Abstract: A sheet material includes a polycarbonate substrate and a protective coating containing the reaction products of an aminoplast resin, a polyol compound, and a UV-absorbing amount of a triazine compound. The sheet material exhibits an improved balance of abrasion resistance, solvent resistance, weatherability, and formability. Methods of preparing the sheet material are described.

Abstract: A monolithically integrated cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) module includes a first electrically conductive layer and an insulating layer. The first electrically conductive layer is disposed below the insulating layer. The PV module further includes a back contact metal layer and a CdTe absorber layer. The back contact metal layer is disposed between the insulating layer and the CdTe absorber layer. The PV module further includes a window layer and a second electrically conductive layer. The window layer is disposed between the CdTe absorber layer and the second electrically conductive layer. At least one first trench extends through the back contact metal layer, at least one second trench extends through the absorber and window layers, and at least one third trench extends through the second electrically conductive layer. A method for monolithically integrating CdTe PV cells is also provided.

Abstract: A thermosetting polymer material capable of being used in powder coatings. The thermosetting polymer material includes at least one hydroxyl functional aliphatic polycarbonates that is formulated and crosslinked with isocyanates to yield a thermoset organic coating material. These materials provide improved weatherability as compared to prior art powder coating materials while also being less expensive than prior art materials utilizing fluorinated polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an article comprising a metallic substrate; an insulating layer; the insulating layer being disposed on the metallic layer in an expanding thermal plasma; and a semiconductor layer; the semiconductor layer being disposed on the insulating layer. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising disposing an insulating layer on a metallic substrate; the insulating layer being in intimate contact with the metallic layer; wherein the insulating layer is derived from a metal-organic precursor, and wherein insulating layer is deposited in an expanding thermal plasma; and disposing a semiconductor layer on the insulating layer.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition includes particular amounts of a poly(arylene ether), a hydrogenated block copolymer, a plasticizer, a white pigment, and an ultraviolet radiation stabilizer. The composition exhibits excellent light stability, and it is particularly useful for forming white or off-white cable insulation.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition includes particular amounts of a poly(arylene ether), a hydrogenated block copolymer, a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin, a plasticizer, a white pigment, and an ultraviolet radiation stabilizer. The composition exhibits excellent light stability, and it is particularly useful for forming white or off-white cable insulation.

Abstract: Copolymers including structural units derived from ?-methylene-?-butyrolactone, styrene, methyl methacrylate and, optionally, acrylonitrile, may be used as protective layers in multilayer articles that include UV sensitive substrate materials. The multilayer articles may also include a silicone hardcoat.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition includes particular amounts of a poly(arylene ether), a hydrogenated block copolymer, a plasticizer, a white pigment, and an ultraviolet radiation stabilizer. The composition exhibits excellent light stability, and it is particularly useful for forming white or off-white cable insulation.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition includes particular amounts of a poly(arylene ether), a hydrogenated block copolymer, a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin, a plasticizer, a white pigment, and an ultraviolet radiation stabilizer. The composition exhibits excellent light stability, and it is particularly useful for forming white or off-white cable insulation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are high refractive index coating compositions containing a functionalized metal oxide nanoparticle and sulfur-containing polymerizable components. The composition can be prepared into optical articles via curing processes.

Abstract: Curable formulations comprising: (a) at least one multifunctional acrylate having a functionality of at least two, (b) at least one mono-acrylate monomer, (c) at least one heteroatom-containing diacrylate, wherein the heteroatom is sulfur or selenium; and (d) a curing agent, have been discovered. The curable formulations show promise as precursors to high refractive index materials suitable for use in light management devices and other optical devices. In addition the novel curable formulations are useful for producing coatings, which may be useful in forming display films, in particular brightness enhancing display films.

Abstract: Substantially solvent-free multilayer articles characterized by excellent color retention and gloss retention, solvent resistance and recyclability comprise a substrate layer which may be at least one of polycarbonates, polyesters and ABS and ASA copolymers, and a resinous coating layer which contains resorcinol or alkylresorcinol isophthalate/terephthalate ester units. An intermediate layer may also be present.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are high refractive index monomers that are curable by ultraviolet light. These monomers may be a component of curable compositions useful in the preparation of optical articles. Also disclosed is a method of synthesizing the monomers.

Abstract: Holographic storage mediums, methods for producing the storage medium, methods for storing data in the holographic storage medium, and optical storage reading methods are described herein. The holographic storage medium can be formed from a composition comprising a thermally crosslinked polysiloxane binder; a photoactive material; and a photo-initiator, wherein the photoactive material has a concentration that remains about the same before and after a thermal cure process to form the thermally crosslinked polysiloxane binder.

Abstract: A radiation curable composition comprises a heterocyclic acrylate or heterocyclic methacrylate. The composition is curable to make an optical management article such as an optical management coating on a substrate. A method of making an optical management article, comprises forming a radiation curable composition comprising the heterocyclic acrylate or heterocyclic methacrylate on a substrate and curing the composition to form the optical management article.

Abstract: Predicting material color shifts due to weathering. A color formulation tool determines the concentration of colorants from a color standard. The color formulation tool obtains weathered optical parameters for the color standard from a color database and predicts the color of the color standard from the colorant concentrations and weathered optical parameters.

Abstract: A storage medium capable of being read by player, the storage medium comprising: digital content disposed along one or more tracks of the storage medium; and an authentication program disposed along the one or more tracks of the storage medium for authenticating the storage medium by determining whether the one or more vague bits exist at the one or more predetermined locations. There are also provided a method for authenticating a storage medium and a method for creating a storage medium having the one or more vague bits.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising (a) a thermally stable polymer comprising resorcinol arylate polyester chain members substantially free of anhydride linkages linking at least two mers of the polymer chain, and (b) at least one auxiliary stabilizer additive selected from the group consisting of 2,2′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one) and 1,3-bis[(2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacryloyl)oxy]-2,2-bis[[(2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacryloyl)oxy]methyl]propane. Both multilayer and unitary articles comprising the composition are also provided.

Abstract: In one of its aspects the invention is directed to rubber modified thermoplastic resin compositions comprising a discontinuous elastomeric phase dispersed in a rigid thermoplastic phase, wherein at least a portion of the rigid thermoplastic phase is grafted to the elastomeric phase, and wherein said thermoplastic phase comprises structural units derived from at least one vinyl aromatic monomer, at least one monoethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer and at least one (C1-C12)alkyl- or aryl-(meth)acrylate monomer.

Abstract: Block copolyestercarbonates may be prepared by first conducting a reaction between at least one of resorcinol or an alkyl- or haloresorcinol and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid dichloride, preferably isophthaloyl dichloride, terephthaloyl dichloride or a mixture thereof, to produce a hydroxy-terminated polyester intermediate, and then conducting a reaction of the intermediate with a carbonate precursor, preferably in the presence of a dihydroxy compound such as bisphenol A. The products have excellent physical properties, including a high degree of weatherability. They may be blended with other polymers such as polycarbonates, poly(alkylene carboxylates), polyarylates, polyetherimides, and addition polymers to improve the weatherability thereof.