Abstract: A fastener for connecting a coated conduit to a fitting comprises: a locking nut having a first end, a second end, and internal threading extending between the first end and the second end; a gasket formed at the first end of the locking nut by coating the locking nut with a polymeric material; and a flexible sleeve extending from the second end of the locking nut that is formed by coating the locking nut with the polymeric material. The internal threading of the locking nut is threaded onto exposed threading of the coated conduit such that the flexible sleeve fits over a circumference of the coated conduit and the gasket forms a sealed connection with the fitting when the exposed threading of the coated conduit is connected to the fitting.

Abstract: A fastener for connecting a coated conduit to a fitting comprises: a locking nut having a first end, a second end, and internal threading extending between the first end and the second end; a gasket formed at the first end of the locking nut by coating the locking nut with a polymeric material; and a flexible sleeve extending from the second end of the locking nut that is formed by coating the locking nut with the polymeric material. The internal threading of the locking nut is threaded onto exposed threading of the coated conduit such that the flexible sleeve fits over a circumference of the coated conduit and the gasket forms a sealed connection with the fitting when the exposed threading of the coated conduit is connected to the fitting.

Abstract: A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.

Abstract: An optical shutter device includes a temperature responsive gate and a photochromic attenuator arranged such that at low temperatures the device is largely transmissive to solar or other radiation within a given band of wavelengths and, at high temperatures, the device is largely nontransmissive when a flux of trigger wavelengths is present and largely transmissive when a flux of trigger wavelengths is not present.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer formed as a self-assembled coating on a substrate surface. Metal or other conductive nanowires are coated with a transparent dielectric material having a thickness approximately equal to one-half of the desired WGP wire spacing or pitch. A suspension of coated nanowires in a chromonic liquid crystal is shear-coated onto an aligned substrate and dried. The chromonic liquid crystal, a solution of dye molecules and water, forms an orderly structure and induces the nanowires to align with their longitudinal axes parallel to the shear direction and/or alignment direction. The polarizer has a minimum polarizing wavelength determined by an average lateral spacing of nanowire segments. The polarizer has a transmissivity and a contrast ratio determined by the width of the nanowire segments.

Abstract: A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.

Abstract: A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.