Abstract: For tubing/casing annulus plug treatment to plug a well, a tubing/casing annulus plug additive including a dry mixture of water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a reinforcing material of fibers and/or comminuted plant materials. The method of forming a tubing/casing annulus plug fluid includes contacting the additive with water or an aqueous solution, with a method of plugging the tubing/casing annulus of a well further including the step of injecting the fluid into the annulus.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition is disclosed which comprises: as a first component at least one of the compounds of the following formulas (1-1) and (1-2); as a second component at least one of the compounds of the following formula (2); as a third component at least one of the compounds of the following formulas (3-1) and (3-2); and as a fourth component at least one of the compounds of the following formulas (4-1) to (4-3)

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to manufacture a slider having two surfaces at different depths relative to a flying surface. First etching is performed to form a second surface corresponding to a step portion using a photoresist mask; thereafter, another photoresist mask is formed on a region to become a second surface of the slider bar without removing the former photoresist mask; and second etching is performed using those photoresist masks to form a third surface corresponding to a negative pressure generating portion.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds are provided which have an extremely high voltage holding ratio, altered only slightly by change of temperature, and which have a low threshold voltage and a high &Dgr;n. Also provided are liquid crystal compositions containing the liquid crystalline compound; and liquid crystal display devices containing the liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystalline compound is expressed by the general formula (1) wherein R, Y1 to Y16, X and Z1 to Z3 are defined in claim 1.

Abstract: A method of making a circuitized substrate wherein a chip-accommodating cavity is formed along with a plurality of conductive elements (e.g., pads, lines, etc.) which form part of the substrate's circuitry. Metallization is provided over the elements and, significantly, on the internal surfaces of the formed cavity to thereby enhance the electrical properties of the finished product, e.g., by assuring a solid, continuous path between upper and lower surfaces of the product.

Abstract: There are herein disclosed a fluorovinyl derivative compound represented by the general formula (1) and having characteristics of a liquid crystal, a liquid crystal composition, and a liquid crystal display device formed by using this composition: wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and a methylene group in the alkyl group may be substituted by an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —CH═CH— or —C≡C— and a hydrogen atom in the alkyl group may be substituted a halogen atom or a cyano group; rings A, B and C are each 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or the like in which a hydrogen atom in the ring may be substituted by a halogen atom; Z1, Z2 and Z3 are each a single bond, —CH2CH2—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —CH2O—, —OCH2—, —(CH2)4—, —(CH2)3—O—, —O—(CH2)3—, —(CH2)2—CH═CH—, —CH═CH—(CH2)2—, &mdash

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition which has a superior voltage transmittance (sharpness) for good color and high-speed response characteristics. The composition contains at least one of the following first component (I-a, I-b), second component (II-a to II-d) and third component (III-a to III-c) respectively: wherein R1, R2, Z0, Z1, Q1, A1, A3, p, q, m and n are defined in the specification.

Abstract: When a photopolymerization compound (molecular weight: not less than 300) having at least two ultraviolet light sensitive portions in its molecular structure is mixed with ferroelectric liquid crystal and an exposure to ultraviolet light is performed, a continuous structure is formed over almost whole length between two glass substrates, and a continuous twisted structure is formed between the glass substrates in the state of liquid crystal molecular orientation. Before the exposure to ultraviolet light, the photopolymerization compound does not exhibit satisfactory compatibility with the ferroelectric liquid crystal to be mixed, but exhibits phase separation in the mixed state. The ferroelectric liquid crystal has a bookshelf layer structure.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds which exhibit a negative dielectric anisotropy value, have an extremely high voltage holding ratio and a low threshold voltage, are small in their dependency on temperature, hardly exhibit smectic phase, and are excellent in miscibility with other liquid crystal materials at the same time; liquid crystal compositions comprising the compound; and liquid crystal display devices fabricated by using the liquid crystal composition are provided; the liquid crystalline compounds being specific 3,3′-difluorobiphenyl derivatives expressed by the following general formula (1):

Abstract: A novel ferrielectric liquid crystal compound of the formula (1), wherein R is a linear alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, X is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, m is an integer of 1 to 3, n is an integer of 1 to 3, and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom. The ferrielectric liquid crystal compound of the invention characteristically has a ferrielectric phase in a broad temperature range and shows a high speed optical response in spite of a small spontaneous polarization.

Abstract: A shaped article is obtained by polymerizing a selectively reflective solution comprising a cellulose derivative and a polymerizable solvent. The cellulose derivative is a cellulose derivative having an alkyl degree of substitution of about 2.2-3, an acyl degree of substitution of about 0-0.8 (preferably 0.1-0.8), and a total degree of alkyl and acyl substitution of about 2.8-3. The cellulose derivative is thus, e.g., a highly substituted alkyl cellulose (ethyl cellylose) or an acylated alkyl cellulose. Moreover, the polymerizable solvent may be a (meth)acrylic monomer (e.g., (meth)acrylic acid). According to the present invention, a shaped article having selective reflectivity with respect to wavelength and circularly polarized light is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyimides, poly(amic acids) and poly(amide esters) thereof, and optical alignment layers derived therefrom, for inducing alignment of liquid crystals and liquid crystal displays. The novel compositions comprise side-chain polymers of the general formula I —L1—D—L2—Cf wherein D comprises 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds, Cf is a monovalent C4 to C20 fluorocarbon radical and L1 and L2 are linking groups. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays and other liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: The invention is to provide liquid crystalline compounds which have a low viscosity, high negative dielectric anisotropy, high resistivity, and high voltage holding ratio, and are stable against heat and ultraviolet light; to provide liquid crystal compositions comprising the liquid crystalline compound; and to provide liquid crystal display devices using the liquid crystal composition therein; the liquid crystalline compound is expressed by the general formula (1) wherein R1 and Y1 represent an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; X1, X2, and X3 independently represent single bond, 1,2-ethylene group, vinylene group, —COO—, —CF2O—, or —OCF2—; ring A1, ring A2, ring A3, and ring A4 independently represent trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, or 1,4-phenylene hydrogen atom on the ring may be replaced by fluorine atom or chlorine atom provided that at least one of ring A2, ring A3, and ring A4 represents 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene; m and n are 0 or 1, and each elem

Abstract: A method for providing a lithographic light source is provided that includes producing a process fluid plume. A coaxial shielding fluid is produced around the process fluid plume. A plasma is generated by providing an energy source that impinges on the process fluid plume.

Abstract: An optical brightener comprising one or more spiro compounds of the formula (I), where K1 and K2, which are identical or different, are conjugated systems, and &psgr; is C, Si, Ge, Sn or Pb, is notable for high fluorescence quantum yields and a high temperature stability.

Abstract: An electroptical system which between 2 electrode layers contains a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro-droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix, in which one of the refractive indices of the liquid crystal mixture is matched to the refractive index of the polymer matrix, which exhibits an electrically switchable transparency essentially independent of the polarization of the incident light, the precursor of the PDLC film of which comprises one or more monomers, oligomers and/or prepolymers and a photoinitiator, and is cured photoradically, the liquid crystal mixture of which comprises one or more compounds of the formula I in which the substituents are defined herein characterized in that the liquid crystal mixture additionally contains one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds in order to obtain improved switching times especially at low temperatures.

Abstract: A compound expressed by the general formula (1): wherein R1 denotes an alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms in which one or more methylene groups in said group may be replaced by oxygen atoms or —CH═CH— and one or more hydrogen atoms in said group may be replaced by flourine or chlorine atoms, with the proviso that two or more methylene groups may not be continuously replaced by oxygen atoms, Y1 denotes an alkoxy group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, in which at least one hydrogen atom is replaced by a fluorine atom and one or more hydrogen atoms may be further replaced by chlorine atoms, Z1, Z2 and Z3 each independently denote a covalent bond, —CH2CH2—, —CH═CH—, —COO— or —CF2)—, with the proviso that at least one of Z1, Z2 and Z3 is —COO— or —CF2O—, rings A1, A2, A3 and A4 each independently denote trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, 3-cyclohexen-1,4-ylene, 3-fluoro-3-cyclohexen-1,4-ylene, pyrimidine-2

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds expressed by the following formula (1), liquid crystal compositions thereof obtained by combination with specified liquid crystal compounds, and liquid crystal display devices using them, wherein, A1, A2, A3 and A4 denote each independently trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group etc.; Z1, Z2 and Z3 denote each independently —(CH2)2— etc.; Q1 and Q2 denote each independently H, F, Cl or Br; Q3 and Q4 denote each independently F, Cl or Br; 1, m and n denote each independently an integer of from 0 to 5; and p and q denote each independently an integer of 0 or 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nematic liquid crystal mixture having a positive dielectric anisotropy &Dgr;&egr; of at least +4 and a birefringence &Dgr;n of at least 0.12, characterized in that the mixtures comprises one or more components having the core structure wherein L1, L2, Y and Z are each independently of one another H or F, one of Q1 and Q2 is 1,4-phenylene, 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene or 3,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene and the other residue Q1 or Q2 is —CH2CH2—, —CH2CH2CH2CH2— or —if at least one of L1, L2, Y and Z denotes F—also a single bond, whereby this core structure can be optionally further fluorinated in the benzene rings.

Abstract: High molecular liquid crystal obtained by photopolymerizing a liquid crystal composition which comprises CH2═CHCOO—X—OC6H4—C6H4CN (X is an alkylene group) and CH2═CHCOOC6H4—C6H4CN. An optical element which is a polarized hologram element made by using the high molecular liquid crystal and an optical head having the polarized hologram element as a beam splitter.