Abstract: A water repellent coating composition comprises a fluororesin powder having a specific surface area ranging from 27 to 48 m.sup.2 /g and a molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 100,000; an acrylic-silicone binder resin; and a solvent. The fluororesin may be preferably at least one resin selected from polytetrafluoroethylene resins, tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer resins, and tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer resins. The coating composition can be used in various fields including constructions, civil engineering, transportation, communication. The coating films and coated articles produced with the water repellent coating composition exhibit excellent water repellency, antisnow- or antiice-sticking properties, and weatherability.

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical device is presented which has optical elements which control reflection, transmission and diffraction of incident light entering the device by adjusting the magnitude of the electrical field applied to the device between a maximum and a minimum limits. An optical element consists of a polymer material having an electrical field-independent refractive index, and a liquid crystal material having an electrical field-dependent refractive index. The optical elements are distributed through the device at specific inter-element spacings, thus enabling to generate reflection of incident light in accordance with Bragg's law of reflection. The inter-element spacings can also be varied by the application of the field, thus enabling to generate reflection of light of a desired wavelength. Such optical elements are ideal for use in full color optical display apparatus of a matrix driven type.

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal optical device is presented which has optical elements which control reflection, transmission and diffraction of incident light entering the device by adjusting the magnitude of the electrical field applied to the device between a maximum and a minimum limits. An optical element consists of a polymer material having an electrical field-independent refractive index, and a liquid crystal material having an electrical field-dependent refractive index. The optical elements are distributed through the device at specific inter-element spacings, thus enabling to generate reflection of incident light in accordance with Bragg's law of reflection. The inter-element spacings can also be varied by the application of the field, thus enabling to generate reflection of light of a desired wavelength. Such optical elements are ideal for use in full color optical display apparatus of a matrix driven type.

Abstract: An optically active compound represented by the general formula (I) of:R--Z--COO--(Ph).sub.k --Ph(Y)--CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.m C*HE L (1)In the general formula (I); R is an alkyl or alkoxy group having 4 to 22 carbon atoms; Z is the one selected from the group consisting of --Ph--, --Ph(X)--, --Ph--Ph--, Ph(X)--Ph--, --Ph--cy--, --Ph(X)--cy-- and --py--Ph-- is a 1,4-substituted phenylene group; --Ph--Ph-- is a 4,4'-substituted diphenylene group; --cy-- is a trans-1,4-cyclohexane group, --py is 2,5-substituted pyrimide group; X is a halogen atom at the ortho-position to R; k is zero or 1, Y is the one selected from the group consisting of H, OH, halogen atoms and methyl group; C* is an asymmetric carbon atom; E is the one selected from the group consisting of methyl group, halogen atoms and CF.sub.3 ; L is an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group having not more than 10 carbon atoms; and m is an integer of zero to 6 where m takes zero when Y is H and Z is --Ph-- or --Ph--Ph--.