The polymer-molding-releasing properties of metal molds were found to be related to the following factors: (1) interfacial chemical bonding between the surfaces of polymers and metal molds and (2) a friction force or friction coefficient between polar substances and/or low-molecular-weight components in the polymers and physical factors on mold surfaces. We theoretically and experimentally confirmed that metal molds with good polymer-molding-releasing properties had very small surface free energies. We also proved that the surface free energies in the resulting polymer moldings were lower than before shaping. The molding releasing properties improved with decreasing friction force and friction coefficient between the surface of polymers and metal molds and with decreasing surface free energy. To obtain metal molds with lower surface free energies, we developed a polymer plating method with perfluorinated-group-containing triazine dithiol. The Metal mold treated by polymer plating had lower critical surface tension (7.5 mJ/m(2)) than Teflon (18 mJ/m(2)), indicating that the surface consisted of CF3 - groups. The treated mold showed excellent durability in its releasing properties, which was better than that of the untreated mold. This technique was developed for the production of molds for the Ftheta lens and the naturally bright focusing screen. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.