Abstract: A binary image comprising a plurality of first areas, at which a porous or particulate image-forming substance is adhered to a substrate, and a plurality of second areas, at which the substrate is free from the image-forming substance, is protected by laminating thereto a laminating sheet comprising a durable layer and a support layer with the durable layer facing the image, so that the durable layer adheres to both the first and second areas of the image. The support layer is then displaced away from the image such that the durable layer remains attached to the image. The durable layer is substantially transparent and comprises a polymeric organic material having incorporated therein a siloxane, the siloxane being incorporated into the polymeric material in such a manner that it is not removed therefrom by hexane, isopropanol or water.

Abstract: A laminar thermal imaging medium is prepared from a first element comprising a first sheet transparent to image-forming radiation and having at least a surface zone or layer of polymeric material heat-activatable upon subjection of the thermal imaging medium to brief and intense radiation, the first element carrying a layer of porous or particulate image-forming substance having cohesivity in excess of its adhesivity for the polymeric heat-activatable layer, and, on the opposed side of the layer of porous or particulate image-forming substance from the surface zone or layer, a first layer of adhesive, and a second element comprising a second sheet carrying a second layer of adhesive. The second layer of adhesive comprises a polymeric hardenable adhesive comprising a macromolecular organic binder having acidic groups, and a photopolymerizable monomer.

Abstract: A laminar thermal imaging medium is prepared from a first element comprising a first sheet transparent to image-forming radiation and having at least a surface zone or layer of polymeric material heat-activatable upon subjection of the thermal imaging medium to brief and intense radiation, the first element carrying a layer of porous or particulate image-forming substance having cohesivity in excess of its adhesivity for the polymeric heat-activatable layer, and, on the opposed side of the layer of porous or particulate image-forming substance from the surface zone or layer, a first layer of adhesive, and a second element comprising a second sheet carrying a second layer of adhesive. The second layer of adhesive comprises a polymeric hardenable adhesive comprising a macromolecular organic binder having acidic groups, and a photopolymerizable monomer.

Abstract: A binary image comprising a plurality of first areas, at which a porous or particulate image-forming substance is adhered to a substrate, and a plurality of second areas, at which the substrate is free from the image-forming substance, is protected by laminating thereto a laminating sheet comprising a durable layer and a support layer with the durable layer facing the image, so that the durable layer adheres to both the first and second areas of the image. The support layer is then displaced away from the image such that the durable layer remains attached to the image. The durable layer is substantially transparent and comprises a polymeric organic material having incorporated therein a siloxane, the siloxane being incorporated into the polymeric material in such a manner that it is not removed therefrom by hexane, isopropanol or water.

Abstract: A laminar thermal imaging medium is prepared from a first element comprising a first sheet transparent to image-forming radiation and having at least a surface zone or layer of polymeric material heat-activatable upon subjection of the thermal imaging medium to brief and intense radiation, the first element carrying a layer of porous or particulate image-forming substance having cohesivity in excess of its adhesivity for the polymeric heat-activatable layer, and, on the opposed side of the layer of porous or particulate image-forming substance from the surface zone or layer, a first layer of adhesive, and a second element comprising a second sheet carrying a second layer of adhesive. One of the first and second layers of adhesive comprises a polymeric hardenable adhesive comprising a macromolecular organic binder having amino or substituted amino groups, and a photopolymerizable monomer.

Abstract: A laminar thermal imaging medium is prepared from a first element comprising a first sheet transparent to image-forming radiation and having at least a surface zone or layer of polymeric material heat-activatable upon subjection of the thermal imaging medium to brief and intense radiation, the first element carrying a layer of porous or particulate image-forming substance having cohesivity in excess of its adhesivity for the polymeric heat-activatable layer, and, on the opposed side of the layer of porous or particulate image-forming substance from the surface zone or layer, a first layer of adhesive, and a second element comprising a second sheet carrying a second layer of adhesive. One of the first and second layers of adhesive comprises a polymeric hardenable adhesive comprising a macromolecular organic binder having amino or substituted amino groups, and a photopolymerizable monomer.

Abstract: An imaging medium comprises means for providing a light-reflecting layer, an image-receiving layer for receiving image-forming components, a transparent layer superposed over the image-receiving layer such that an image in the image-receiving layer can be viewed through the transparent layer against the light-reflecting layer, and an image enhancement layer disposed between the image-receiving layer and the transparent layer, the image enhancement layer having a refractive index less than that of the transparent layer and the image-receiving layer and not greater than about 1.43. The image enhancement layer decreases internal reflections within the medium and thereby improves the quality of the image seen. The imaging medium can be used as the imaging element of a diffusion transfer process film unit.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compounds which show a ferroelectric phase and which exhibit high spontaneous polarization values and smectic behavior over a range of temperatures have the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl of from 1 to 16 carbon atoms; alkoxy; haloalkyl; alkoxyalkyl, wherein the alkoxy substituent thereof comprises a chain of carbon atoms including one or more oxygen ether atoms; or alkoxyalkoxy, wherein the alkoxy substituent thereof comprises a chain of carbon atoms including one or more oxygen ether atoms; R.sup.2 is alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is alkylene; n is an integer 1 or 2; and W is alkyl of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms or fluoroalkyl of the formula ##STR2## wherein each of X, Y and Z is hydrogen or fluorine, m is zero or an integer from 1 to 6, and at least one of X, Y and Z is fluorine when m is zero.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition for cladding optical fibers comprises an unsubstituted or fluorosubstituted diacrylate monomer; a fluorinated monofunctional acrylate monomer in an amount of from about 2 to about 12 parts by weight per part by weight of the diacrylate monomer; a photoinitiator; and a viscosity modifying agent to increase the viscosity of the composition to about 1000 to about 15000 cP. Upon photocuring, the composition has a refractive index not greater than about 1.43, and preferably not greater than about 1.40.