Article and method of manufacture thereof

1 . An article comprising:

a first microstructured layer comprising a plurality of first microstructures forming a plurality of first grooves therebetween;

a second microstructured layer comprising a plurality of second microstructures disposed adjacent to the plurality of first microstructures, the plurality of second microstructures forming a plurality of second grooves therebetween; and

a light absorbing material disposed in at least each of the plurality of first grooves and each of the plurality of second grooves, wherein the light absorbing material bonds the first microstructured layer to the second microstructured layer;

wherein:

the first microstructured layer further comprises a first base layer;

the plurality of first microstructures is joined to the first base layer; and

the plurality of first microstructures further defines a first structured surface and the first base layer defines a first non-structured surface opposite to the first structured surface.

2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein:

the second microstructured layer further comprises a second base layer;

the plurality of second microstructures is joined to the second base layer; and

the plurality of second microstructures further defines a second structured surface and the second base layer further defines a second non-structured surface opposite to the second structured surface.

3 . The article of claim 2 , wherein the light absorbing material further bonds the first structured surface to the second structured surface.

4 . The article of claim 2 , wherein each of the first non-structured surface and the second non-structured surface is substantially planar.

5 . The article of claim 2 , further comprising a second land disposed between the second base layer and the plurality of second microstructures.

6 . The article of claim 1 , further comprising a first land disposed between the first base layer and the plurality of first microstructures.

7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein a skew angle is defined between the plurality of first microstructures and the plurality of second microstructures, and wherein the skew angle is greater than or equal to 0 degree and less than or equal to 90 degrees.

8 . The article of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first microstructures defines a first height, a first width, and a first aspect ratio as a ratio of the first height to the first width, and wherein the first aspect ratio is in a range from about 1.1 to about 13.5.

9 . The article of claim 8 , wherein the first aspect ratio is in a range from about 1.2 to about 7.9.

10 . The article of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of second microstructures defines a second height, a second width, and a second aspect ratio as a ratio of the second height to the second width, and wherein the second aspect ratio in a range from about 1.1 to about 13.5.

11 . The article of claim 10 , wherein the second aspect ratio is in a range from about 1.2 to about 7.9.

12 . The article of claim 10 , wherein the first aspect ratio of the plurality of first microstructures is substantially equal to the second aspect ratio of the plurality of second microstructures.

13 . The article of claim 10 , wherein the first aspect ratio of the plurality of first microstructures is different from the second aspect ratio of the plurality of second microstructures.

14 . The article of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first microstructures has a first refractive index and each of the plurality of second microstructures has a second refractive index, and wherein each of the first refractive index and the second refractive index is in a range from about 1.44 to about 1.66.

15 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the light absorbing material comprises a binder and one or more of a light absorbing dye, a light absorbing pigment, a light absorbing bead, a light absorbing particle, and a carbon black dispersed in the binder.

16 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the binder comprises one or more of acrylate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyolefin, polyethylene, polyethylene naphthalate, cellulose acetate, polystyrene, and polyimide.

17 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the binder comprises a radiation cured resin or a thermally cured resin.

18 . The article of claim 1 , further comprising a layer of the light absorbing material disposed between the plurality of first microstructures and the plurality of second microstructures.

19 . A display comprising: a display panel configured to emit an image for viewing by a viewer, and an article having a first microstructured layer comprising a plurality of first microstructures forming a plurality of first grooves therebetween; a second microstructured layer comprising a plurality of second microstructures disposed adjacent to the plurality of first microstructures, the plurality of second microstructures forming a plurality of second grooves therebetween; and a light absorbing material disposed in at least each of the plurality of first grooves and each of the plurality of second grooves, wherein the light absorbing material bonds the first microstructured layer to the second microstructured layer; wherein: the first microstructured layer further comprises a first base layer; the plurality of first microstructures is joined to the first base layer; and the plurality of first microstructures further defines a first structured surface and the first base layer defines a first non-structured surface opposite to the first structured surface, disposed adjacent to the display panel.