Method of forming a monolayer of particles having at least two different sizes, and products formed thereby

摘要

The invention provides a method of forming a monolayer of substantive particles including the steps of applying to a substrate a curable composition having substantive particles contained therein, the substantive particles having a particle size on at least one dimension thereof of at least 1 micrometer and being in two or more groups of different sizes; exposing the substantive particle-containing curable composition to a source of energy suitable for effecting polymerization of the curable composition for a sufficient time to effect polymerization of a layer of the curable composition having a thickness of no more than 50% of the height of the largest substantive particles; and optionally, removing uncured curable composition. The invention also provides a method of forming a monolayer of substantive particles in a non-random array where the curable composition comprises a ferrofluid composition. The latter method further comprises the step of subjecting the particle-containing curable ferrofluid composition to a magnetic field for a sufficient time to array the particles in a non-random manner in the composition prior to the exposure.