Importance

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Abstract

In one aspect, there is provided a method of creating a microstructure pattern on an exterior surface of an aircraft, boat, automobile or other vehicle is disclosed. A layer of photopolymer (44) is applied to the top coat or substrate (43) by nozzles (45). The photopolymer is selectively irradiated to activate its photoinitiator and the unirradiated polymer is removed. The irradiation can be via a mask (49) which does not come into contact with the polymer, or via a beam splitting arrangement (63, 64) or a diffraction grating (71). The pattern can be formed by either leaving the exposed photopolymer in situ, or using the exposed photopolymer to mask the substrate, etching the substrate, and then removing the exposed photopolymer. In another aspect, there is provided a method 1100 comprising the step 1102 of applying a layer of photocurable material to the exterior surface, the step 1104 of irradiating the photocurable material with radiation including a predetermined irradiation intensity profile, and the step 1106 of removing uncured photocurable material to form the microstructure pattern. The radiation initiates curing of the irradiated photocurable material, causing a curing depth profile across the layer of the photocurable material corresponding to the selected intensity profile.

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First Claim