film) as a composite material (S1C1). The template films are subsequently subjected to additional exposure to a UVA lamp. The symbol "-" in the Table indicates that a specific additional curing was not performed.

Template films A and B with M1 microstructure are used to determine the quality of cliche filling, adhesion, success of reproduction - see Section 2.3.1 - and they are also used to obtain transfer films and their research, as described below in paragraphs 2.4 - 2.5.2. Template films B, D, E, and E with M2 microstructure are used to determine layer thickness uniformity, as described in Section 2.3.2 below. To obtain the specified template films, compositions (C1a-5) and (C1a-9) are used for coating and, accordingly, composite materials (S1C1), wherein the coating (C1) is a coating (C1-5) or (C1-9 ) obtained from coating compositions (C1a-5) or (C1a-9), respectively, having an M1 or M2 microstructure as an embossed structure.

In another series of experiments, composite materials (S1C1) were prepared in accordance with the composite production parameters of "Template Film B" as shown in Table 2, and the coating composition (C1a-5) was accordingly replaced by one of the compositions ( STa-1) - (STa-8), (S1a-10) or (S1a-11) for coating, as shown in Table 1, providing template films F - R.

All J - P master films obtained from coating compositions (C1a-1) - (C1a-8), (C1a-10) or (C1a-11) show acceptable layer thicknesses ranging from 203 - 225 µm. The flexibility of the template films F - P, which was determined 7 days after production in accordance with the method described in paragraph 6. above, was rated as "GOOD". Only the flexibility of the template film P prepared from the comparative composition (C1a-11) for coating was rated as "unsatisfactory." Moreover, examination of the J - P template films using an Olympus SZX12 stereo microscope revealed an unacceptable amount of air entrapment in the case of the P template film prepared from the comparative coating composition (C1a-11).

2.3 Research on template films (S1C1)

2.3.1 Determination of adhesion and cliche filling.

Table 3 below summarizes the studies that were carried out on template films A and B. Each of the studies was carried out in accordance with the methods described above.

The data in Table 3 shows good adhesion for template film A according to the invention (grid cut adhesion test and St. Andrew's Cross adhesion test), compared to the poor adhesion achieved by comparative template film B (grid cut adhesion test scored 5 , the determination of adhesion using the St. Andrew's cross method had a negative assessment). If the adhesion of the template coating (C1) to the substrate (S1), in these examples the adhesion of the coating compositions (C1-5) and (C1-9) to the PET film, is insufficient, then problems may arise, as during embossing of the composition (C1a) for coating, and, subsequently, when using a template film as a cliche (e2) for embossing the composition (C2a) for coating.

The reproduction success of template film A remained as good as the reproduction success of template film B (Table 3, reproduction success). Therefore, also in the case of using the coating composition according to the invention, no residue was left on the embossing block (e1).

The cliche filling of master films A and B was determined as described above by visual inspection and comparison of SEM images of triangular elements embossed on the coating compositions (C1a) applied to the substrates (S1) using the cliches (e1) of the embossing fixture ( E1) for embossing (Fig. 3). Comparison of SEM images of master films A and B shows complete and comparable transfer of structures from the embossing block to the coating composition (C1a), including sharp features such as edges and triangular elements. Consequently, the introduction of large quantities of silicone (meth)acrylate oligomers into the coating composition (C1a) in accordance with the invention did not lead to any loss in the quality of the cliche filling, as might be expected due to the different surface tensions of the compositions (C1a- 5) and (C1a-9) for coating. Consequently, there is a complete and comparable filling of negative elements in the cliche for both compositions C1a-1 and C1a-2 for coating.

To summarize, it can be stated that only template film A provides good results in terms of all the characteristics studied (adhesion, cliche filling, reproduction success).

2.3.2 Determination of uniformity of layer thickness

Table 4 below summarizes the studies that were carried out on template films B, D, E, and E. Each of the studies was carried out in accordance with the methods described above. In this series of experiments, the applied pressure (3.3 bar) and the slit size (3.28 mm) of the coater for applying the coating composition were the same.

The data in Table 4 shows a strong decrease between the maximum difference in layer thickness (delta of the minimum and maximum layer thickness (S1C1)), which was determined for the template films B and E used in accordance with the invention, compared with the comparative template films D and E, for two processing speeds, which is also reflected by much smaller standard deviations. Moreover, not only was the layer thickness of the applied application compositions much more uniform, but the average layer thickness as such could also be increased.

If the thickness of the pattern coating layer (C1a) is too uneven across the entire width of the substrate (S1), then problems may arise during embossing of both the coating composition (C1a) and subsequently the coating composition (C2a). coverings. The image reproduction quality of the cliche structures (e1) of the embossing fixture (E1) for embossing, especially in relation to larger sizes, generally improves with the uniformity of the layer thickness of the coating composition (C1a) as the pressure applied to indent the positive elements of the cliche (e1) for embossing the embossing tool (E1) into the coating composition (C1a) is distributed evenly, providing uniform indentation across the entire width of the embossing tool. Consequently, a uniform layer thickness of the coating composition (C1a) will result in higher quality reproduction of the embossing plate elements (e1) in a coating (C1) having a uniform residual layer over the entire or almost the entire width of the film. As a result, when using a composite material (S1C1) as an embossing die per se, such as an embossing die (e2), a uniform thickness of the coating layer (C1) will improve the transfer of the embossed structures onto the coating composition (C2a), and also in this case, the pressure applied to the composite material (S1C1) is more evenly distributed throughout the composite material (S1C1), providing higher quality reproduction and more reproducible transfer of the embossed structures onto the coating composition (C2a).

To summarize, it can be stated that the layer thickness uniformity of template films B and D was greatly improved compared with template films D and E.

2.4 Preparation of films (S1C1C2) for transfer:

Then, each of the template films (S1C1) obtained respectively with the structure M1 was used in a roll-to-plate embossing machine (R2P), and the coating composition (C2a) was applied to the structured surface of the corresponding template film at a dry layer thickness , amounting to 40 microns. The resulting template film and coating composition (C2a) set was temporarily coated with TAC film to protect the coating composition (C2a) from oxygen and mechanical stress. In turn, the resulting set containing the template film (S1C1), the coating composition (C2a) applied thereto, and the TAC film applied to the coating composition (C2a) was then passed under a pressure roller (applied pressure 6 bar), simultaneously with the process of at least partially curing the coating composition (C2a) using a UV LED lamp. The lamp used in this case is a UV LED lamp from Easytec, wavelength 365 nm, power 6 W (100% lamp power, 2 m/min, 2 passes). Thus, after removing the protective TAC film, a composite material (S1C1C2-1) is obtained from template film A, and a composite material (S1C1C2-2) is obtained from template film B.

The coating composition (C2a) used is a commercially available, radiation-curable coating composition that contains at least one urethane acrylate, at least one photoinitiator, as well as commercially available additives.

2.5 Studies of composite materials (S1C1C2) 2.5.1 Separation characteristics I) depending on the time between preparation of the composite material (S1C1) and application of the coating composition (C2a) and II) depending on the time between application of the coating composition (C2a) onto composite material (S1C1) and separation.

Table 5 below summarizes the results of studies on the separation characteristics between the structured template film (S1C1) and the resulting coating (C2), depending on the storage time of the template film (S1C1), expressed by the reproduction quality, taking into account the specific template film (S1C1), used for embossing. The coating (C2) is removed from the composite material (S 1C 1) by peeling. The symbol "-" in the Table means that a particular study was not carried out.

When using template film B, the reproducibility success rate in separating the template film (S1C1) and coating (C2) is much lower than <100%, even 0%, when the coating composition (C2a) is applied 5 days after obtaining the template film (S1C1) from the composition (C1a-9) for coating, and when separated immediately after curing. Consequently, large portions of the coating (C2) could not be separated or removed from the coating (C1) of the corresponding template film B without destroying the coating (C2) or template film B. Template film "P" prepared from comparative composition (C1a-11) for coating described in Table 2 remained tacky after curing, which resulted in these template films sticking on top of each other during storage, as well as unsatisfactory peel-off characteristics (C2) of 0% immediately and after 1 day after curing. In contrast, when using the test template film A, a separation success rate of 100% or about 100% (97%) was achieved, regardless of the time elapsed between obtaining the template film and application of the coating composition (C2a), or the time elapsed after embossing and curing of the coating composition (C2a) applied to the template film (S1C1). In other words, the use of master film A provides a very high success rate of reproduction (as an indicator of peel-off performance) regardless of the storage time of the master film itself, even allowing the storage or transport of a layer set (S1C1C2) consisting of a master film (S1C1) and a coating (C2) . Therefore, template film A allows, compared to template film B, the coating composition (C2a) to be directly applied to the template film, applied after several days, or even the coating composition (C2a) to be applied and stored together with the template film ( S1C1) until the coating (C2) is separated from the template film (S1C1), which protects the printed structures of the composite material (S1C1), clean separation from the composite material (S1C1) without residue, thus improving the reusability of the composite material (S1C1) as cliche for embossing, allowing you to obtain an embossed coating (C2) in the form of a separate film. The same applies to 9-day template films F - P, obtained from compositions (C1a-1) - (C1a-8), and (C1a-10) for coating, which show coating release characteristics (C2) immediately and after 1 day after curing, amounting to 100%.

2.5.2 Filling cliches

The quality of filling the cliches with the composition (C2a) for coating in template films A and B (Fig. 3), used as cliches for embossing, was determined as described above, through visual inspection and comparison of SEM images of triangular elements transferred to the composition (C2a ) for embossing coating, wherein an identical coating composition (C2a) was applied 11 days after production of template foil A or B, respectively, and peeling was carried out immediately after curing (FIG. 4). In this case, comparison of SEM images of the embossed and cured coating (C2) after separation from the template films A and B also shows a complete and comparable transfer of structures from the template films A and B to the coating composition (C2a), including sharp parts, such as edges and triangular elements. In FIG. 4, the coating (C2) obtained after separation from the template film A according to the invention is designated as coating C2-1. Accordingly, the coating (C2) obtained after separation from the template film B is designated as coating C2-2. Consequently, the introduction of large quantities of silicone (meth)acrylate oligomers into the coating composition (C1a) according to the invention did not result in any loss in cliche filling quality or reduction in cliche filling, as might be expected due to the different surface energies of the compositions (C1-5) and (C1-9) for coating, compared to the surface tension of the composition (C2a) for coating. Consequently, complete and comparable transfer of positive elements of template films A and B containing coating compositions (C1a-5) and (C1a-9) was observed.

Claims (56)

1. A method of transferring an embossed structure onto at least a portion of the surface of a coating composition (C2a) using a composite material (S1C1), said method comprising at least steps (1), (2-I) and (3-I) or (2-II) and (3-II), as well as at least stage (4) and optionally stage (5-I) or (5-II), namely: (1) providing a composite material (S1C1) consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1); And (2-I) applying at least one coating composition (C2a) to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S2) so as to obtain a composite material (S2C2a); (3-I) at least partially embossing a composition (C2a) for coating a composite material (S2C2a) using a composite material (S1C1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2aS2); or (2-II) applying at least one composition (C2a) for coating at least a portion of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured surface of the composite material (S1C1) and at least partially embossing a composition (C2a) for coating with a composite material (S1C1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2a); (3-II) optionally applying a substrate (S2) to at least a portion of the surface formed by the coating composition (C2a) of the composite material (S1C1C2a), thereby obtaining a composite material (S1C1C2aS2); And (4) at least partially curing the at least partially embossed coating composition (C2a), optionally applied to a substrate (S2), which is in contact with the composite material (S1C1) throughout at least partial curing, with in order to obtain a composite material (S1C1C2) or (S1C1C2S2); And (5-I) optionally removing the composite material (C2S2) located in the composite material (S1C1C2S2) from the composite material (S1C1) to restore the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1); or (5-II) optionally removing the coating (C2) located in the composite material (S1C1C2) from the composite material (S1C1) to restore the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1); wherein a coating composition (C1a) which is used to obtain an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1) used in step (1) and restored in step (5-I) or at stage (5-II), is a radiation-curable coating composition containing: (a) 1 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer, (b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent, (c) 0.01 - 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator and (d) 0 - 5% by weight of at least one additive; wherein (I) the total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c) and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a) and (II) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) ) for coating, make up 100% by weight; wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation-curable coating composition (C1a) contains 50 - 95% by weight, or 50 - 85% by weight, or 50 - 83% by weight of at least one reactive diluent from calculating the total mass of the composition (C1a) for coating. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the embossed structure to be transferred is a microstructure and/or nanostructure, preferably having a structure width in the range from 10 nm to 500 μm, more preferably in the range from 25 nm to 400 μm, very preferably in the range from 50 nm to 250 µm, in particular in the range from 100 nm to 100 µm, and preferably the structure height in the range from 10 nm to 500 µm, more preferably in the range from 25 nm to 400 µm, very preferably in the range from 50 nm to 300 µm, in particular in the range from 100 nm to 200 µm. 4. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-3, wherein at least one adhesive is applied to another surface of the substrate (S2) not intended to be coated with the coating composition (C2a). 5. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-4, wherein removal from the composite material (S1C1) includes the following steps: (5-I-a) applying at least one adhesive layer (AL) to the surface of the substrate (S2) not in contact with at least partially the embossed coating (C2), resulting in a composite material (S1C1C2S2AL); (5-I-b) optionally, at least partially, attaching the composite material (S1C1C2S2AL) to the product (O1); (5-I-c) removing, preferably peeling, the composite material (S1C1) from the composite material (C2S2AL), optionally at least partially attached to the product (O1), or vice versa; or (5-II-a) applying at least one adhesive layer (AL) to at least a portion of the unstructured surface of the at least partially embossed coating (C2), resulting in a composite material (S1C1C2AL); (5-II-b) optionally, at least partially, attaching the composite material (S1C1C2AL) to the product (O1); (5-II-c) removing, preferably peeling, the composite material (S1C1) from the composite material (C2S2AL), optionally at least partially attached to the product (O1), or vice versa. 6. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-5, wherein the composite material (S1C1) obtained in step (1) is used as an embossing die (e2) of the embossing device (E2) so as to transfer the embossed structure of the coating (C1) as an embossed structure onto the composition (C2a) for coating in stage (3-I) and in stages (2-II) and (3-II), wherein a mirror image of the structured surface of the coating (C1) of the composite material (S1C1), which is used as the stamping die (e2), is embossed onto the surface of the at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C2), optionally applied to the substrate (S2). 7. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-6, wherein the substrate (S1) is a roll of film, preferably a moving roll of film or a continuous roll of film, more preferably a continuously moving roll of film, and/or the substrate (S2) is a roll of film, preferably a moving roll of film, more preferably continuously moving roll of film. 8. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-7, wherein the composite material (S1C1) which is used in step (3-I) and in steps (2-II) and (3-II) can be reusable and can be reused to transfer at least one embossed structure when carrying out stage (5-I) or (5-II) of the method. 9. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-8, wherein the composite material (S1C1) provided in step (1) can at least be obtained by: (6) applying a radiation-curable composition (C1a) to coat at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S1) so as to obtain a composite material (S1C1a); (7) at least partially embossing a coating composition (C1a) applied at least partially onto the surface of the substrate (S1), using at least one embossing tool (E1) containing at least one cliché ( e1) for embossing; (8) at least partially curing the at least partially embossed coating composition (C1a) applied at least partially to the substrate (S1), which is in contact with at least with one cliche (e1) for embossing device (E1) for embossing; (9) removing the composite material (S1C1) from the embossing die (e1) of the embossing fixture (E1) so as to obtain an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured composite material (S1C1), or vice versa. 10. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-9, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight based on the total weight of the total crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, preferably exactly one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer, more preferably exactly one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer containing on average 2-3 unsaturated groups. 11. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-10, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains, as a reactive diluent, monomers capable of free radical polymerization, preferably ethylenically unsaturated monomers, more preferably multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomers. 12. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-11, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains at least one reactive diluent selected from hexanediol diacrylate and compounds containing at least two, preferably at least 3, more preferably 3 structural units, which may differ from each other or be at least partially the same as the general formula (I) in which the radicals R ¹ , independently of each other, represent C ₂ -C ₈ alkylene groups, very preferably C ₂ alkylene groups, radicals R ² ; independently of each other, represent H or methyl and the variables m, independently of each other, represent an integer in the range from 1 to 15, very preferably from 1 to 4 or 2 to 4, but provided that at least In one of the structural units of formula (I), the variable m is at least 2, preferably exactly 2. 13. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-11, wherein the coating composition (C1a) contains a total amount of 40 - 95% by weight, preferably 50 - 85% by weight, more preferably 55 - 83% by weight based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a) coating with at least one reactive diluent, preferably hexanediol diacrylate and/or (meth)acrylates derived from 6-fold ethoxylated trimethylolpropane. 14. Method according to one of paragraphs. 1-13, wherein the photoinitiator contained in the coating composition (C1a) is selected from diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide, ethyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphinate, phenylbis(2,4,6 -trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide, benzophenone, 1-benzoylcyclohexan-1-ol, 2-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylacetophenone and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone and mixtures thereof. 15. A composite material (S1C1) used as a cliché (e2) for embossing an embossing device (E2) for transferring an embossed structure, consisting of a substrate (S1) and an at least partially embossed and at least partially cured coating (C1) wherein the coating (C1) can be obtained by at least partially curing a coating composition (C1a) applied to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (S1) and at least partially embossing by radiation curing, wherein the composition (C1a) for coating is a radiation-curable coating composition containing: (a) 1 - 45% by weight of at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer, (b) 40 - 95% by weight of at least one reactive diluent, (c) 0.01 - 15% by weight of at least one photoinitiator and (d) 0 - 5% by weight of at least one additive; wherein (I) the total amounts of each of components (a), (b), (c) and (d) are based on the total weight of the coating composition (C1a) and (II) the total amounts of all components present in the composition (C1a) ) for coating, make up 100% by weight; wherein the at least one crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer(s) contains a total amount of at least 25% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, very preferably 100% by weight, based on the total weight of all crosslinkable polymer and/or oligomer contained in the coating composition (C1a), of at least one silicone (meth)acrylate oligomer. 16. The composite material (S1C1) according to claim 15, wherein the radiation-curable coating composition (C1a) contains 50 - 95% by weight, or 50 - 85% by weight, or 50 - 83% by weight of at least one reactive diluent based on the total weight of the composition (C1a) for coating. 17. The composite material (S1C1) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the composite material (S1C1) can be obtained by carrying out the method steps (6) to (9) described in claim 9. 18. Use of composite material (S1C1) according to one of paragraphs. 15, 16 or 17 as an embossing die (e2) an embossing device (E2) for transferring an embossed structure to at least a portion of the surface of the coating composition (C2a) or to at least a portion of the surface of the coating composition (C2a) , which is at least partially deposited on the substrate (S2).