Method of manufacturing a replica as well as a replica obtained by carrying out an UV light-initiated cationic polymerization

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a replica, which method comprises the provision of a bondable resin composition between a mold and a substrate or a blank, carrying out a curing treatment and removing the replica thus manufactured from the mold, which replica comprises the substrate and the reproduction of the mold provided thereon. The invention further relates to a replica obtained by carrying out a UV light-initiated cationic polymerization.

1 - 5 . (canceled).  
     
     
         6 . A replica obtained by carrying out a UV light-initiated cationic polymerization of a compound comprising at least two cationically polymerizable cyclic ether groups, which compound only exhibits gelation when at least 50% of the conversion that can be achieved in the mold under the relevant curing conditions has taken place, if necessary in the presence of a reactive diluent.  
     
     
         7 . A replica as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that this replica comprises a relief structure on at least one side, which relief structure must meet high (sub-micron) requirements with a view to the necessary accuracy of form.  
     
     
         8 . A replica as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the replica obtained is an optical component.  
     
     
         9 . A replica as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the optical component obtained is an (a) spherical lens, a lens array, a prism, a grating or another relief structure for optical applications, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A replica as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the compound is represented by the following general formula I:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein: 
 Y=—O—, —SO 2 —, —CH 2 —, —C(CF 3 ) 2 —, —C(CH 3 ) 2 —,  
 X=a halogen or CH 3 ,  
 R 1 =—CH 2 —, —C(CH 3 ) 2 —,  
 R 2 =—OCH 2 CH 2 —, —OCCH 3 HCH 2 —, —OCH 2 CCH 3 H—, —OCH 2 CHOHCH 2 —,  
                     
 R 3 =H, C n H 2n+1 ,  
 n=an integer≧1,  
 p=1-4,  
 m, a, b, c are each individual integers in the range from 0-4.  
 
     
     
         11 . A replica as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the compound is selected from the group formed by 1,2,7,8-diepoxyoctane, 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3′,4′-epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate, bis(3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl)adipate, bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexyl-methyl)adipate and C12-C14-alkylglycidylether and the corresponding oxetane compounds thereof, in particular 1,4-bis[(3-ethyl-3-oxetanylmethoxy)methyl]benzene.  
     
     
         12 . A replica as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that for the reactive diluent use is made of a compound selected from the group formed by butylglycidylether, heptylglycidylether, octylglycidylether, allylglycidylether, p-t-butylphenylglycidylether, phenylglycidylether, cresylglycidylether, diglycidylether of 1,4-butanediol, diglycidylether of neopentylglycol, diglycidylether of polypropeneglycol, vinylcyclohexanedioxide, diglycidylether of recorcinol, diglycidylether of polypropeneglycol and diglycidylester of linoleic acid dimer and the corresponding oxetane compounds thereof.