Multi-wall structural components having enhanced radiatransmission capability

1. A hollow multi-wall structural component comprising a plurality of spaced-apart sheets that transmit an incident radiation, and connected with reinforcing members; wherein at least a portion of one surface of at least one of the sheets comprises a plurality of radiation transmission-enhancing elements, wherein a size of the radiation transmission-enhancing elements is 0.2 to 1.25 times a wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation, wherein the incident radiation comprises a wavelength of 200 to 800 nanometers.

2. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing members comprise perpendicular ribs, angled ribs, or combination thereof extending the length of the sheet.

3. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing members separate the sheets from each other.

4. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 1 , wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing elements have a spacing periodicity, or an aspect ratio that is between 0.1 times to 100 times the wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation.

5. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 1 , wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing elements comprise at least one set of lamellar-shaped elements, triangular-shaped elements, pyramidal-shaped elements, trapezoidal-shaped elements, saw tooth-shaped elements, sinusoidal-shaped elements, abs(sin)-shaped elements, cycloid-shaped elements, cylindrical-shaped elements, conical-shaped elements, or cubical-shaped elements.

6. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 5 , wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing elements are present in randomized arrays, quasi-periodic arrays, or randomized quasi-periodic arrays.

7. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 1 , wherein the sheets and the reinforcing members independently comprise transparent material comprising a plastic, a glass, a ceramic, a transparent metal or silicon.

8. An article comprising the hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 1 .

9. A glazing structure comprising a hollow multi-wall structural component, said component comprising a plurality of spaced-apart plastic sheets that transmit visible light, and bonded with reinforcing members; wherein at least one surface of at least one of the sheets comprises a plurality of radiation transmission-enhancing nano-structured elements, wherein a size of the radiation transmission-enhancing elements is 0.2 to 1.25 times a wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation, wherein the incident radiation comprises a wavelength of 200 to 800 nanometers.

10. The glazing structure of claim 9 , wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing nano-structured elements have a depth from about 100 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers.

11. The glazing structure of claim 9 , wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing nano-structured elements have a depth from about 200 nanometers to about 800 nanometers.

12. The glazing structure of claim 9 , wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing nano-structured elements on the at least one surface of the at least one of the sheets are spaced apart from each other at a distance from about 100 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers.

13. The glazing structure of claim 9 , wherein the hollow multi-wall structural component has a thickness from about 5 millimeters to about 100 millimeters.

14. The glazing structure of claim 9 , wherein the plastic sheets independently have a thickness from about 0.1 millimeter to about 16 millimeters.

15. The glazing structure of claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing members comprise perpendicular and angled ribs separating the sheets.

16. A method of increasing radiation transmission through a hollow multi-wall structural component, the method comprising:

forming radiation transmission-enhancing structures on at least a portion of one surface of at least one of a plurality of spaced-apart sheets of a hollow multi-wall sheet structure; wherein the sheets are connected with reinforcing members, wherein a size of the radiation transmission enhancing elements is 0.2 to 1.25 times a wavelength of at least a part of the incident radation, wherein the incident radiation comprises a wavelenght of 200 to 800 nanometers.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said forming radiation transmission-enhancing structures on at least a portion of one surface of at least one of the plurality of sheets is implemented by a laser etching technique, a calendaring technique, a lithography technique, a self-assembly technique, an embossing technique, an injection molding technique, or an imprinting technique.

18. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 1 , wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing elements have a size that is less than or equal to the average wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation, wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing elements comprise at least one set of lamellar-shaped elements, triangular-shaped elements, pyramidal-shaped elements, trapezoidal-shaped elements, saw tooth-shaped elements, sinusoidal-shaped elements, abs(sin)-shaped elements, cycloid-shaped elements, cylindrical-shaped elements, conical-shaped elements, or cubical-shaped elements.

19. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 18 , wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing elements have a spacing periodicity that is less than or equal to the average wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation.

20. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 1 , wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing elements have a spacing periodicity that is less than or equal to the average wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation.

21. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 1 , wherein a size of the radiation transmission-enhancing elements is 0.35 to 1.2 times a wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation.

22. A hollow multi-wall structural component, comprising:

a plurality of spaced-apart sheets that transmit an incident radiation, and connected with reinforcing members;

wherein at least a portion of one surface of at least one of the sheets comprises a plurality of radiation transmission-enhancing elements;

wherein a size of the radiation transmission-enhancing elements is less than or equal to a wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation, wherein the incident radiation comprises a wavelength of 200 to 800 nanometers;

wherein the radiation transmission-enhancing elements comprise at least one set of lamellar-shaped elements, triangular-shaped elements, pyramidal-shaped elements, trapezoidal-shaped elements, saw tooth-shaped elements, sinusoidal-shaped elements, abs(sin)-shaped elements, cycloid-shaped elements, cylindrical-shaped elements, conical-shaped elements, or cubical-shaped elements.

23. A hollow multi-wall structural component comprising a plurality of spaced-apart sheets that transmit an incident radiation, and connected with reinforcing members; wherein at least a portion of one surface of at least one of the sheets comprises a plurality of radiation transmission-enhancing elements, wherein a size of the radiation transmission-enhancing elements is less than or equal to 1.25 times a wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation, wherein the incident radiation comprises one or more radiation wavelengths in the visible, infrared, or microwave range.

24. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 22 , wherein the size of the radiation transmission-enhancing elements is 0.2 to 1.25 times a wavelength of at least a part of the incident radiation.

25. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 23 , wherein the incident radiation comprises a wavelength of 200 to 800 nanometers.

26. The hollow multi-wall structural component of claim 1 , wherein the incident radiation comprises a wavelength of 200 to 700 nanometers.