Abstract: An inkjet recording element comprising an ink-permeable microvoided substrate comprising a porous ink-receiving layer over and adjacent to an ink-permeable microvoided substrate layer comprising, in a polyester continuous phase, a polyester ionomer, wherein the microvoided substrate layer and the porous ink-receiving layer both having interconnecting voids. Also disclosed is an inkjet printing process, comprising the step of providing an ink-jet printer with such an inkjet recording element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protective transparent overcoat comprising a protective polymer and a surfactant compound having multiple non-end-group hydrogen bonding groups directly or indirectly bonded to the backbone chain of the surfactant compound. The coating enables simplified manufacturing of a thermal sublimation dye transfer donor of high quality.

Abstract: An inkjet recording element comprising a support having thereon, in order, a support having thereon a ink-receiving layer comprising a hydrophilic polymer and particles of an aluminosilicate in an amount of less than 30 weight percent solids, based on the total weight of the layer. Such recording elements exhibit improved humidity keeping for print sharpness.

Abstract: An inkjet recording element comprising a support having thereon, in order, a support having thereon an ink-receiving layer comprising a hydrophilic polymer, a polymeric mordant, and particles of an aluminosilicate. Such recording elements exhibit improved humidity keeping.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel class of compounds useful as chiral dopants, which compounds are available in both enantiomeric forms. Another aspect of the invention relates to such compounds having a enantiomeric excess of one enantiomeric form, which are useful in liquid crystal formulations. Such formulations are advantageous in displays and various other products.

Abstract: An inkjet recording element comprising a support having thereon a subbing layer comprising particles of an aluminosilicate for improved adhesion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a positive image in a photothermographic film exposed by electrons in a transmission electron microscope to form a latent image in the film. The photothermographic film has at least one imaging layer comprising a potentially negative-working emulsion, but wherein thermal development of unexposed silver salts in exposed areas relative to unexposed areas is inhibited when thermally developing the imagewise exposed assembly, thereby producing a positive image. The present invention is also directed to the processing of the photothermographic film in which a positive image characterized by high speed and discrimination is formed in the film when heated above 150° C.

Abstract: Photothermographic elements employing improved base precursors that undergo thermal decomposition are disclosed. Thermal-dye-bleach agents, and in particular, a novel class of salts of arylsulfonylacetic acids as bleaching agents for photothermographic use are disclosed. Photothermographic elements employing these thermal-dye-bleach agents are suitable for use as acutance and antihalation systems, bleachable filter dye materials, and in promoting unblocking of various components such as blocked developers, especially in photothermographic elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a printing plate includes ink-jet printing an oleophilic image on a surface of a support by applying to the support an aqueous solution or aqueous colloidal dispersion of a polymer having water-solubilising groups wherein the water-solubilising groups interact with the surface of the support thereby binding the polymer to the support and rendering the polymer insoluble, wherein the aqueous solution or aqueous colloidal dispersion of polymer comprises pigment particles dispersed therein. The invention further relates to a composition suitable for the preparation of a printing plate by inkjet printing including an aqueous solution or aqueous colloidal dispersion of a polymer having water-solubilising groups characterised in that said aqueous solution or aqueous colloidal dispersion further includes pigment particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for transferring a protective overcoat for a thermal print wherein the protective overcoat is applied to a dye-donor element under predesigned conditions after thermal dye transfer, the dye-donor element comprising patches of dye for transfer to a thermal print to provide a protective layer thereon. In particular, the invention improves the process of providing an improved level of gloss to the transferred protective overcoat. The method involves a preselected duration between printing and peeling the transferable laminate patch, respectively, to and from the donor. The invention is particularly advantageous at lower line times, faster printing, for thermal prints with high gloss.

Abstract: Improved compounds and base precursors that undergo thermal decomposition are disclosed. Thermal base precursors, and in particular, a novel class of salts of arylsulfonylacetic acids as bleaching agents or promoting for photothermographic use are disclosed. Compositions employing these thermal base precursors are suitable for use in acutance and antihalation systems, bleachable filter dye materials, and in promoting unblocking of various components such as blocked developers, especially in photothermographic elements.

Abstract: A display sheet comprising a substrate carrying layers of material; including a polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal layer having a first high reflection state within a portion of the visible light spectrum and a second less-reflective state in said spectrum, said states being changeable by electric field between the two states which states can be maintained in the absence of an electric field; a first transparent conductor disposed over the polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal layer; a complementary light-absorbing layer below the polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal layer having relatively high light absorption within the spectrum of the high-reflection state of the polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal layer and having relatively less light absorption in the spectrum complementary to that of the high reflection state of the polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal layer; and a reflective second conductor under said complementary light-absorbing layer reflecting light rece

Abstract: A high-CHDM PET-based support for an imaging element can be annealed relatively rapidly to achieve acceptable core-set and post-process curl properties. The fast annealing response of this material allows effective in-line annealing of the film support, yielding a more efficient manufacturing process with less annealing-induced defects in the imaging support.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to compositions and methods for removing adherent materials and polishing surfaces. In one embodiment, the method employs an improved media comprising core-shell particles. The media can be applied to microelectronic objects of manufacture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a display comprising the steps of (a) providing a substrate; (b) forming a plurality of first conductors over the substrate; (c) depositing a layer of cholesteric liquid-crystal material, in the form of droplets of liquid crystal in a liquid carrier, over a preselected area of each of said first conductors so that a preselected portion of each of said first conductors is uncoated; (d) drying the liquid carrier to form a layer of polymer-dispersed cholesteric-liquid-crystal domains in a continuous matrix; and (e) forming a plurality of second conductors, electrically isolated from the first conductors, over the layer of polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal domains so that an electric field between the second conductors and the uncoated portions of the first conductors is capable of changing the optical state of the polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal dye-transfer dye-image receiving element comprising a thermal dye-transfer receiver element comprising a dye-receiving layer 1; beneath layer 1, a microvoided layer 2 containing a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein a mixture of crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix; beneath layer 2, a substrate layer 3 comprised of a voided or non-voided polyester material; and beneath layer 3, a composite support 4. The invention provides a receiver exhibiting an improved combination of dye-transfer efficiency and robustness.

Abstract: A nanocomposite made with an inorganic layered material and a star-shaped polystyrene that can be blended with normal linear polystyrene is disclosed. The inorganic layered material can have an exfoliated structure, substantially exfoliated, or intercalated structure. The exfoliated structure can result in significantly improved physical properties, even with only a very low content of clay. The invention is also directed to a process that can be used to make the compositions of the present invention. In one embodiment, a physical mixture of clay and star polymer is prepared and then the mixture is heated for several hours, preferably under high-shear mixing, to increase the rate of exfoliation, after which mostly inexpensive commodity linear polystyrene polymer completes the composition.

Abstract: A transaction card having machine readable information and a visible display comprising: a card body; machine readable information on the card body; and a flexible display affixed to the card body for displaying information related to the machine readable information, the display including a pressure-insensitive polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal material having a first planar reflective state and a second transparent focal conic state, which is responsive to an applied voltage to display information wherein said information persists when the voltage is removed, and an array of conductors connected to the display for applying selected voltages from an external display driver to the display to change the state of the display.

Abstract: A display comprising a substrate, transparent first conductors, second conductors, a layer of polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal material disposed between the first and second conductors, and at least one layer of ultraviolet blocking material in a binder disposed to block ultraviolet radiation from striking said polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal material is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for making such a display.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process having the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with ink jet recording elements having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition of water, humectant and a self-assembling colorant that is capable of spontaneously forming a nanoparticulate dispersion without any prior physical attrition or surface modification, the colorant having the formula: (A)m—Q—(Z)n wherein: Q represents a chromophore; each A independently represents an organic or inorganic group capable of hydrogen bonding or other non-covalent bonding; each Z independently represents an organic or inorganic group capable of electrostatic bonding; and m and n each independently represents an integer from 0 to 10; with the proviso that n+m is at least 1; and with the further proviso that at least about 50 wt.