Abstract: Coated articles are provided comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a porous sol-gel layer superimposed on at least one surface of the substrate; wherein the porous sol-gel layer comprises a hydrolyzed tetraalkoxysilane; and (c) a sealant layer superimposed on at least one surface of the porous sol-gel layer; wherein the sealant layer comprises an alkyltrihalosilane. The coated articles demonstrate superior abrasion resistance due to a glass-like layer formed from the combination of the porous sol-gel layer and sealant layer.

Abstract: Described are non-aqueous dispersions of photosensitive polymeric microparticles, comprising: a) an organic continuous phase comprising an organic solvent; and b) photosensitive polymeric microparticles dispersed in the organic continuous phase. The microparticles comprise an at least partially polymerized component having integral surface and interior domains, wherein the surface domain comprises a polymeric material that is solubilized by the organic solvent, the interior domain comprises a polymeric material that is insoluble in the organic solvent, and the surface domain and/or interior domain is photosensitive. Also described are methods of producing such non-aqueous dispersions, curable film-forming compositions containing them, and photosensitive coated substrates.

Abstract: Coated articles are provided comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a porous sol-gel layer superimposed on at least one surface of the substrate; wherein the porous sol-gel layer comprises a hydrolyzed tetraalkoxysilane; and (c) a sealant layer superimposed on at least one surface of the porous sol-gel layer; wherein the sealant layer comprises an alkyltrihalosilane. The coated articles demonstrate superior abrasion resistance due to a glass-like layer formed from the combination of the porous sol-gel layer and sealant layer.

Abstract: Coating compositions are disclosed that include an alkoxide of the general formula RxM(OR?)z-x where R is an organic radical, M is silicon, aluminum, titanium, and/or zirconium, each R? is independently an alkyl radical, z is the valence of M, and x is a number less than z and may be zero. The coating composition is cationically curable. Also disclosed are articles at least partially coated with a hard coat deposited from such a coating composition, methods for depositing a hard coat on at least a portion of a plastic substrate, and methods for improving the adhesion and abrasion resistance of a substrate.

Abstract: Described are aqueous compositions of an effective amount of at least one photosensitive material and at least one polymerizable component that are adapted to at least partially form photosensitive microparticles or at least partially crosslinked photosensitive polymeric microparticles. The photosensitive polymeric microparticles are made of integral surface and interior domains wherein at least one of the surface and/or interior domains is photosensitive. Also described are aqueous dispersions of such microparticles, ways of producing such microparticles and photosensitive articles such as optical elements that incorporate the photosensitive polymeric microparticles.

Abstract: Provided are curable film-forming compositions are provided including: (a) a binder of an alkoxysilane; (b) a metal oxide compound containing titanium, zirconium, cerium, niobium, tantalum, and/or tin; and (c) a polyglycidyl ether. Also provided are optical articles including a substrate and the curable film-forming composition superposed on a surface thereof.

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: 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: Described are non-aqueous dispersions of photosensitive polymeric microparticles, comprising: a) an organic continuous phase comprising an organic solvent; and b) photosensitive polymeric microparticles dispersed in the organic continuous phase. The microparticles comprise an at least partially polymerized component having integral surface and interior domains, wherein the surface domain comprises a polymeric material that is solubilized by the organic solvent, the interior domain comprises a polymeric material that is insoluble in the organic solvent, and the surface domain and/or interior domain is photosensitive. Also described are methods of producing such non-aqueous dispersions, curable film-forming compositions containing them, and photosensitive coated substrates.

Abstract: Coating compositions are disclosed that include an alkoxide and a silica sol that includes silica nanoparticles and a polymerizable (meth)acrylate binding agent. The polymerizable (meth)acrylate binding agent remains substantially uncrosslinked after the coating composition has been cured to form a hard coat. Also disclosed are articles at least partially coated with a hard coat deposited from such a coating composition, methods for depositing a hard coat on at least a portion of a plastic substrate, and methods for improving the adhesion and abrasion resistance of a coating composition.

Abstract: Disclosed are tinted, abrasion resistant coating compositions comprising polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles. Also disclosed are methods for making such a composition and substrates at least partially coated with a hard coat deposited from such a composition.

Abstract: Provided are curable film-forming compositions are provided including: (a) a binder of an alkoxysilane; (b) a metal oxide compound containing titanium, zirconium, cerium, niobium, tantalum, and/or tin; and (c) a polyglycidyl ether. Also provided are optical articles including a substrate and the curable film-forming composition superposed on a surface thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are composite transparencies and methods for their production. The colored composite transparencies include a surface at least partially coated with a transparent tinted coating deposited from a coating composition comprising polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a coated optical element. The process Includes: a) providing an optical element substrate; b) contacting the optical element with a pretreatment composition of an aqueous solution of hydrolyzed aminosilane; and c) applying a film-forming composition to the optical element of (b) to form a coating on the optical element, thereby yielding a coated optical element. The pretreatment composition may further include a substantially water-miscible solvent that is capable of swelling the substrate surface without causing haze or degradation of the substrate. The coated optical element demonstrates improved adhesion between the film-forming composition and the substrate compared to a substantially identical optical element that has not been contacted with the pretreatment composition of step b) prior to application of the film-forming composition.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a coated optical element. The process Includes: a) providing an optical element substrate; b) contacting the optical element with a pretreatment composition of an aqueous solution of hydrolyzed aminosilane; and c) applying a film-forming composition to the optical element of (b) to form a coating on the optical element, thereby yielding a coated optical element. The pretreatment composition may further include a substantially water-miscible solvent that is capable of swelling the substrate surface without causing haze or degradation of the substrate. The coated optical element demonstrates improved adhesion between the film-forming composition and the substrate compared to a substantially identical optical element that has not been contacted with the pretreatment composition of step b) prior to application of the film-forming composition.

Abstract: Multi-layer coatings are disclosed that include (a) a first layer deposited from at least one composition that includes a polymeric composition, and (b) a second layer applied over at least a portion of the first layer in which the second layer is deposited from at least one liquid composition that includes (i) a photocatalytic material, and (ii) a binder that is hydrophilic and comprises 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 of making a painted surface easy-to-clean.

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: Describes a photochromic article, e.g., an ophthalmic photochromic plastic article, such as a lens, in which the article includes (1) a rigid substrate, e.g., a transparent substrate such as a glass or organic polymeric substrate, as for example, a thermoset or thermoplastic substrate, (2) a photochromic polymeric coating appended to at least a portion of at least one surface of the substrate, the photochromic polymeric coating containing a photochromic amount of at least one organic photochromic material, e.g., spirooxazine, naphthopyran, diarylethene and/or fulgide, and (3) a thermally cured transparent thermoset polymeric coating superposed on, e.g., coherently appended to, the photochromic coating, the thermally cured polymeric coating being harder than the photochromic polymeric coating. Describes also the aforedescribed photochromic article having an abrasion-resistant coating affixed to the thermally cured polymer coating, e.g.

Abstract: Described is a coating composition adapted to enhance the adhesion of a polymeric coating or film applied to a substrate. The coating composition is interposed between the substrate and the polymeric coating and comprises (a) at least one coupling agent, partial hydrolysates thereof or mixtures thereof in a concentration greater than 25 weight percent, based on the weight of the total composition, and (b) an adhesion enhancing amount of an epoxy-containing material having at least two epoxy groups. The coating composition is substantially free of photochromic materials and colloidal particles chosen from silica, alumina or mixtures thereof. Also described is a process for using the coating composition and articles coated with the composition and additional coatings and films which can be photochromic.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a polymerizable composition including a polymerizable monomer component and a nanoparticle material, having a refractive index of from 1.595 to 1.695. When at least partially cured, the polymerizable composition is especially useful for ophthalmic applications.