Innovative fabrication of diffractive surfaces on plastic parts via textures micromilled on NiP injection moulds

Abstract Diffractive microstructured surfaces are nowadays increasingly applied to polymeric parts for aesthetic, security and optical functionalities. However, both the machining of mould blaze-grating its replication on plastic still representing challenging issues, from technical economical points view. In this work, an innovative process chain based carbide tools micromilling gratings was developed mass production diffractive patterns injection moulded parts. A experimental campaign conducted a nickel-phosphorus (NiP) thick coating machine surface, evaluating influence cutting parameters surface quality. Subsequently, microstructures were replicated ABS, PC PMMA by moulding. The roughness Sk, Spk Svk added with idea that their sum is representative polymer regular diffraction grating pattern. Moreover, effect quality performance preliminarily assessed. obtained results show proposed suitable low-cost microstructures.