Abstract: Polarizing coatings are formed from dyestuffs which provide a stable liquid crystalline phase in a wide range of concentrations, temperatures and pH-values. Particles formed by aggregates of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a predetermined direction to polarize light. The stability of the liquid crystalline state allows orienting the particles by mechanical forces such as a shearing force applied when the liquid crystal (10) is spread on a support surface (20) by a knife-like doctor (90) or a tension deformation force acting on the meniscus of the liquid crystal deposited between two surfaces (20, 30) as the surfaces are peeled off one another. As a result, the polarizing coatings are formed in some embodiments by simple methods. In some embodiments, the polarizing coatings have a high lightfastness, a high thermal stability, and a high dichroic ratio.

Abstract: The present invention provides dyes of formula I-XXXIV, described in detail below, and dichroic light polarizers based on the dyes. In the dichroic light polarizers of this invention the dye molecules are aggregated into particles oriented in a predetermined direction on a surface of a substrate to enable the dye to polarize light transmitted through the dye. In another embodiment, a dichroic light polarizer includes a molecularly oriented layer of an organic dye on a surface of a substrate. The layer has a non-periodic arrangement of different polarizing elements. Each of the polarizing elements have differing orientations of the polarization vector in the substrate plane and/or differing colors. The dichroic light polarizer may contain one or more additional dye layers and may have a transparent layer intermediate to the dye layer.

Abstract: Polarizing coatings are formed from dyestuffs which provide a stable liquid crystalline phase in a wide range of concentrations, temperatures and pH-values. Particles formed by aggregates of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a predetermined direction to polarize light. The stability of the liquid crystalline state allows orienting the particles by mechanical forces such as a shearing force applied when the liquid crystal (10) is spread on a support surface (20) by a knife-like doctor (90) or a tension deformation force acting on the meniscus of the liquid crystal deposited between two surfaces (20, 30) as the surfaces are peeled off one another. As a result, the polarizing coatings are formed in some embodiments by simple methods. In some embodiments, the polarizing coatings have a high lightfastness, a high thermal stability, and a high dichroic ratio.