Abstract: A method for increasing a detection distance of a surface of an object illuminated by near-IR electromagnetic radiation, including: (a) directing near-IR electromagnetic radiation from a near-IR electromagnetic radiation source towards an object at least partially coated with a near-IR reflective coating that increases a near-IR electromagnetic radiation detection distance by at least 15% as measured at a wavelength in a near-IR range as compared to the same object coated with a color matched coating which absorbs more of the same near-IR radiation, where the color matched coating has a ?E color matched value of 1.5 or less when compared to the near-IR reflective coating; and (b) detecting reflected near-IR electromagnetic radiation reflected from the near-IR reflective coating. A system for detecting proximity of vehicles is also disclosed.

Abstract: Thermally produced graphenic carbon particles for use as absorptive pigments are disclosed. The pigments may be used in coatings and bulk articles to provide favorable absorbance characteristics at various wavelengths including visible and infrared regions.

Abstract: Resistive heating assemblies comprising a substrate, a conductive coating comprising graphenic carbon particles applied to at least a portion of the substrate, and a source of electrical current connected to the conductive coating are disclosed. Conductive coatings comprising graphenic carbon particles having a thickness of less than 100 microns and an electrical conductivity of greater than 10,000 S/m are also disclosed.

Abstract: A reflective material comprising a multilayered array of particles encapsulated by a matrix material, the reflective material defining a primary surface, the reflective material exhibiting: (i) visible retroreflection of incident radiation, wherein a wavelength of visible retroreflected radiation decreases from a first visible wavelength at a first angle to the primary surface to a second, shorter wavelength of visible retroreflected radiation as the viewing angle to the primary surface increases; and (ii) Bragg diffraction of the incident radiation, wherein the wavelength of radiation Bragg diffracted normal to the primary surface is longer than the wavelength of visible radiation, such that no visible radiation is retroreflected or Bragg diffracted in a direction normal to the primary surface.

Abstract: Thermally produced graphenic carbon particles for use as absorptive pigments are disclosed. The pigments may be used in coatings and bulk articles to provide favorable absorbance characteristics at various wavelengths including visible and infrared regions.

Abstract: Dispersions of graphenic carbon particles are produced using a polymeric dispersant. The polymeric dispersant includes an anchor block comprising glycidyl (meth)acrylate, 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyl(meth)acrylate, allyl glycidyl ether and mixtures thereof, reacted with a carboxylic acid comprising 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, para-nitrobenzoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, decanoic acid and/or undecanoic acid. The polymeric dispersant also includes at least one tail block comprising at least one (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester.

Abstract: Co-dispersions of different types of graphenic carbon particles are produced using a polymeric dispersant. A portion of the graphenic carbon particles may be thermally produced. The polymeric dispersant may include an anchor block comprising glycidyl (meth)acrylate, 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyl(meth)acrylate, allyl glycidyl ether and mixtures thereof, reacted with a carboxylic acid comprising 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, para-nitrobenzoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, decanoic acid and/or undecanoic acid. The polymeric dispersant may also include at least one tail block comprising at least one (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester.

Abstract: Thermally produced graphenic carbon particles for use as black pigments are disclosed. The pigments may be used in coatings and bulk articles to provide desirable jetness characteristics and absorbance at visible wavelengths.

Abstract: A reflective material comprising a multilayered array of particles encapsulated by a matrix material, the reflective material defining a primary surface, the reflective material exhibiting: (i) visible retroreflection of incident radiation, wherein a wavelength of visible retroreflected radiation decreases from a first visible wavelength at a first angle to the primary surface to a second, shorter wavelength of visible retroreflected radiation as the viewing angle to the primary surface increases; and (ii) Bragg diffraction of the incident radiation, wherein the wavelength of radiation Bragg diffracted normal to the primary surface is longer than the wavelength of visible radiation, such that no visible radiation is retroreflected or Bragg diffracted in a direction normal to the primary surface.

Abstract: Coating compositions containing graphenic carbon particles are disclosed. The graphenic carbon particles may be thermally produced and dispersed in thermoset and/or thermoset polymeric film coatings.

Abstract: Disclosed are infrared reflective coating compositions and cured coatings deposited on a substrate, as well as multi-component composite coating systems. The coating compositions include an infrared transparent pigment and an infrared reflective pigment.

Abstract: Dispersions of graphenic carbon particles are produced using a polymeric dispersant. The polymeric dispersant includes an anchor block comprising glycidyl (meth)acrylate, 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyl(meth)acrylate, allyl glycidyl ether and mixtures thereof, reacted with a carboxylic acid comprising 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, para-nitrobenzoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, decanoic acid and/or undecanoic acid. The polymeric dispersant also includes at least one tail block comprising at least one (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester.

Abstract: Co-dispersions of different types of graphenic carbon particles are produced using a polymeric dispersant. A portion of the graphenic carbon particles may be thermally produced. The polymeric dispersant may include an anchor block comprising glycidyl (meth)acrylate, 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyl(meth)acrylate, allyl glycidyl ether and mixtures thereof, reacted with a carboxylic acid comprising 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, para-nitrobenzoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, decanoic acid and/or undecanoic acid. The polymeric dispersant may also include at least one tail block comprising at least one (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester.

Abstract: A composite photonic crystal comprising an inverse opal structure defining an ordered array of voids with a filler composition received within the voids. A property of the filler composition changes in response to a stimulus, such as a temperature change, thereby changing the band gap of radiation that is reflected by the composite photonic crystal.

Abstract: Resistive heating assemblies comprising a substrate, a conductive coating comprising graphenic carbon particles applied to at least a portion of the substrate, and a source of electrical current connected to the conductive coating are disclosed. Conductive coatings comprising graphenic carbon particles having a thickness of less than 100 microns and an electrical conductivity of greater than 10,000 S/m are also disclosed.

Abstract: A layered coating composition for use in producing a cool dark coating composition. The coating system includes an IR reflecting layer, having IR-reflective pigments in a resinous binder. A radiation absorbing layer is coated onto the IR reflecting layer. The radiation absorbing layer includes nano-sized pigments dispersed in a resinous binder.

Abstract: A composite photonic crystal comprising an inverse opal structure defining an ordered array of voids with a filler composition received within the voids. A property of the filler composition changes in response to a stimulus, such as a temperature change, thereby changing the band gap of radiation that is reflected by the composite photonic crystal.

Abstract: A method of producing an image in the crystalline colloidal array is disclosed. The method includes providing an ordered array of particles received within a curable matrix composition; curing a first portion of the matrix composition, wherein the first cured portion diffracts radiation at a first wavelength; curing another portion of the matrix composition, wherein the other cured portion diffracts radiation at another wavelength; and exposing the array to radiation to exhibit an image.

Abstract: A pigment dispersant is disclosed comprising a tri-block copolymer having a first block comprising a glycidyl(meth)acrylate reacted with a napthoic acid, a second block comprising (meth)acrylic acid alkyl esters, and a third block comprising (meth)acrylic acid alkyl esters, wherein said third block is different from said second block. The dispersant is suited for use in a nanoparticulate dispersion comprising pigment particles having an average primary particle size of less than 100 nm.

Abstract: Articles are disclosed wherein a color-imparting non-hiding coating layer is deposited on a surface thereof. The coating layer is deposited from a protective coating composition comprising color-imparting particles having a maximum haze of about 10% and a film-forming resin. Methods of using the coatings, and the substrates coated therewith, are also disclosed.