Patent ID: 7811504

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a molded product, the method comprising: preparing a molded body comprising a polymer material matrix and a plurality of capsules dispersed within the matrix, the capsules having outer shells comprising a material that is (i) thermoplastic or (ii) thermoplastic and soluble, a surface of the molded body having an unevenness due to expansion and/or bursting of the capsules, some of the capsules having expanded without bursting and including an exposed outer shell portion that protrudes outward from the surface, and some of the capsules having burst and including an outer shell protruding portion that protrudes outward from the surface; and performing finish processing to the molded body, the finish processing eliminating only both the outer shell protruding portions and the exposed outer shell portions from the surface of the molded body, such that after the finish processing, the unevenness of the surface is kept but the outer shell protruding portions and exposed outer shell portions do not protrude from the surface, the finish processing comprising one of (A) burning the outer shell protruding portions and/or the exposed outer shell portions, (B) heating the molded body to a temperature at which the outer shell protruding portions and/or the exposed outer shell portions are softened, and thermally deforming the outer shell protruding portions and/or the exposed outer shell portions, or (C) bringing a solvent into contact with the outer shell protruding portions and/or the exposed outer shell portions.