Fringed surface structures obtainable in a compression molding process

1. A mono-layer or multi-layer film, sheet, or coating comprising at least one layer that displays a surface microstructure, which layer is a thermoplastic polymeric material having fringes, wherein said fringes are non-perforated and are at least partially hollow with at least about 25 percent of the volume at the top of the fringe being empty and have a height of at least about 40 microns or more, in a density of 1000 or more per square centimeter.

2. A film, sheet or coating according to claim 1 , wherein the fringes have a height in the range of from 40 microns to 1 millimeter.

3. A film, sheet or coating according to claim 1 , wherein the fringes have a hollow depth ratio, which is the ratio of the average inner height to the average maximum height of the fringe, of 1.3 or lower, as determined by optical surface profilometry.

4. A film, sheet or coating according to claim 1 , wherein the fringes have a hollow diameter ratio, which is ratio of the diameter of the hollow center at half height and the diameter at the bottom of the fringe, of 1 or lower, as determined by optical surface profilometry.

5. A film, sheet or coating according to claim 1 , wherein the fringes have a Hollowness Index of 100 or lower, as determined by optical surface profilometry.

6. The film, sheet or coating according to claim 1 , wherein the fringes have an aspect ratio, which is the ratio of the fringe height and the fringe diameter, of between 1 and 5.

7. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material is cured, irradiated or cross-linked.

8. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 , wherein the layer displays a surface microstructure on both sides.

9. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 , which is a mono-layer film, sheet or coating.

10. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 , which is a multi-layer film, sheet or coating.

11. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 10 , wherein the surface microstructure is on an outer layer.

12. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 which is a multi-layer film, sheet or coating, wherein the surface-structured layer is an interlayer.

13. The film, sheet or coating according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the outer layers is a fringed layer and at least one of the inner layers is an oriented film, preferably a biaxially oriented polypropylene film.

14. The film, sheet or coating according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the layers is a foamed layer.

15. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 , wherein at least one layer is elastic.

16. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 , which is oriented.

17. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 , wherein at least one layer is vapor permeable and liquid impermeable.

18. The film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 which is printed or imprinted.

19. The film, sheet or coating according to claim 1 wherein the surface microstructure has been subjected to a post treatment step selected from the group consisting of treatment with an abrading device, corona treatment, curing, irradiation and crosslinking.

20. A composite comprising a mono-layer or mufti-layer film, sheet, or coating wherein at least one layer displays a surface microstructure, which layer is a thermoplastic polymeric material and characterized by fringes, wherein said fringes are non-perforated and are at least partially hollow with at least about 25 percent of the volume at the top of the fringe being empty and have a height of at least about 40 microns or more, in a density of 1000 or more per square centimeter.

21. The composite according to claim 20 which is a laminate.

22. An article of manufacture comprising a mono-layer or multi-layer film, sheet, or coating wherein at least one layer displays a surface microstructure, which layer is a thermoplastic polymeric material and characterized by fringes, wherein said fringes are non-perforated and are at least partially hollow with at least about 25 percent of the volume at the top of the fringe being empty and have a height of at least about 40 microns or more, in a density of 1000 or more per square centimeter.

23. The article of manufacture according to claim 22 , which is a glove.

24. The article of manufacture according to claim 22 , which is a hygienic product.

25. The article of manufacture according to claim 22 , which is a medicinal collection bag.

26. The article of manufacture according to claim 22 , which is a floor or wall covering product.

27. The article of manufacture according to claim 22 which has a soft touch.

28. The article of manufacture according to claim 22 which is water repellant.

29. The article of manufacture according to claim 28 which has anti-skid properties.

30. The article of manufacture according to claim 22 which has enhanced carrying, capturing or storing properties.

31. The article of manufacture according to claim 22 which is heat resistant.

32. A process for making the mono-layer or multi-layer film, sheet, or coating according to claim 1 , said process comprising

forming a precursor film, sheet, or coating with a surface characterized by a pattern of peaks and valleys in a continuous compression molding process, and

subjecting said precursor to mechanical treatment comprising the application of a tractive force which is applied during release of the film, sheet or coating from a matrix surface under conditions allowing the formation of a fringed surface microstructure.

33. The process according to claim 32 , wherein application of the tractive force comprises peeling the film, sheet, or coating off the matrix surface at a temperature which is at or below the Vicat softening point of the thermoplastic material and at a release angle of between 20 and 170 degrees relative to the matrix surface.

34. The process according to claim 32 , wherein the precursor is a foam.