Vehicle appliques
A vehicle applique includes a base structure and a polymeric coating disposed on the base structure. The polymeric coating at least partially covers an outer surface of the base structure. A diffraction grating is integrally defined by the polymeric coating. The diffraction grating has a thickness in a range of from about 100 nm to about 300 nm.
1. A method of manufacturing a vehicle applique, comprising:
molding a base structure;
nano-engraving a surface of a mold to define a pattern that forms a diffraction grating having a thickness in a range of between 100 nm to 300 nm, wherein at least a portion of the diffraction grating has a blaze angle of at least 15 degrees;
heating the mold;
injecting a polymeric material in the mold over the base structure to form a polymeric coating that includes the diffraction grating and that is optically clear for transmission of visible light having a wavelength between 400 nm and 700 nm and has a haze of 10% or less; and
curing the polymeric coating.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating covers at least a portion of an outer surface of the base structure.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of molding the base structure includes molding the base structure to define a second diffraction grating.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of heating the mold includes heating the surface of the mold to a melting point of the polymeric material.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
etching an additional pattern in the surface of the mold.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diffraction grating defines indicia.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of nano-engraving includes forming the pattern to have an outline portion with the diffraction grating and a body portion free of the diffraction grating.
8. A method of manufacturing a vehicle applique, comprising:
providing a mold;
selectively etching a first pattern on at least one surface of the mold;
selectively nano-engraving a second pattern on the at least one surface of the mold, wherein the second pattern includes a diffraction grating and at least a portion of the diffraction grating having a blaze angle of at least 15 degrees;
positioning a base structure within the mold; and
injection molding a polyurethane material into the mold to form a polyurethane coating with the diffraction grating and that is optically clear for transmission of visible light having a wavelength between 400 nm and 700 nm.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
heating the mold to a melting point of the polyurethane material.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of selectively nano-engraving includes a selectively nano-engraving with a femtosecond ultraviolet laser to form the second pattern.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the diffraction grating has a thickness of less than 700 nm, and wherein the polyurethane coating has a haze of 10% or less.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the diffraction grating has the thickness in a range of from 100 nm to 300 nm.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the diffraction grating has a thickness of less than 200 nm.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
molding the base structure into a pillar feature for a vehicle.
15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
molding the base structure into a vehicle grille.
16. A method of manufacturing an applique for a vehicle, comprising:
providing a mold;
nano-engraving a diffraction grating on a cavity surface of the mold, the diffraction grating having a thickness of less than 700 nm and a blaze angle of at least 15 degrees;
heating the cavity surface of the mold via induction heating;
positioning a base structure within the mold; and
injection molding a polymeric material over the base structure to form a polyurethane coating having the diffraction grating and being optically clear for transmission of visible light having a wavelength between 400 nm and 700 nm and having a haze of 10% or less.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of nano-engraving provides the diffraction grating on a first portion of the mold, and wherein a second portion of the mold is free of the diffraction grating.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the cavity surface of the mold is heated to a melting point of the polymeric material.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of nano-engraving is performed with a femtosecond ultraviolet laser to form the diffraction grating.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the nano-engraving produces the diffraction grating having the thickness in a range of between 100 nm to 300 nm.