Abstract: This invention relates to a birefringent layer, wherein the direction of the optical axis varies along the thickness direction of the layer, comprising I) (i) a liquid crystal monomer or pre-polymer having polymerisable groups; and (ii) a monomer or oligomer or polymer having photo-orientable groups, and/or (iii) a liquid crystal monomer or pre-polymer, oligomer or polymer having photo-orientable and polymerisable groups, and (iv) and optionally further components, or II) (v) a liquid crystal monomer or pre-polymer, oligomer or polymer having photo-orientable and polymerisable groups, and (vi) and optionally further components, in addition, this invention relates to a method for the preparation of the birefringent layer, its uses and optical components thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards polymerizable dichroic azo dyes comprising azo-chromophores having at least one standard mesogenic ring system attached to said chromophores and at least one polymerizable group leading to dyes having sufficient solubilty and a very high order parameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to polarized and abrasion-resistant article comprising: a) a polarized layer applied to a substrate, said polarized layer including an oriented liquid crystal polymer layer (LCP) including at least one dichroic dye, said liquid crystal layer being coated on a photo-orientation layer, and b) an abrasion-resistant coating applied to the polarized layer on said substrate. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing said articles, and to the use of the above-mentioned article for the manufacturing of optic glasses or lenses.

Abstract: Diamine compounds, which in particular are useful as precursors for the production of liquid crystal alignment layers, are represented by the general formula I: wherein A1 represents an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms; A2 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Diamine compounds, which in particular are useful as precursors for the production of liquid crystal alignment layers, are represented by the general formula I: wherein A1 represents an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms; A2 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention concerns functionalized photoreactive compounds of formula (I), that are particularly useful in materials for the alignment of liquid crystals. Due to the adjunction of an electron withdrawing group to specific molecular systems bearing an unsaturation directly attached to two unsaturated ring systems, exceptionally high photosensitivities, excellent alignment properties as well as good mechanical robustness could be achieved in materials comprising said functionalized photoreactive compounds of the invention.

Abstract: A thermally stable diamine compound of formula (I?) is proposed as well as polymers, copolymers, polyamic acids, polyamic acid esters, or polyimides based on such compound.

Abstract: Diamine compounds, which in particular are useful as precursors for the production of liquid crystal alignment layers, are represented by the general formula I: wherein A1 represents an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms; A2 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photoalignment composition comprising a) 0.001 to 20%, by weight, preferably, 1 to 10% by weight, more preferably 1 to 9% by weight of at least one photoreactive compound (I) that comprises a photoalignment group and b) 80 to 99.999% by weight, preferably, 90 to 99% by weight, more preferably 91 to 99% by weight of at least one compound (II) that does not comprise a photoalignment group, and c) optionally at least one reactive or non reactive additives, and d) optionally at least one solvent. Further the present invention relates to the use of this photoalignment composition for the alignment of liquid crystals or liquid crystal polymers, in electro-optical and optical elements, systems and devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photoreactive compound for the preparation of a photoalignment material comprising thioether units, wherein the photoreactive compound is comprising at least one ene group and at least one photoalignment group, and further to a composition comprising at least one photoreactive compound and at least one polythiol, the use of this composition for the preparation of photoalignment materials, and their use for the alignment of liquid crystals or liquid crystal polymers, in electro-optical and optical elements, systems and devices.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards polymerizable dichromophoric dichroic azo dyes comprising azo-chromophores to which polymerizable groups are attached leading to dyes having sufficient solubility in combination with high coloring power and high order parameter.

Abstract: Diamine compounds, which in particular are useful as precursors for the production of liquid crystal alignment layers, represented by general formula (I), wherein A1 represents an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms; A2 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A diamine compound is proposed as well as polymers, copolymers, polyamic acids, polyamic acid esters, or polyimides based on such compound. The compound is represented by one of the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib). It could be shown that such structures, in particular for a specific choice of the residue B, provide, if e.g. used as orientation layers, a photostable, vertically aligning material with an improved VHR.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photo-polymerized, patterned or unpatterned liquid crystal polymer, especially a liquid crystal polymer film or a liquid crystal polymer network, comprising thio-ether units of formula (I) * covalent bond, which links the unit of formula (I) to the residue of the polymer wherein LC1 is selected from the group of liquid crystal residues, X1 is selected from the group of aliphatic organic residues, and n1 is an integer ?0 and m1 is an integer ?0; with the proviso that if n1 is 0, then m1 is >0, and if m1 is 0, then n1>0; which is prepared in an atmosphere containing oxygen, preferably with an amount of 0.1?oxygen 50%, more preferably 1?oxygen?25%, most preferably in air; with the proviso that polymer dispersed liquid crystals are excluded. Further, this invention relates to a composition used for the preparation of that photo-polymerized liquid crystal polymer of the invention, to processes of the preparation of that liquid crystal polymer and to its use.

Abstract: A diamine compound of formula (I) is proposed as well as polymers, copolymers, polyamic acids, polyamic acid esters, or polyimides based on such compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to a birefringent layer, wherein the direction of the optical axis varies along the thickness direction of the layer, comprising I) (i) a liquid crystal monomer or pre-polymer having polymerisable groups; and (ii) a monomer or oligomer or polymer having photo-orientable groups, and/or (iii) a liquid crystal monomer or pre-polymer, oligomer or polymer having photo-orientable and polymerisable groups, and (iv) and optionally further components, or II) (v) a liquid crystal monomer or pre-polymer, oligomer or polymer having photo-orientable and polymerisable groups, and (vi) and optionally further components, in addition, this invention relates to a method for the preparation of the birefringent layer, its uses and optical components thereof.

Abstract: Composition comprising at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer to which a photochemically isomerizable or dimerizable molecule is covalently bonded, and at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer to which a sensitizer is covalently bonded, are outstandingly suitable for producing polymeric alignment layers for liquid crystals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an element comprising a surface area with a specific, optically effective surface relief microstructure (12). The surface relief microstructure has a surface modulation of top regions (13) and bottom regions (14), wherein in a first lateral direction of the surface area there is in average at least one transition from a top to a bottom region or vice versa within every 20 micrometer, and in a second lateral direction of the mask, which is perpendicular to the first direction, there is in average at least one transition from a first to a second zone or vice versa within every 200 micrometer. In the microstructure, (i) in the first direction the lateral arrangement of the transitions is non-periodic, and (ii) the top regions substantially lie in the same top relief plateau (15) and the bottom regions substantially lie in the same bottom relief plateau (16).

Abstract: A novel photoactive copolymer and its use as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multilayer systems. The copolymer contains side chains incorporating photoreactive groups and simultaneously side chains of general formula (I) wherein the total number of rings, including the number of rings in optionally present condensed systems is at least two and at most six; wherein the broken line symbolizes the point of linkage to the polymer main chain; and wherein the variables are defined in the disclosure.

Abstract: Photoreactive dendrimers comprising a core portion, branching units and terminal groups, wherein at least one terminal group and/or branching unit is a photoreactive group and wherein the photo reactive groups include preferably cinnamates, coumarins, benzylidenephthalimidines, benzylideneacetophenones, diphenylacetylenes stilbazoles, uracyl, quinolinone, maleinimides, or cinnamylidene acetic acid derivatives and are able to undergo photocyclization, in particular [2+2]-photocyclization.