Abstract: A polymer blend including a polyester and another thermoplastic polymer. The polyester includes terephthaloyl moieties and, optionally, other aromatic diacid moieties; and ethylene glycol moieties; optionally diethylene glycol moieties; isosorbide moieties; and, optionally one or more other diol moieties. The polyester has an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.35 dL/g.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for formation of high quality plastic sheet in a continuous fashion. Also disclosed are a variety of optical and electronic display applications for high quality plastic sheet produced in a continuous fashion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for formation of high quality plastic sheet in a continuous fashion. Also disclosed are a variety of optical and electronic display applications for high quality plastic sheet produced in a continuous fashion.

Abstract: A polymer blend including a polyester and another thermoplastic polymer. The polyester includes terephthaloyl moieties and, optionally, other aromatic diacid moieties; and ethylene glycol moieties; optionally diethylene glycol moieties; isosorbide moieties; and, optionally one or more other diol moieties. The polyester has an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.35 dL/g.

Abstract: An optical article made of a transparent polymer which includes terephthaloyl moieties, optionally, other aromatic diacid moieties; ethylene glycol moieties; isosorbide moieties; and, optionally, one or more other diol moieties, wherein the polymer has an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.35 dL/g as measured on a 1% solution (weight/volume) in o-chlorophenol at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention discloses blends of cyclic olefin polymers and styrene-containing elastomers useful as molding compositions to mold articles therefrom. The articles so molded exhibit improved mechanical properties without any significant effect on optical properties, making them ideally suitable for applications such as optical discs, lenses and the like.

Abstract: A polyester fiber made from a polymer having ethylene glycol moieties, isosorbide moieties and terepthaloyl moieties, and the method of making the fiber is described. The polyester fiber is used to form articles suitable for commercial, especially textile, and industrial uses, and has an inherent viscosity of at least 0.35 dL/g when measured as a 1% (weight/volume) solution of the polyester in o-chlorophenol at a temperature of 25.degree. C.

Abstract: A polyester polymer and method for making the polyester, wherein the polyester is prepared by (1) combining in a reactor a monomer containing a diacid moiety; a monomer comprising a diol moiety; and a monomer containing an isosorbide moiety; with a condensation catalyst suitable for condensing aromatic diacids and diols; and (2) heating the monomers and catalyst to polymerize the monomers to yield a polyester having an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.15 dL/g.

Abstract: A sheet made of a polyester which includes monomer units of terephthaloyl moieties, ethylene glycol moieties and isosorbide moieties is described. The polyester has an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.35 dL/g when measured as a 1% (weight/volume) solution of said polyester in o-chlorophenol at a temperature of 25.degree. C. The present invention also relates to a method of making the polyester sheet described above and a method of thermoforming the sheet into articles.

Abstract: An isotropic polyester polymer and method for making the polyester is prepared by (1) combining in a reactor a monomer containing a terephthaloyl moiety; optionally, one or more other monomers containing an aromatic diacid moiety; a monomer comprising an ethylene glycol moiety; a monomer containing an isosorbide moiety; optionally, one or more other monomers containing a diol moiety; and optionally, a monomer containing a diethylene glycol moiety; with a condensation catalyst suitable for condensing aromatic diacids and glycols; and (2) heating the monomers and catalyst to polymerize the monomers to yield a polyester having an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.35 dL/g.

Abstract: A polyester film made from a polymer having ethylene glycol moieties, isosorbide moieties and terepthaloyl moieties, and the method of making the film is described. The polyester film is used to form articles such as films, lacquers, labels, capacitors, insulators, and the like, and has an inherent viscosity of at least 0.35 dL/g when measured as a 1% (weight/volume) solution of the polyester in o-chlorophenol at a temperature of 25.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention discloses improved lightpipes for backlighting applications in liquid crystal display devices. The lightpipes comprise transparent polymers with scattering centers. A preferred composition for such lightpipes comprises a cycloolefin polymer containing scattering centers from suitable elastomers and inorganic fillers. The inventive lightpipes offer superior scattering efficiency as well as spatial uniformity of scattering and uniformity of scattering across a wide wavelength range.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions having a high transparency, low thermal expansion coefficient and low coefficient of refractive index change with temperature are made from a suitable thermoplastic polymer and index-matched glass or ceramic. Such compositions have utility in optical applications.

Abstract: There is disclosed and claim a multi-layer polymeric optical element including at least two poled film members exhibiting nonlinear optical susceptibility. The films may be poled in an ordinary atmosphere under relatively mild conditions, or corona poled at high voltage. The elements are particularly useful for periodic or quasi-random optical applications such as parametric amplification of light or frequency doubling.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides a frequency doubling optical waveguide consisting of a substrate-supported polymeric thin film waveguiding layer, in combination with one or more polymeric cladding layers. The waveguiding layer comprises moieties which exhibit nonlinear optical properties as well as anomalous dispersion of refractive index such that, under wave propagating conditions, the effective dispersion .DELTA.N of the waveguiding layer is zero, and the fundamental and second harmonic waves are phase matched over the length of the waveguide.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides an integrated optical parametric amplifier device with an organic waveguiding matrix which exhibits second order nonlinear response, and which has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of propagating waves. In a preferred type of device the waveguiding matrix has a two-dimensional channel configuration, and the matrix surfaces are in contact with organic cladding layers which exhibit second order nonlinear optical response and which have a lower index of refraction than the channel waveguiding medium.

Abstract: This invention provides process embodiments for fabrication of organic optical waveguides. A preferred invention optical waveguide consists of a thin film matrix of three electrodes, one of which has a spatial periodic structure, and a side chain polymeric waveguiding medium positioned between two side chain polymeric cladding layers. The electrodes are adapted to apply electric fields of opposite polarity and to pole the polymer side chains bidirectionally in a noncentrosymmetric orientation of periodic reverse polarity. The waveguiding medium and cladding thin films exhibit second order nonlinear optical susceptibility .chi..sup.(2), and are adapted to phase-match propagating radiation waves.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which uses the Langmuir-Blodgett method to coat a substrate with multiple monomolecular single layers by immersing the substrate through a first layer of a first enclosure of a tank having first and second enclosures on a common subphase, and then withdrawing the substrate through a second layer in the second enclosure. The steps are repeatable to provide as many different single layers as required.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides a parametric frequency converting device which comprises a thin film of a polymeric medium which exhibits second order nonlinear optical response, and the device has heat control means for temperature tuning of the waveguide medium to phase match the propagation constants of fundamental and second harmonic light beams. In a preferred device the waveguiding medium has a spatial periodic structure for quasi-phase matching of the propagating wave energy, and optionally has a set of electrodes for application of a direct current electric field to the waveguiding medium.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment this invention provides a second order nonlinear optical film medium which consists of a thermoplastic copolymer which has a crystallographic molecular alignment, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane. The crystallographic molecular alignment is formed by axial mechanical stressing, and the dipolar molecular orientation is induced by an electric or magnetic field.