Abstract: A lubricant composition comprising a perfluoropolyether lubricant and fluorinated ketone solvent is described. The lubricant composition can be applied as a coating to a substrate such as magnetic media. After the coating dries, a thin uniform lubricant film covers the substrate surface. The fluorinated ketone solvent can solubilize a wide range of perfluoropolyether compounds but not potential contaminants such as water and hydrocarbons. Additionally, the solvent has low potential to adversely affect global warming.

Abstract: A process for removing contaminants from the surface of a substrate comprises contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition comprising at least one mono-, di-, or trialkoxy-substituted perfluoroalkane, perfluorocycloalkane, perfluorocycloalkyl-containing perfluoroalkane, or perfluorocycloalkylene-containing perfluoroalkane compound, the compound optionally containing additional catenary heteroatoms. The compounds exhibit good solvency properties while being environmentally acceptable.

Abstract: Novel sulfonylinide and sulfonylmethide compounds are described which are useful as conductive salts. Also described is the use of the above compounds in salt form in battery electrolytes, particular salts having mixed perfluorocaron and hydrocarbon groups or having all hydrocarbon groups. The above salts are less expensive to produce and still exhibit excellent conductivity and low corrosivity.

Abstract: Described are chemical compositions comprising a fluorinated solvent and a nonionic, poly-fluoroalkyl, hydroxy-substituted surfactant.

Abstract: Amide and methide salts, comprising in the case of an amide salt one cyano (—CN) group, and in the case of a methide salt, two cyano groups are described in applications requiring a high degree of ionic dissociation. The salts are especially useful as electrolyte components in electrochemical cells such as batteries, fuel cells, capacitors, supercapacitors, electrochemical sensors and electrolytic cells, by providing a means for ionic conduction and transport.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amphiphilic copolymer comprising recurring units (I) and (II), wherein: Rf represents a fluorinated alkyl group having at least 3 carbon atoms; Q and Q′ each independently represents an organic liking group or a chemical linkage; R1 and R2 each independently represents hydrogen or a C1 to C4 alkyl group; and Rh represents a hydrocarbon group having at least 8 carbon atoms and optionally containing 1 to 3 substituents; and a recurring unit comprising at least one carboxylic acid group or salt thereof. The present invention also provides a method for making the above amphiphilic copolymer. The amphiphilic copolymer can be used in a leather treatment to provide waterproofness to the leather.

Abstract: Electrolyte compositions and electrochemical systems containing such compositions are described where the electrolyte includes in a matrix material a combination of a conductive salt and a bis(perfluoroalkanesulfonyl)imide surfactant salt. The compositions improve wettability of electrodes and separators while maintaining and improving conductivity, stability, and compatibility with other cell components.

Abstract: Novel fluoroaliphatic radical-containing anionic sulfonamido compounds, methods of preparation and methods of use, including use as surfactants, are disclosed. Said compounds are conveniently prepared by the Michael addition of a fluoroaliphatic radical-containing compound to an ethylenically unsaturated compound.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of treating a substrate, comprising applying to the substrate a fluorochemical composition comprising fluorochemical copolymer derived from at least one fluorochemical monomer A, at least one monomer B, at least one monomer C and at least one monomer D, wherein the fluorochemical monomer A contains a fluoroaliphatic group and is an ester of an &agr;,&bgr;-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, the monomer B is an ester of an &agr;,&bgr;-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, the monomer C is an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride, the monomer D is an ester of an &agr;,&bgr;-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, the fluorochemical monomer A and the monomers B and C contain only one polymerizable group and monomer D contains, as a second polymerizable group, an ethylenically unsaturated group that has a higher affinity to copolymerize with the monomer C than fluorochemical monomer A or monomers B or D.

Abstract: A flame resistant composite film includes a first layer and a second layer that are joined together. The first layer has a light transmission of at least 93 percent and is substantially constructed from a radiation-cured polymer and a flame retardant material. The second layer is constructed primarily from thermoplastic polymer resin. The first and second layer when taken as a whole have a flame retardancy sufficient to pass VTM-2 standard of Oct. 27, 1988, of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. Also, microstructured films comprising such flame retardant films, backlit displays comprising such microstructured films, and computers comprising such displays.

Abstract: A retroreflective graphic article bearing a fluorescent legend comprising a retroreflective base sheet, an image layer containing one or more pigments and one or more fluorescent dyes and a dye-receiving layer containing fluorescent dye which migrated from the image layer. Also, a method for making such articles is provided.

Abstract: A method of machining a substrate to produce a cube corner element optical array. The method includes steps of directly machining a plurality of groove sets into a directly machinable substrate to form an array having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements, and machining at least two of the groove sets along the same path in the substrate but at different depths of groove to produce a geometric structure side surface having both an optical portion and a non-optical portion.

Abstract: Retroreflective cube-corner articles having randomly oriented cube-corner elements exhibiting rotational symmetry and entrance angularity like microsphere-based sheeting but having increased retroreflective efficiency from cube-corners. The inventive sheeting may contain cube-corner elements typically of different cube-corner geometries, different cube-corner dimensions, and different central axis heights. The cube-corner elements are positioned randomly and are typically not adjacent to one another. Also, methods of making such articles are provided.

Abstract: A master mold suitable for use in the manufacture of retroreflective sheeting is disclosed. The master mold comprises an array of cube corner elements formed by two intersecting groove sets. The cube comer elements comprise a tetragonal base, three tetragonal optical faces that mutually intersect at a point to define a cube corner apex, and two non-optical faces. Also disclosed is a method for making a master mold suitable in the manufacture of retroreflective sheeting is disclosed. A first groove set including a plurality of parallel grooves is formed in the working surface of a suitable substrate. Each groove in the first groove set forms a first optical surface and a second non-optical surface. Adjacent grooves in the first groove set are separated by a distance sufficient to define therebetween a structure defined by a first optical surface on one side, a top surface, and a first non-optical surface opposite the first optical surface.

Abstract: Oligomeric materials contain ultraviolet light absorbing compounds that are covalently bound to the oligomer backbone through an ester or amide linkage. These ultraviolet light absorbing oligomers may be combined with polymers such as polyolefins to provide protection against the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Microstructured articles of the invention comprising, in order: a) a retroreflective microstructured member; b) a sealing layer melt-bonded to the microstructured member; and c) a backing member. The backing member is a fibrous web comprising a plurality of multifilament strands and is melt-bonded to the second surface of the sealing layer.

Abstract: Thermal transfer articles of the invention comprising a carrier, optionally a release layer, a color layer releaseably adhered thereto, and optionally an adherence layer on the bottom side of the color layer. Also methods for thermal transfer using such articles and signage made by such methods. The transfer articles of the invention 1) exhibit thermoplastic, low cohesive properties during transfer such that good image resolution and transfer is achieved and 2) are thermally crosslinked such that a durable image is formed.

Abstract: A process and article for a retroreflective polymeric coated flexible fabric material having a retroreflective layer and a polymeric compatibilizing layer welded to a polymeric coated outer surface of a flexible fabric material. The compatibilizing layer provides an intermediate layer between the retroreflective layer and the flexible fabric material creating suitable bond strength between dissimilar polymers.

Abstract: A retroreflective sheet capable of exhibiting an excellent decorative effect during both daytime and nighttime, and particularly an excellent rainbow-colored decorative effect. The sheet comprises, in order, a binder in the back side of which a plurality of microspheres, arranged in a monolayer, are partially embedded, a focusing layer underlying some of the microspheres, and a reflective layer underlying the focusing layer and underlying microspheres which do not have a focusing layer therebehind. The focusing layer has a film thickness selection coefficient x in the range of 0.16 to 0.95 as defined by equation (II) of the following equations (I) and (II): ##EQU1## wherein f is the coefficient for the optimum layer thickness of the layer, d is the diameter of the microspheres, h is the thickness of the focusing layer, n.sub.b is the refractive index of the binder layer, n.sub.g is the refractive index of the microspheres, and n.sub.s is the refractive index of the focusing layer.

Abstract: A fluorescent yellow article containing a blend of an N,N'-disubstituted 3,4:9,10-perylenebis(dicarboximide) dye and a fluorescent yellow-green dye soluble in a polymeric matrix and meeting the chromaticity requirements of CIE and ASTM and having a fluorescence luminance factor of greater than 5, as well as a method of preparing such articles is described. Also described is a fluorescent retroreflective article containing a color layer having first and second sides, wherein the article includes retroreflective elements on one side of the color layer or a retroreflective base sheet disposed on one side of the color layer, where the color layer includes the above-mentioned fluorescent yellow article.