Abstract: The invention relates to a curable composition including (a) a component having one or more carbonyl group-containing compounds having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of at least 500 g/mole, wherein each carbonyl group is independently a ketone group or an aldehyde group; (b) a polyamine compound having at least two primary amine groups per molecule; and (c) a polyisocyanate compound. Articles coated with the curable composition are also provided.

Abstract: A system for marking a coated optical article (10) having at least one first mark (18) on a surface of a substrate (20) of the coated optical article (10) includes at least one mark (18) identification device having at least one electromagnetic radiation source (111) configured to irradiate at least a portion of the surface of the substrate (20) having the at least one first mark (18) with electromagnetic radiation (119A, 123). The at least one mark (18) identification device further includes at least one imaging device configured to receive a portion of the electromagnetic radiation (119A, 123) reflected from the surface of the substrate (20) having the least one first mark (18) and determine a position of the at least one first mark (18) on the surface of the substrate (20). The system further includes at least one marking device configured for marking the coated optical article (10) with at least one second mark (180) based on the position of the at least one first mark (18).

Abstract: Provided are photochromic optical articles including an optical substrate and an at least partial anisotropic layer disposed on the at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. The anisotropic layer includes an anisotropic polymer; a photochromic-dichroic dye, a photochromic dye, or combination thereof; a mesogenic hindered amine light stabilizer; and a mesogenic antioxidant. Provided are photochromic coated articles including a substrate and an anisotropic coating layer on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. The anisotropic coating layer is formed from a polymerizable composition including a polymerizable anisotropic material; a photochromic-dichroic dye, a photochromic dye, or combination thereof; a mesogenic hindered amine light stabilizer; and a mesogenic antioxidant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to curable photochromic compositions which include a polycarbodiimide, an at least di-functional first carboxylic acid functional material having at least two carboxylic acid groups, an optional second carboxylic acid functional material having at least three carboxylic acid groups, a photochromic compound, and an aprotic organic solvent. The curable photochromic compositions have an equivalents ratio of carbodiimide equivalents of the polycarbodiimide to a total carboxylic acid equivalents of the first and optional second carboxylic acid functional materials of from 0.5:1 to 10:1 when the second carboxylic acid functional material is not present; and from 0.5:1 to 3:1 when the second carboxylic acid functional material is present. The present invention, more particularly, relates to curable photochromic coating compositions, and curable photochromic adhesive compositions.

Abstract: Optionally polymerizable mesogen compounds are disclosed that include a polyvalent non-mesogenic core X to which is bonded three or four separate extensions, where each extension independently includes, in sequence, a linking group -L-, and a mesogen group—[Mesogen]. The mesogen compounds are represented by the following Formula (I), With reference to Formula (I), v is 3 or 4; t is 0 or 1; at least one Mesogen includes at least four cyclic groups; each -L- independently has an average chain length of at least 15 bonds; and at least one -L- has an average chain length of at least 25 bonds. Liquid crystal compositions are disclosed that include such mesogen compounds, and optical elements that include such mesogen compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photochromic compound having a core fused ring structure represented by at least one of the following Formula (Ia) or Formula (IIa), (Ia) (IIa) Independently for each of Formula (Ia) and Formula (IIa): R1 is in each case independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, —SO2R5, or —C(O)—XR5, where, X is selected from a single bond, —N(R5)—, or —O—, and R5 in each case is independently selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; and B and B? are each independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl. The present invention also relates to photochromic compositions and articles including such photochromic compounds.

Abstract: Provided is a photochromic film laminate including (a) a first polymeric film layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface; and (b) an adhesive layer over at least a portion of and in direct contact with the first surface of the first polymeric film layer (a). The adhesive layer is formed from a composition of a thermoplastic polyol having a number average molecular weight greater than or equal to 30,000 g/mol; a poly(anhydride); and a photochromic material. The thermoplastic polyol (i) is present in the composition in an amount greater than or equal to 60 percent by weight based on total combined weight of solids present in the thermoplastic polyol (i) and the poly(anhydride) (ii). Also provided is an optical article prepared with the photochromic film laminate.

Abstract: Provided is a photochromic indolenaphthopyran compound having the skeletal structure of Formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently have a steric bulk A, wherein at least one of R1 or R2 has a steric bulk A of at least 0.6, R3 and R4 each independently have a Hammett ?p value, and wherein the indolenaphthopyran compound has a calculated electronic steric factor of at least ?3.3.

Abstract: A method for preparing a coated article which includes: (a) providing a substrate; (b) applying a photo-polymerizable coating composition to at least a portion of the substrate, where the photo-polymerizable coating composition includes a photo-polymerizable anisotropic material, and a photoinitiator; (c) ordering the anisotropic material present in the photo-polymerizable coating composition; and (d) exposing the ordered photo-polymerizable coating composition of (c) to a light emitting diode light source having a peak emission wavelength ranging from 385 to 460 nanometers to cure the photo-polymerizable coating composition is provided herein. The photoinitiator is capable of activation at the emission wavelength of the light emitting diode light source.

Abstract: A method of generating a customized photochromic optical article recommendation for a user includes: for each of a plurality of photochromic optical articles, determining a plurality of performance attributes; receiving, from a user device, feedback data associated with each of the plurality of performance attributes; based on the plurality of performance attributes and the feedback data, generating, for each of the plurality of photochromic optical articles, a compatibility score; and based on the compatibility score for each of the plurality of photochromic optical articles, generating a user-specific recommendation including at least one of the plurality of photochromic optical articles. A system and computer program product for generating a customized photochromic optical article recommendation for a user are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is an article which transitions from a first state to a second state in response to actinic radiation. The article includes an indolenaphthopyran, wherein in the first state the article exhibits a percent transmission of greater than 80 percent, and in the second state the article exhibits a percent transmission of between 35 and 75 percent, and a ?SB value of less than 20 percent. The article can be a photochromic article selected from ophthalmic articles, display articles, windows, mirrors, active liquid crystal cell articles, and passive liquid crystal cell articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to curable photochromic compositions which include an at least di-functional oxazoline functional material, an at least di-functional first carboxylic acid functional material, an optional second carboxylic acid functional material having at least three carboxylic acid groups, which optionally includes a carboxylic acid functional polymer, and a photochromic compound. The curable photochromic compositions have an equivalents ratio of oxazoline equivalents of the oxazoline functional material to a total carboxylic acid equivalents of the first and optional second carboxylic acid functional materials of from 0.5:1 to 10:1 when the second carboxylic acid functional material is not present, and from 0.5:1 to 3:1 when the second carboxylic acid functional material is present. The present invention, more particularly, relates to curable photochromic adhesive compositions, and curable photochromic coating compositions.

Abstract: A curing apparatus (100) includes a housing (102) having a loading portion (108) open to ambient atmosphere, a curing portion (110) having a curing chamber (124) with a controlled atmosphere, and a transition portion (112) extending between the loading portion (108) and the curing portion (110). A carrier (128) is movable between the loading portion (108) and the curing chamber (124) via the transition portion (112). The curing apparatus (100) further includes at least one ultraviolet radiation source (150) operative for transmitting ultraviolet radiation into the curing chamber (124). The transition portion (112) includes a plurality of baffles (158) protruding from a sidewall (120) of the transition portion (112) and configured for minimizing mixing between the ambient atmosphere and the controlled atmosphere during movement of the carrier (128) between the loading portion (108) and the curing chamber (124).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a curable photochromic composition including (a) a photochromic compound; (b) a segmented polymer having active hydrogen groups, at least one first segment, and at least one second segment, wherein (i) each first segment independently includes a fluorinated polymer segment, and (ii) each second segment independently includes a segment selected from a polycarbonate segment, a polyester segment, a polyether segment, a polyurethane segment, and a segment of copolymers thereof; and (c) a curing agent having reactive functional groups that are reactive with the active hydrogen groups of the segmented polymer, wherein the curing agent includes at least one of a polyisocyanate, a polyisothiocyanate, or an aminoplast. Also provided are photochromic films and articles, including multilayer articles, which include the curable photochromic composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical articles that exhibit a uniform first transmittance when directly exposed to actinic radiation, such as sunlight; a gradient second percent transmittance when exposed to actinic radiation that has passed through an actinic radiation blocking or attenuating transparency (such as a vehicle windshield) interposed between the source of actinic radiation and the optical article; and a uniform third percent transmittance when free of exposure to actinic radiation. With the inventive optical articles, the uniform first percent transmittance is less than the uniform third percent transmittance. The present invention also relates to photochromic optical articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mesogen compounds that include a first mesogen (Mesogen-1) and a second mesogen (Mesogen-2) that are connected by a linking group (-L-), as represented by the following Formula (I): Mesogen-1, and optionally Mesogen-2, each independently include the following terminal group, where R is hydrogen, alkyl, or alkoxy. Mesogen-2 optionally includes a terminal group P—, which is selected from R, acrylate, methacrylate, trihalomethacrylate, oxirane, hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, and carboxylic acid ester. Mesogen-1 and Mesogen-2 together include a total of at least seven, or at least eight, cyclic groups. In some cases, Mesogen-1 and Mesogen-2 are the same. The present invention also relates to liquid crystal compositions that include such mesogen compounds, and to optical elements that include such mesogen compounds.

Abstract: A demonstration device for demonstrating at least one thermally-reversible characteristic of a photochromic optical article, such as an optical article having a photochromic material, having a housing defining an interior, and an inspection platform within the interior of the housing configured for supporting at least a portion of the optical article. The demonstration device further has at least one ultraviolet light source configured to radiate ultraviolet light into the interior of the housing, and at least one inspection light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the interior of the housing. The demonstration device further has at least one heating device configured to heat at least a portion of the interior of the housing. The at least one heating device has at least one heat source and at least one fan.

Abstract: Provided is a curable photochromic coating composition including (a) a polyol component, (b) a poly(anhydride) having at least three cyclic anhydride groups, (c) a secondary crosslinker, and (d) a photochromic material. The polyol component includes (i) a first polyol having two hydroxyl groups and a hydroxyl equivalent weight of at least 15,000 g/mol and (ii) a second polyol different from the first polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups and a hydroxyl equivalent weight of at least 300 g/mol. The secondary crosslinker is selected from a poly(carbodiimide), an oxazoline-functional material, or mixtures thereof. The present invention also provides an optical article prepared from the curable photochromic coating composition.

Abstract: A coating system (10) for coating an optical substrate has an identification apparatus (40) configured for identifying an orientation of at least one mark on a surface of the optical substrate; a coating apparatus (30) configured to apply at least one coating material on at least a portion of the optical substrate in a predetermined pattern by a controlled deposition of the at least one coating material in an atomized droplet form; and a robotic placement arm (80) configured to move the optical substrate from the identification apparatus (40) to the coating apparatus (30) and position the optical substrate at a predetermined orientation relative to the coating apparatus (30) based on the orientation of the at least one mark. The coating system (10) may have a second coating apparatus, such as a spin coating apparatus.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical article (10) includes supplying a first coating composition (A) and supplying one or more additional coating compositions (B) to an ultrasonic discharge nozzle (102) of a coating apparatus (100). At least one of the first coating composition (A) and the one or more additional coating compositions (B) is a photochromic coating composition. The method includes mixing the first coating composition and the one or more additional coating compositions at the ultrasonic discharge nozzle (102) of the coating apparatus (100), and applying the mixture (C) of the first coating composition (A) and the one or more additional coating compositions (B) to at least a portion of the optical article (10) so as to provide a pattern (24) on the optical article upon exposure to actinic radiation.