Abstract: A foamable aqueous composition can be used to form foamed, opacifying elements. These compositions have: (a) 0.5 to 20 weight % of porous particles having a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores dispersed therein. The porous particles have a mode particle size of 2 to 50 ?m; (b) at least 20 weight % of a binder material; (c) 0.1 to 30 weight % of additives including dispersants, plasticizers, inorganic or organic pigments and dyes, thickeners, flame retardants, biocides, fungicides, optical brighteners, tinting colorants, metal flakes, and inorganic or organic fillers; (d) water; and (e) at least 0.001 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from (c). The foamable aqueous composition is suitably aerated, disposed on a porous substrate, dried, and crushed on the porous substrate. The method can be used to provide such elements with one or more dry foamed layers.

Abstract: An interfacial electric field intensity of a surface is measured by covalently binding a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore to the surface and irradiating it with actinic radiation while it is in contact with a liquid and measuring a first fluorescence emission spectrum. A solution of the voltage sensitive chromophore dissolved in a sample of the liquid is also irradiated with actinic radiation and a second fluorescence emission spectrum is measured. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to determine the interfacial electric field intensity.

Abstract: A characteristic difference between first and second liquids is measured using a surface having a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore that is covalently bound to the surface. The first liquid is brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a first fluorescence emission spectrum. The second liquid is also brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a second fluorescence emission spectrum. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to characterize a difference between the first and second fluids.

Abstract: A characteristic of a liquid is measured by providing a surface having a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore that is covalently bound to the surface. The liquid is brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a first fluorescence emission spectrum. A solution of the voltage sensitive chromophore dissolved in a sample of the liquid is also irradiated with actinic radiation and a second fluorescence emission spectrum is measured. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to determine the characteristic of the liquid.

Abstract: A surface evaluation system is described for evaluating a surface. A chromophore application system is used for applying a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore to the surface, wherein the applied voltage sensitive chromophore is covalently bound to the surface and has a fluorescence emission spectrum which varies in accordance with a characteristic of the surface. An irradiation source irradiates the monolayer of the covalently bound voltage sensitive chromophore with actinic radiation. A fluorescence sensing system measures a fluorescence emission spectrum from the irradiated monolayer of the covalently bound voltage sensitive chromophore, and an analysis system analyzes the measured fluorescence emission spectrum to evaluate the characteristic of the surface.

Abstract: A characteristic of a liquid is measured by providing a surface having a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore that is covalently bound to the surface. The liquid is brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a first fluorescence emission spectrum. A solution of the voltage sensitive chromophore dissolved in a sample of the liquid is also irradiated with actinic radiation and a second fluorescence emission spectrum is measured. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to determine the characteristic of the liquid.

Abstract: An interfacial electric field intensity of a surface is measured by covalently binding a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore to the surface and irradiating it with actinic radiation while it is in contact with a liquid and measuring a first fluorescence emission spectrum. A solution of the voltage sensitive chromophore dissolved in a sample of the liquid is also irradiated with actinic radiation and a second fluorescence emission spectrum is measured. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to determine the interfacial electric field intensity.

Abstract: A characteristic difference between first and second liquids is measured using a surface having a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore that is covalently bound to the surface. The first liquid is brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a first fluorescence emission spectrum. The second liquid is also brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a second fluorescence emission spectrum. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to characterize a difference between the first and second fluids.

Abstract: A conductive metal pattern is formed in a polymeric layer that has a reactive polymer that comprises (1) pendant groups that are capable of providing pendant sulfonic acid groups upon exposure to radiation, and (2) pendant groups that are capable of reacting in the presence of the sulfonic acid groups to provide crosslinking. The polymeric layer is patternwise exposed to provide a polymeric layer comprising non-exposed regions and exposed regions comprising a polymer comprising pendant sulfonic acid groups. The exposed regions are contacted with electroless seed metal ions to form a pattern of electroless seed metal ions. The electroless seed metal ions are reduced to provide a pattern of electroless seed metal nuclei that are then electrolessly plated with a conductive metal.

Abstract: Various patterning methods utilize certain crosslinkable reactive polymers comprise -A- and -B- recurring units, arranged randomly along a backbone. The -A- recurring units comprise pendant aromatic sulfonic acid oxime ester groups that are capable of providing pendant aromatic sulfonic acid groups upon irradiation with radiation having a ?max of at least 150 nm and up to and including 450 nm. The -A- recurring units are present in the reactive polymer in an amount of up to and including 98 mol % based on total reactive polymer recurring units. The -B- recurring units comprise pendant groups that provide crosslinking upon generation of the aromatic sulfonic acid groups in the -A- recurring units. The -B- recurring units are present in an amount of at least 2 mol %, based on total reactive polymer recurring units.

Abstract: Crosslinkable reactive polymers comprise -A- and —B— recurring units, arranged randomly along a backbone. The -A- recurring units comprise pendant aromatic sulfonic acid oxime ester groups that are capable of providing pendant aromatic sulfonic acid groups upon irradiation with radiation having a ?max of at least 150 nm and up to and including 450 nm. The -A- recurring units are present in the reactive polymer in an amount of greater than 50 mol % and up to and including 98 mol % based on total reactive polymer recurring units. The —B— recurring units comprise pendant groups that provide crosslinking upon generation of the aromatic sulfonic acid groups in the -A- recurring units. The —B— recurring units are present in an amount of at least 2 mol %, based on total reactive polymer recurring units. These reactive polymers can be used in various pattern-forming methods.

Abstract: A conductive metal pattern is formed in a polymeric layer that has a reactive polymer that comprises (1) pendant groups that are capable of providing pendant sulfonic acid groups upon exposure to radiation, and (2) pendant groups that are capable of reacting in the presence of the sulfonic acid groups to provide crosslinking. The polymeric layer is patternwise exposed to provide a polymeric layer comprising non-exposed regions and exposed regions comprising a polymer comprising pendant sulfonic acid groups. The exposed regions are contacted with electroless seed metal ions to form a pattern of electroless seed metal ions. The electroless seed metal ions are reduced to provide a pattern of electroless seed metal nuclei that are then electrolessly plated with a conductive metal.

Abstract: Various patterning methods utilize certain crosslinkable reactive polymers comprise -A- and -B- recurring units, arranged randomly along a backbone. The -A- recurring units comprise pendant aromatic sulfonic acid oxime ester groups that are capable of providing pendant aromatic sulfonic acid groups upon irradiation with radiation having a ?max of at least 150 nm and up to and including 450 nm. The -A- recurring units are present in the reactive polymer in an amount of up to and including 98 mol % based on total reactive polymer recurring units. The -B- recurring units comprise pendant groups that provide crosslinking upon generation of the aromatic sulfonic acid groups in the -A- recurring units. The -B- recurring units are present in an amount of at least 2 mol %, based on total reactive polymer recurring units.

Abstract: Crosslinkable reactive polymers comprise -A- and —B— recurring units, arranged randomly along a backbone. The -A- recurring units comprise pendant aromatic sulfonic acid oxime ester groups that are capable of providing pendant aromatic sulfonic acid groups upon irradiation with radiation having a ?max of at least 150 nm and up to and including 450 nm. The -A- recurring units are present in the reactive polymer in an amount of greater than 50 mol % and up to and including 98 mol % based on total reactive polymer recurring units. The —B— recurring units comprise pendant groups that provide crosslinking upon generation of the aromatic sulfonic acid groups in the -A- recurring units. The —B— recurring units are present in an amount of at least 2 mol %, based on total reactive polymer recurring units. These reactive polymers can be used in various pattern-forming methods.