Abstract: The present invention relates to an article for altering a surface of a workpiece, or a polishing pad having a window. In particular, the polishing pad includes a polyurethane urea material wherein the polyurethane urea material contains cells which are at least partially filled with gas. The polyurethane urea material can be prepared by combining polyisocyanate and/or polyurethane prepolymer, hydroxyl-containing material, amine-containing material and blowing agent. The polishing pad according to the present invention is useful for polishing articles, and is especially useful for chemical mechanical polishing or planarization of microelectronic and optical electronic devices such as but not limited to semiconductor wafers. The window of the polishing pad is at least partially transparent and thus, can be particularly useful with polishing or planarizing tools that are equipped with through-the-platen wafer metrology.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reaction product having polyether carbamate groups formed from (A) polyoxyalkylene amine, and (B) cyclic carbonate, in an equivalents ratio ranging from 1:0.5 to 1:1.5. Further provided is a process for preparing the aforementioned reaction product. The present invention also is directed to an improved curable coating composition including (1) a reactive functional group-containing polymer, and (2) a curing agent having functional groups reactive with the functional groups of (1), the improvement being the inclusion in the coating composition the reaction product. Multilayer composite coatings including a first coating layer formed from the curable coating composition and a second coating layer over the curable coating composition are also provided, as well as coated substrates.

Abstract: A process is provided for applying multi-component composite coating compositions to substrates to provide sound damping and print-through resistance. The process includes applying at least one first coating composition to a surface of the substrate; applying at least one second coating composition over the first; and curing one or both of the first and second compositions, thereby forming a multi-layered coated substrate. The coating compositions may be applied by a method selected from spraying, extruding, brushing, and/or dipping.

Abstract: Provided is an optical element including a substrate; a first at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered alignment medium connected to at least a portion of at least one surface of the substrate; a second at least partial coating of an alignment transfer material that is connected to and at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially ordered alignment medium; and a third at least partial coating connected to at least a portion of the alignment transfer material, the third coating including at least one anisotropic material that is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially aligned alignment transfer material and at least one photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially aligned anisotropic material.

Abstract: Processes for forming a coating on electroconductive flat blanks having two major surfaces and sheared edges are provided. Also provided is a process for forming a multi-composite coating on a pre-sheared, electroconductive, flat blank having two major surfaces and sheared edges. Methods for forming and coating metal blanks are also provided. The present invention further provides a pre-sheared, flat electroconductive blank having two major surfaces and coated with a multi-layer composite coating composition on one major surface. The present invention also provides a method for coating a continuous metal strip, optionally, thereafter forming a coated blank therefrom, and, optionally, applying a second coating to the blank.

Abstract: Processes for forming a coating on electroconductive flat blanks having two major surfaces and sheared edges are provided. Also provided is a process for forming a multi- composite coating on a pre-sheared, electroconductive, flat blank having two major surfaces and sheared edges. Methods for forming and coating metal blanks are also provided. The present invention further provides a pre-sheared, flat electroconductive blank having two major surfaces and coated with a multi-layer composite coating composition on one major surface. The present invention also provides a method for coating a continuous metal strip, optionally, thereafter forming a coated blank therefrom, and, optionally, applying a second coating to the blank.

Abstract: This invention relates to a silica, a slurry composition, and a method of their preparation. In particular, the silica of the present invention includes aggregated primary particles. The slurry composition which incorporates the silica, is suitable for polishing articles and especially useful for chemical-mechanical planarization of semiconductor substrates and other microelectronic substrates.

Abstract: A silica-based particulate material that may contain less than 5 wt. % of a multivalent cation and a method of preparing such a silica-based particulate material. The silica-based particulate material may be characterized as having a median particle size of at least 20 ?m, a BET surface area of at least 90 m2/g, and a pH of at least 9.5; or as having a median particle size of up to 20 ?m and a pH of at least 10. The silica-based particulate material may be used to make hydrophobic silica-based particulates, which may be characterized as having a pH of at least 10.5.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for measuring and/or adjusting the cleaning performance of a cleaning liquid. One method of the invention includes determining a control value (i.e., the number of drops of the cleaning liquid to provide a selected volume) indicative of when the cleaning performance of the cleaning liquid is at or approaching an unacceptable level. At least one substrate can be contacted with the cleaning liquid and a drop number for the cleaning liquid (i.e., the number of drops of the cleaning liquid to provide the selected volume) again measured. At least one cleaning agent, such as at least one surfactant, can be added to the cleaning liquid when the measured drop number is at or near the control value. In one embodiment, the cleaning agent can be added until the measured drop number is at or near a baseline drop number for the cleaning liquid (i.e., the number of drops of the cleaning liquid when cleaning performance is acceptable).

Abstract: Provided is a film-forming composition substantially free of organic solvent which includes an aqueous dispersion of polymeric microparticles prepared by emulsion polymerization of a monomeric composition containing (1) at least 10 percent by weight of one or more vinyl aromatic compounds; (2) 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of one or more carboxylic acid functional polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers; (3) 0 to 10 percent by weight of one or more polymerizable monomers having one or more functional groups capable of reacting to form crosslinks; and (4) one or more polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers. Each of (1), (2), (3) and (4) are different one from the other and at least one of (3) and (4) is present in the monomeric composition. Multi-layer composite coatings and coated substrates also are provided.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating a multi-layer circuit assembly and a multi-layer circuit assembly fabricated by such processes are provided. The process includes (a) providing a substrate at least one area of which comprises a plurality of vias, these area(s) having a via density of 500 to 10,000 holes/square inch (75 to 1550 holes/square centimeter); (b) applying a dielectric coating onto all exposed surfaces of the substrate to form a conformal coating thereon; and (c) applying a layer of metal to all surfaces of the substrate. Additional processing steps such as circuitization may be included.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition is described, which composition comprises a major amount of a polyol(allyl carbonate) monomer, e.g., diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate) monomer, and a minor amount of a radically polymerizable second monomer represented by the general formula, wherein R2 is a polyvalent linking group that is free of urethane linkages, e.g., R2 may be a residue of a polyisocyanate, such as isophorone diisocyanate; R3 is a residue of a material having a single hydroxy group and at least one allyl group, R3 being free of urethane linkages, e.g., R3 may be a residue of a poly(alkylene glycol) allyl ether, such as poly(1,2-propylene glycol) allyl ether; and j is a number from 2 to 4. The second monomer may also be present in the composition in an amount at least sufficient such that a polymerizate, e.g., a plus ophthalmic lens, obtained from the composition is substantially free of tinting defects, e.g., ferns and/or moons.

Abstract: Describes a photochromic plastic article, e.g., an ophthalmic photochromic article, such as a lens, in which the article includes (1) a rigid substrate, e.g., polymeric substrate, such as a thermoset or thermoplastic substrate, (2) a photochromic polymeric coating appended to at least one surface of the substrate, the photochromic polymeric coating containing a photochromic amount of at least one photochromic material, e.g., spirooxazine, naphthopyran and/or fulgide, and (3) a dendritic polyester acrylate film coherently appended to the photochromic coating. Describes also the aforedescribed photochromic article having an abrasion-resistant coating affixed to the dendritic polyester acrylate film, e.g., an abrasion-resistant coating comprising an organo silane; and a photochromic article having an antireflective coating affixed to the abrasion-resistant coating.

Abstract: Coating compositions formed from at least one hydroxyl functional non-vinyl material comprising at least one alcoholic hydroxyl group blocked with a hydrolyzable silyl group, and at least one curing agent are provided by the present invention. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a coating composition formed from components comprising at least one carbamate functional material comprising at least one carbamate group blocked with a hydrolyzable silyl group, and at least one curing agent. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a coating composition formed from components comprising at least one carboxyl functional material comprising at least one carboxyl group blocked with a hydrolyzable silyl group, and at least one curing agent.

Abstract: A water resistant coating composition for ink jet recordable substrates having a pH of less than 7, which includes: (a) an aqueous polyurethane dispersion; and (b) an aqueous solution of a nitrogen containing polymeric dye fixative compound. When applied to a suitable substrate, the coating composition allows for the recording of sharp, waterfast images. A coated ink recordable substrate is also disclosed, which includes a substrate having at least one side and at least one side of the substrate has a coating layer derived from the above described coating composition.

Abstract: Described are photochromic articles that include a substrate and a photochromic amount of at least one organic photochromic material (b) represented by graphic formula XIII adapted to change from an unactivated state to an activated state by exposure to radiation substantially in a wavelength range from 380 to 410 nanometers (nm) when measured over a wavelength range of from 380 to 700 nm. The photochromic articles demonstrate a photochromic response when activated behind an ultraviolet blocking transparency such as an automotive windshield. For example, the photochromic articles retain at least 12 percent of the activation measured as change in optical density or delta OD under outdoor simulating conditions in the Outdoor Test when tested under conditions simulating an eyeglass wearer behind an automotive windshield in the Behind the Windshield Test. Methods for producing the aforedescribed photochromic articles are also described.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a circuit board including (a) providing a first conductive sheet; (b) selectively removing one or more portions of the first conductive sheet to form a first panel having a first circuit board that is coupled to a disposable part of the first panel by at least one tab that extends from an edge of the first circuit board to an edge of the disposable part of the first panel; (c) applying an insulating coating to the first circuit board so that at least each edge of the first circuit board is covered thereby; and (d) separating the first circuit board from the disposable part in a manner whereupon at least part of the tab remains attached to the first circuit board and includes an exposed edge of the conductive sheet of the first circuit board. Circuit boards formed by the method are also provided.

Abstract: Described are imbibition compositions that incorporate kinetic enhancing additive(s) into photochromic polymeric host material. Kinetic enhancing additives include organic polyol(s), epoxy-containing compound(s) or a mixture thereof that improves the performance of organic photochromic compounds in the polymeric host as determined in the Photochromic Performance Test. Also described is a process for incorporating kinetic enhancing additives into polymeric substrates prior to, after and/or with organic photochromic compounds and the resulting photochromic articles produced by such a process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyureaurethane wherein the prepolymer comprising said polyureaurethane has a NCO to OH equivalent ratio of from 2.0 to less than 2.5. In an embodiment, the polyureaurethane prepolymer comprises a polyisocyanate and at least one OH-containing material, which can be reacted with an amine-containing curing agent to produce the polyureaurethane of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an attrition resistant carrier product such as silica. Further, this invention is directed to the use of a binder to improve the attrition resistance or reduce the friability of a carrier product such as silica. In an embodiment, the median particle size is from 125 to 300 microns. Selection of the binder is such that the presence and/or addition of the binder does not result in substantial modification of the physical properties of the silica. Suitable binders include Group I and Group II silicates, Group I and Group II aluminates, and mixtures thereof, as identified by the Period Table of Elements.