Antireflective surfaces, methods of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same

1 . An antireflective viewing surface comprising:

a viewing surface; and

a textured layer disposed upon the viewing surface; wherein the textured layer comprises randomly distributed protrusions having randomly distributed dimensions that are smaller than the wavelength of light.

2 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have cross-sectional geometries in a direction perpendicular to the viewing surface that is circular, triangular, square, semi-circular, polygonal, ellipsoidal, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing geometries.

3 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have an average height of about 25 to about 1,000 nanometers and an average width of about 25 to about 300 nanometers.

4 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have an average aspect ratio of greater than or equal to about 1.

5 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the viewing surface comprises a thermoplastic resin.

6 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the viewing surface comprises polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polyamide, polyimide, polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene, styrene acrylonitrile resins, cellulose acetate, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing thermoplastic resins.

7 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the textured layer comprises a polymeric resin, and wherein the polymeric resin is a thermosetting resin.

8 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 7 , wherein the thermosetting resin is obtained by the reaction of a curable resinous material, and wherein the curable resinous materials are acrylates, methacrylates, epoxies, phenolics, polyurethanes, silicones, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.

9 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 7 , wherein the textured layer comprises a metal or a ceramic.

10 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 7 , wherein the textured layer comprises a thermoplastic resin.

11 . The antireflective viewing surface of claim 1 , wherein the viewing surface further comprises a textured layer that is disposed on a surface that is opposed to the viewing surface.

12 . A method of manufacturing and antireflective viewing surface comprising:

electroforming a metal upon a first template to form an electroformed metal template; wherein the first template comprises random, columnar structures;

disposing a layer of a formable material on a viewing surface;

pressing the electroformed metal template against the viewing surface; and

texturing the formable material with the electroformed metal template.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the random, columnar structures have upper portions that are pyramidal in shape.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electroformed metal template comprises nickel.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the formable material is a thermosetting resin.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising curing the formable material.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the curing is accomplished by irradiating the polymeric resin with ultraviolet light.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the formable material is a thermoplastic resin.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the texturing is accomplished in a roll mill.

20 . A method of manufacturing an antireflective viewing surface comprising:

electroforming a metal upon a first template to form an electroformed metal template; wherein the first template comprises random, columnar structures;

disposing a layer of a curable resinous material on a viewing surface;

pressing the electroformed metal template against the viewing surface; and

curing the curable resinous material to form a thermosetting resin.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the random, columnar structures comprise titanium dioxide, carbon nanotubes, aluminum borate whiskers, aluminum nitride whiskers, silicon carbide whiskers, hydroxyapatite, zinc oxide whiskers, potassium titanate, zirconium dioxide needles, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing structures.

22 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising removing the electroformed metal template from the viewing surface.

23 . An article comprising the antireflective surface of claim 1 .

24 . An article manufactured by the method of claim 12 .

25 . An article manufactured by the method of claim 20 .

26 . A method of manufacturing an antireflective viewing surface comprising:

disposing a layer of a curable resinous material on a viewing surface;

pressing a first template against the viewing surface; wherein the first template comprises a metal oxide that has random columnar structures; and

curing the curable resinous material to form a thermosetting resin.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the first template comprises titanium dioxide.

28 . An article manufactured by the method of claim 26 .

29 . A method of manufacturing an antireflective viewing surface comprising:

heating a viewing surface above its glass transition temperature; wherein the viewing surface comprises a thermoplastic resin;

pressing a template against the viewing surface; wherein the template comprises random columnar structures that are smaller than the wavelength of light; and

cooling the viewing surface to below its glass transition temperature.