Thermoformed microcapillary sheeting

Abstract

Embodiments of a thermoformed microcapillary sheeting and articles prepared by a process comprising the steps of (a) providing a thermoplastic sheeting comprising thermoplastic material, wherein the thermoplastic sheeting comprises at least one or more microcapillary channel disposed therein and having an initial volume of voidage, based on a total volume of the microcapillary sheeting; and (b) heating the thermoplastic sheeting to a temperature at which the thermoplastic material is deformable to form a thermoformed microcapillary sheeting with the at least one or more microcapillary channels disposed therein and having a final volume of voidage, based on a total volume of the microcapillary sheeting. The final volume of voidage of the at least one or more microcapillary channels of the thermoformed microcapillary sheeting is at least about 10 percent of the initial volume of voidage of the at least one or more microcapillary channels of the thermoplastic sheeting.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.