Abstract: The present invention is directed to an article comprising an optical cover assembly. The optical cover assembly comprises: (A) a substrate comprising an outer surface and an opposing inner surface; (B) an optional first coating layer applied directly to at least the outer surface of the substrate; (C) an anti-reflective coating stack comprising at least one coating layer; and (D) a topmost coating layer comprising a fluorosilane polymer on the outer surface of the substrate. The optical cover assembly demonstrates hydrophobicity and extended UV durability, and serves as a component of at least one of a vehicle, a light sensor, a LiDAR detector, a motion sensor, a vision camera, a backup camera, a security camera, an IR camera, a headlight, a taillight, a signal light, a RADAR emitter, a RADAR detector, an aircraft landing light, and a gas detector.

Abstract: A substrate at least partially coated with an anti-fingerprint coating is prepared from a coating composition that includes: (a) an organic solvent; and (b) an alkoxysilane functional polymer having at least one ester linkage, at least one urethane linkage, and at least one alkoxysilane functional group. Further, the polymer is prepared from components including: (i) an active hydrogen functional compound having a hydroxyl group, amino group, thiol group, or a combination thereof; (ii) an intramolecular cyclic ester; and (iii) an isocyanate functional compound. The isocyanate functional compound (iii) has one or more alkoxysilane functional groups. Alkoxysilane functional polymers and coating compositions containing the same are also included.

Abstract: A substrate at least partially coated with an anti-fingerprint coating is prepared from a coating composition that includes: (a) an organic solvent; and (b) an alkoxysilane functional polymer having at least one ester linkage, at least one urethane linkage, and at least one alkoxysilane functional group. Further, the polymer is prepared from components including: (i) an active hydrogen functional compound having a hydroxyl group, amino group, thiol group, or a combination thereof; (ii) an intramolecular cyclic ester; and (iii) an isocyanate functional compound. The active hydrogen functional compound (i), the isocyanate functional compound (iii), or both (i) and (iii) have one or more alkoxysilane functional groups. Alkoxysilane functional polymers and coating compositions containing the same are also included.

Abstract: A substrate at least partially coated with an anti-fingerprint coating is prepared from a coating composition that includes: (a) an organic solvent; and (b) an alkoxysilane functional polymer having at least one ester linkage, at least one urethane linkage, and at least one alkoxysilane functional group. Further, the polymer is prepared from components including: (i) an active hydrogen functional compound having a hydroxyl group, amino group, thiol group, or a combination thereof; (ii) an intramolecular cyclic ester; and (iii) an isocyanate functional compound. The active hydrogen functional compound (i), the isocyanate functional compound (iii), or both (i) and (iii) have one or more alkoxysilane functional groups. Alkoxysilane functional polymers and coating compositions containing the same are also included.

Abstract: A fluoropolymer having fluoropolyether linkages, at least two ester linkages, and hydrolyzable functional groups is represented by chemical structure (I): With respect to chemical structure (I), m is a number from 1 to 4 and n is a number from 10 to 60, each R1 is independently fluorine or CF3, R2 is an alkylene group, R3 is an alkylene group in which one or more hydrogens of the alkylene group are optionally substituted with fluorine, R4 is an alkyl group in which one or more hydrogens of the alkyl group are substituted with fluorine, R5 is an alkylene group in which at least one hydrogen of the alkylene group is substituted with a group comprising CF3, CF2H, or a hydrolyzable silyl group, and Z is a group represented by chemical structure (II), Methods of preparing the fluoropolymer and coating compositions containing the fluoropolymer are also included.

Abstract: A stain resistant, soft touch coating composition can include: (a) a fluoropolymer comprising at least one reactive functional group; (b) a polyester polyol; and (c) a crosslinker reactive with (a) and (b). The polyester polyol can include a reaction product obtained from a mixture of reactants including: an aliphatic diol; a polyol having 3 or more hydroxyl groups; and a cyclic polycarboxylic acid, or an anhydride or ester thereof.

Abstract: Coated articles demonstrating anti-fouling properties are provided, comprising: (a) a substrate comprising sapphire; (b) an adhesion promoting layer applied to the substrate; and (c) a top layer comprising at least an anti-fouling coating applied to the adhesion promoting layer. The adhesion promoting layer is formed from a curable sol-gel composition and has a dry film thickness less than 1000 nm after curing. The present invention also provides a method of forming a coated article comprising: (a) applying a curable film-forming sol-gel composition on a sapphire substrate, to form a coated substrate with a sol-gel adhesion promoting layer having a dry film thickness less than 1000 nm after curing; (b) subjecting the coated substrate to a temperature of at least 500° C. to effect cure of the sol-gel composition; and (c) applying at least an anti-fouling coating on the adhesion promoting layer to form a multi-layer, coated article.

Abstract: A fluoropolymer having fluoropolyether linkages, at least two ester linkages, and hydrolyzable functional groups is represented by chemical structure (I): With respect to chemical structure (I), m is a number from 1 to 4 and n is a number from 10 to 60, each R1 is independently fluorine or CF3, R2 is an alkylene group, R3 is an alkylene group in which one or more hydrogens of the alkylene group are optionally substituted with fluorine, R4 is an alkyl group in which one or more hydrogens of the alkyl group are substituted with fluorine, R5 is an alkylene group in which at least one hydrogen of the alkylene group is substituted with a group comprising CF3, CF2H, or a hydrolyzable silyl group, and Z is a group represented by chemical structure (II), Methods of preparing the fluoropolymer and coating compositions containing the fluoropolymer are also included.

Abstract: Coated articles demonstrating antireflective properties are provided. Exemplary coated articles comprise a substrate and two or three coating layers applied to at least one surface of the substrate; the coatings are deposited from sol-gel compositions comprising a silane. Each adjacent coating layer demonstrates a different refractive index. The coated article further comprises an outermost anti-fouling coating layer applied to at least one surface of a coating layer. Processes for forming the coated articles are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical elements, such as but not limited to ophthalmic elements, comprising an alignment facility for an optical dye. The optical elements include a substrate; and an alignment facility for an optical dye connected to at least a portion of the substrate, where the alignment facility is an at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material having at least a first general direction.

Abstract: Coated articles demonstrating anti-reflective properties are provided. Exemplary coated articles comprise a substrate and an anti-reflective coating layer applied to at least one surface of the substrate. The anti-reflective coating layer is formed from an acidic sol-gel composition comprising: (a) tetraalkoxysilane; (b) alkyl trialkoxysilane; (c) a silane-functional acrylic polymer; (d) inorganic oxide particles; (e) a mineral acid; (f) water; and (g) a solvent. The coated article optionally further comprises an outermost anti-fouling coating layer applied to at least one surface of the anti-reflective coating layer.

Abstract: A stain resistant, soft touch coating composition can include: (a) a fluoropolymer comprising at least one reactive functional group; (b) a polyester polyol; and (c) a crosslinker reactive with (a) and (b). The polyester polyol can include a reaction product obtained from a mixture of reactants including: an aliphatic diol; a polyol having 3 or more hydroxyl groups; and a cyclic polycarboxylic acid, or an anhydride or ester thereof.

Abstract: Photovoltaic modules and methods of making photovoltaic modules are disclosed. The photovoltaic modules comprise a front transparency, a photovoltaic cell, a treated surface of an encapsulating material, and a back coat.

Abstract: Photovoltaic modules are disclosed. The photovoltaic module comprises a front transparency, a front contact, a semiconductor, a back contact, an electrocoat, and a back coat. Methods of making photovoltaic modules are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical elements, such as but not limited to ophthalmic elements, comprising an alignment facility for an optical dye. The optical elements include a substrate; and an alignment facility for an optical dye connected to at least a portion of the substrate, where the alignment facility is an at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material having at least a first general direction.

Abstract: Photovoltaic modules are disclosed. The photovoltaic module comprises a front transparency, a fluid encapsulant deposited on at least a portion of the front transparency, electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells applied to the fluid encapsulant and a backcoat deposited on at least a portion of the electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells. Methods of making photovoltaic modules are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical elements, such as but not limited to ophthalmic elements, comprising an alignment facility for an optical dye. The optical elements include a substrate; and an alignment facility for an optical dye connected to at least a portion of the substrate, where the alignment facility is an at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material having at least a first general direction.

Abstract: Photovoltaic modules and methods of making photovoltaic modules are disclosed. The photovoltaic modules comprise a front transparency, at least one photovoltaic cell, and a polyurea back coat.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are solventborne liquid UV-curable coating compositions comprising: a radiation curable compound comprising an acrylate-terminated compound having greater than two unsaturated sites, wherein the acrylate-terminated compound comprises a reaction product of reactants comprising: an adduct of a polyisocyanate, wherein the adduct of a polyisocyanate comprises a reaction product of reactants comprising a polyisocyanate comprising greater than two isocyanate groups and a compound having groups reactive with the isocyanate groups of the polyisocyanate; and an active hydrogen-containing acrylate; and a photoinitiator composition that includes a first photoinitiator composition for providing surface cure and a second photoinitiator composition for providing through cure of the resultant coating layer. Also disclosed are related multi-component composite coatings, coated substrates, and methods for coating a substrate.

Abstract: Provided are phase-separating polymer systems including a cured polymeric liquid crystal matrix phase and a guest phase including at least one photoactive material where the guest phase separates from the matrix phase during the curing process. Optical elements, including ophthalmic elements and other articles of manufacture including the phase-separating polymer systems are also disclosed. Methods of forming a liquid crystal phase-separating photoactive polymer system are also described.