Abstract: Liquid compositions are disclosed that include a photocatalytic material and a hydrophilic binder that includes an essentially completely hydrolyzed organosilicate. Also disclosed are methods of making such compositions, methods of coating a substrate with a hydrophilic composition, and substrates coated with such compositions. The compositions may, for example, be embodied as stable one-pack compositions.

Abstract: Multi-layer coatings are disclosed that include (1) a first layer comprising an inorganic oxide network, and (2) a second layer applied over at least a portion of the first layer, wherein the second layer is deposited from at least one liquid composition that is hydrophilic and includes an essentially completely hydrolyzed organosilicate. Also disclosed are substrates coated with such multi-layer coatings, methods of applying such multi-layer coatings to a substrate and methods for improving the anti-fouling, self-cleaning, easy-to-clean, and/or anti-fogging properties of an article.

Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a first substrate having at least one polymeric surface; a primer layer along the polymeric surface; a first electrically conductive transparent coating along the primer of the first substrate, wherein the primer layer adheres the first electrically conductive coating to the polymeric surface of the first substrate; a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate to define a chamber therebetween; a second electrically conductive transparent coating on a surface of the second substrate such that the first coating is in facing relation to the second coating, wherein at least one of the first and second substrates is transparent; and an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber, the electrochromic medium having reduced luminous transmittance upon application of electrical power to the first and second conductive coatings and establishing an electrical potential through the electrochromic medium, and wherein the electrochromic medium and the primer layer are compati

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a water repellant coating over a substrate surface. The surface is contacted with at least one coating composition including at least one perfluoroalkylalkylsilane, at least one hydrolyzable primer, e.g., a silane and/or siloxane, and at least one non-halogenated, e.g., non-fluorinated, alkylsilane. The perfluoroalkylalkylsilane and non-fluorinated alkylsilane can be selected such that the effective chain length of the non-fluorinated alkylsilane is equal to or longer than the effective chain length of the perfluoroalkylalkylsilane.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit (FPC) having testing pads thereon is provided. The FPC comprises a plurality of bonding pads and a plurality of testing pads, wherein each of the testing pads is disposed corresponding to each of the bonding pads, and the testing pads are electrically isolated from the bonding pads. After the bonding pads of the FPC are bonded to pins of a display, the testing pads are electrically connected to the bonding pads on the FPC via the pins of the display. Therefore, the FPC bonding yield can be determined by measuring the electrical property of the testing pads.

Abstract: An electrochromic aircraft window assembly includes: a) an outboard pane assembly; and b) a fog preventing electrochromic pane assembly spaced from the outboard pane assembly and defining a chamber therebetween, the fog preventing electrochromic pane assembly having: i) a first substrate having a first surface including a first conductive coating and a second surface including a second conductive coating; ii) a second substrate spaced from the first substrate, the second substrate having a first surface including a third conductive coating, the second surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate facing each other in spaced-apart relation to define a chamber therebetween; iii) an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber and in contact with the second and the third conductive coatings, the electrochromic medium having a luminous transmittance that varies upon application of an electrical potential through the electrochromic medium; iv) facilities for applying electrical cur

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a water repellant coating over a substrate surface. The surface is contacted with at least one coating composition including at least one perfluoroalkylalkylsilane, at least one hydrolyzable primer, e.g., a silane and/or siloxane, and at least one non-halogenated, e.g., non-fluorinated, alkylsilane. The perfluoroalkylalkylsilane and non-fluorinated alkylsilane can be selected such that the effective chain length of the non-fluorinated alkylsilane is equal to or longer than the effective chain length of the perfluoroalkylalkylsilane.

Abstract: A method is provided for simulating and/or demonstrating and/or enhancing photoactive properties, such as hydrophilicity, of a surface, such as a photoactive surface. One embodiment includes providing a photoactive surface and applying a peroxide-containing material, such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, over at least a portion of the surface. An optional resinous layer, such as an at least partly hydrolyzed polymethoxysiloxane layer, can be applied over the surface. A kit to practice the method and an article made using the method are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochromic window assembly having coloration associated therewith. The assembly includes an electrochromic device defined by two transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, and an electrochromic medium including at least one dye contained within the chamber. At least one of the two substrates has a color. The at least one dye also has a color, which either coordinates with the color of the at least one substrate to produce a window assembly of a desired color, or which complements the color of the at least one substrate.

Abstract: An electrochromic aircraft window assembly includes: a) an outboard pane assembly; and b) a fog preventing electrochromic pane assembly spaced from the outboard pane assembly and defining a chamber therebetween, the fog preventing electrochromic pane assembly having: i) a first substrate having a first surface including a first conductive coating and a second surface including a second conductive coating; ii) a second substrate spaced from the first substrate, the second substrate having a first surface including a third conductive coating, the second surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate facing each other in spaced-apart relation to define a chamber therebetween; iii) an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber and in contact with the second and the third conductive coatings, the electrochromic medium having a luminous transmittance that varies upon application of an electrical potential through the electrochromic medium; iv) facilities for applying electrical cur

Abstract: An electrochromic aircraft window assembly includes: a) an outboard pane assembly; and b) a fog preventing electrochromic pane assembly spaced from the outboard pane assembly and defining a chamber therebetween, the fog preventing electrochromic pane assembly having: i) a first substrate having a first surface including a first conductive coating and a second surface including a second conductive coating; ii) a second substrate spaced from the first substrate, the second substrate having a first surface including a third conductive coating, the second surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate facing each other in spaced-apart relation to define a chamber therebetween; iii) an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber and in contact with the second and the third conductive coatings, the electrochromic medium having a luminous transmittance that varies upon application of an electrical potential through the electrochromic medium; iv) facilities for applying electrical cur

Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly includes a security system for monitoring breakage of the electrochromic window assembly. Control circuitry is connected to the electrochromic window assembly for monitoring an electrical characteristic of one or more conductive coatings within the electrochromic window assembly, such as electrical resistance. Upon detecting a change in the electrical resistance, such as that caused by a break in one or more conductive coating, an alarm signal is generated and is sent to an alarm trigger circuit for activating an alarm. A method for monitoring penetration or breakage of an electrochromic window assembly is also provided, which method involves applying electrical activation to an electrochromic assembly and monitoring for a change in an electrical characteristic based on the applied electrical potential. Electrochromic window assemblies incorporating security alarm features in accordance with the present invention are particularly useful in automobile applications.

Abstract: A method for providing preferential coloring to a portion of an electrochromic window assembly, includes the steps of providing an electrochromic window assembly comprising first and second spaced apart transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, the first transparent substrate having a first conductive coating and the second transparent substrate having a second conductive coating, the chamber containing an electrochromic medium capable of coloring upon application of electrical potential thereto to provide reduced luminous transmittance; electrically connecting a plurality of first spaced facilities to the first conductive coating for providing the electrical potential to the first conductive coating; electrically connecting a plurality of second spaced facilities to the second conductive coating for providing the electrical potential to the second conductive coating; and applying an electrical current to selected ones of the plurality of first spaced facilities and to selected ones of the plura

Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly includes: a first transparent substrate having a first conductive coating on a surface thereof; a second transparent substrate having a second conductive coating on a surface thereof, the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate being spaced from each other to define a chamber therebetween; an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber, the electrochromic medium having a luminous transmittance that varies upon application of an electrical potential through the electrochromic medium; a plurality of first spaced facilities contacting the first conductive coating and capable of delivering electrical current to the first conductive coating; and a plurality of second spaced facilities contacting the second conductive coating and capable of delivering electrical current to the second conductive coating to establish the electrical potential through the electrochromic medium.

Abstract: Siloxane organic hybrid polymers and a method of making them by condensation polymerization reaction of organoalkoxysilane in the presence of organic film-forming polymers are disclosed. Alkali metal carboxylic acid catalyst is also disclosed, as well as the incorporation of cerium oxide for attenuation of ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly includes: a first transparent substrate having a first conductive coating on a surface thereof; a second transparent substrate having a second conductive coating on a surface thereof, the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate being spaced from each other to define a chamber therebetween; an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber, the electrochromic medium having a luminous transmittance that varies upon application of an electrical potential through the electrochromic medium; a plurality of first spaced facilities contacting the first conductive coating and capable of delivering electrical current to the first conductive coating; and a plurality of second spaced facilities contacting the second conductive coating and capable of delivering electrical current to the second conductive coating to establish the electrical potential through the electrochromic medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochromic window assembly having coloration associated therewith. The assembly includes an electrochromic device defined by two transparent substrates defining a chamber therebetween, and an electrochromic medium including at least one dye contained within the chamber. At least one of the two substrates has a color. The at least one dye also has a color, which either coordinates with the color of the at least one substrate to produce a window assembly of a desired color, or which complements the color of the at least one substrate.

Abstract: An electrochromic aircraft window assembly includes: a) an outboard pane assembly; and b) a fog preventing electrochromic pane assembly spaced from the outboard pane assembly and defining a chamber therebetween, the fog preventing electrochromic pane assembly having: i) a first substrate having a first surface including a first conductive coating and a second surface including a second conductive coating; ii) a second substrate spaced from the first substrate, the second substrate having a first surface including a third conductive coating, the second surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate facing each other in spaced-apart relation to define a chamber therebetween; iii) an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber and in contact with the second and the third conductive coatings, the electrochromic medium having a luminous transmittance that varies upon application of an electrical potential through the electrochromic medium; iv) facilities for applying electrical cur

Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a first substrate having at least one polymeric surface; a primer layer along the polymeric surface; a first electrically conductive transparent coating along the primer of the first substrate, wherein the primer layer adheres the first electrically conductive coating to the polymeric surface of the first substrate; a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate to define a chamber therebetween; a second electrically conductive transparent coating on a surface of the second substrate such that the first coating is in facing relation to the second coating, wherein at least one of the first and second substrates is transparent; and an electrochromic medium contained in the chamber, the electrochromic medium having reduced luminous transmittance upon application of electrical power to the first and second conductive coatings and establishing an electrical potential through the electrochromic medium, and wherein the electrochromic medium and the primer layer are compati

Abstract: An ultraviolet radiation resistant coating is disclosed comprising cerium oxide in an inorganic oxide matrix formed by the hydrolysis and condensation of an organoalkoxysilanie and/or other metal alkoxide in combination with the reaction product of cerium oxide and tetraalkylsilicate.