Structured lamination transfer films and methods

A method for transferring an embedded structured layer to a permanent receptor, comprising the steps of:

• providing a lamination transfer film, comprising:
• a sacrificial polymer layer having a non-planar structured surface;
• and
• a thermally stable backfill layer applied to the non-planar structured surface of the sacrificial polymer layer, wherein the backfill layer has a structured surface corresponding with the non-planar structured surface of the sacrificial polymer layer;
• applying the lamination transfer film to a permanent receptor with the backfill layer applied to the permanent receptor;
• and
• removing the sacrificial polymer layer while leaving the structured surface of the backfill layer substantially intact, wherein the removing step comprises cleanly baking out the sacrificial polymer layer.

A method for transferring an embedded structured etch mask to a permanent receptor, comprising the steps of:

• providing a lamination transfer film, comprising:
• a sacrificial polymer layer having a non-planar structured surface;
• and
• an etch-resistant, planarizing backfill layer applied to the non-planar structured surface of the sacrificial polymer layer,
• wherein the backfill layer is an inverse substantial replica of the non-planar structured surface of the sacrificial polymer layer;
• applying the lamination transfer film to a permanent receptor;
• removing the sacrificial polymer layer while leaving the structured surface of the backfill layer substantially intact;
• and
• etching, after the removing step, the lamination transfer film to pattern transfer into the receptor, wherein the pattern etched into the receptor is a replica of the structured surface of the backfill layer.