Abstract: Oligomers that contain an ethylenically unsaturated group, a silane group, and an aspartate group and/or hydantoin group are described. Also disclosed are methods for producing and using such compounds, such as their use in coating compositions, such as coating compositions suitable for application to optical glass fiber substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a coated article which includes: (a) providing a substrate; (b) applying a photo-polymerizable coating composition to at least a portion of the substrate, where the photo-polymerizable coating composition includes a photo-polymerizable anisotropic material, and a photoinitiator; (c) ordering the anisotropic material present in the photo-polymerizable coating composition; and (d) exposing the ordered photo-polymerizable coating composition of (c) to a light emitting diode light source having a peak emission wavelength ranging from 385 to 460 nanometers to cure the photo-polymerizable coating composition. The photoinitiator is capable of activation at the emission wavelength of the light emitting diode light source.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing oligomer mixtures with one or more moieties capable of forming a multi-hydrogen bonding dimer. The method comprises the steps of providing certain intermediate reaction products; adding a polyol component to the intermediate reaction product to yield an oligomer mixture comprising one or more multi-hydrogen bonding groups; and further reacting the mixture with certain isocyanate-reactive compounds to yield a multi-hydrogen bonding oligomer, wherein solvents comprise less than 50% of the total by weight of all reagents used in the synthesis of the multi-hydrogen bonding oligomer. Preferably, such methods involve no separation, distillation, or isolation of any intermediate product, and as such, they are particularly useful for a continuous or one-pot synthesis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are self-healing oligomers according to the structure [UPy-(Dm-U-Dm)(2+q)]-[A(G)(n?1)-Dm]k-Z; wherein UPy, D, m, U, q, A, G, n, k, and Z are defined and described further herein, and wherein the oligomer possesses at least 3 urethane linking groups and comprises a backbone derived from a polyether polyol, a polyester polyol, a poly(dimethylsiloxane), a disulfide polyol, or combinations thereof. Also described and claimed are various compositions containing such oligomers as part of a self-healing component, wherein such compositions also include an optional reactive monomer and/or oligomer component and a photoinitiator component. Yet further described and claimed are articles cured from the compositions elsewhere described using the oligomers elsewhere described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are multi-layered optical devices including a polymeric layer disposed between and in contact with a first optical element layer and a second optical element layer, wherein the polymeric layer comprises a product of a composition comprising a self-healing component, wherein said self-healing component consists of or consists essentially of molecules comprising selfhealing moieties, wherein said composition possesses either: (a) greater than 30 wt. %, relative to the weight of the entire composition, of the self-healing component; or (b) greater than 0.015 equivalents of self-healing moieties per 100 g of the composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions for coating an optical fiber containing an optional reactive monomer and/or oligomer, a self-healing component with self-healing moieties, an initiator component, and optionally an additive component. The self-healing component preferably includes polymerizable moieties. Such compositions contain greater than 30% by weight of the self-healing component, and/or greater than 0.015 equivalents of self-healing moieties per 100 g of the composition. Also disclosed herein are coated optical fibers having a glass fiber, at least one coating layer and an optional ink layer, which are configured to possess self-healing properties and/or stress relaxation behavior. Further disclosed are methods for coating self-healing optical fibers, and optical fiber cables comprising a one or more self-healing coated optical fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions for coating an optical fiber containing an optional reactive monomer and/or oligomer, a self-healing component with self-healing moieties, an initiator component, and optionally an additive component. The self-healing component preferably includes polymerizable moieties. Such compositions contain greater than 30% by weight of the self-healing component, and/or greater than 0.015 equivalents of self-healing moieties per 100 g of the composition. Also disclosed herein are coated optical fibers having a glass fiber, at least one coating layer and an optional ink layer, which are configured to possess self-healing properties and/or stress relaxation behavior. Further disclosed are methods for coating self-healing optical fibers, and optical fiber cables comprising a one or more self-healing coated optical fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions for coating an optical fiber containing an optional reactive monomer and/or oligomer, a self-healing component with self-healing moieties, an initiator component, and optionally an additive component. The self-healing component preferably includes polymerizable moieties. Such compositions contain greater than 30% by weight of the self-healing component, and/or greater than 0.015 equivalents of self-healing moieties per 100 g of the composition. Also disclosed herein are coated optical fibers having a glass fiber, at least one coating layer and an optional ink layer, which are configured to possess self-healing properties and/or stress relaxation behavior. Further disclosed are methods for coating self-healing optical fibers, and optical fiber cables comprising a one or more self-healing coated optical fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymers that include residues of at least one monomer represented by the following Formula (I). With reference to Formula (I), at least one of E1 and E2 independently is, or is independently substituted with, at least one reactive group, such as a (meth)acryloyl group. Monomers represented by Formula (I) and monomer residues thereof have alignment properties, such as photoalignment properties. The present invention also relates to alignment layers that include such polymers, and articles of manufacture, such as optical elements, that include one or more such alignment layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarizing article that includes in order: (a) a substrate; (b) a first orientation facility having a first orientation direction; (c) a first polarized layer, that includes a first dichroic fixed-tint dye and a first liquid-crystal material, and which has a first polarization axis; (d) a second orientation facility having a second orientation direction; and (e) a second polarized layer that includes a second dichroic fixed-tint dye and a second liquid-crystal material, and which has a second polarization axis. The first and second polarization axes are oriented relative to each other at an angle of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°. The electromagnetic absorption spectra of the first and second dichroic fixed-tint dyes are different from each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formula (I). With reference to Formula (I), at least one of E1 and E2 independently is, or is independently substituted with, at least one reactive group, such as a (meth)acryloyl group. The compounds of the present invention can be used alone and/or in combination with polymers prepared from such compounds, such as to form or as one or more components of an alignment layer.

Abstract: A transmission device is provided, including a first housing, a second housing connected to the first housing, a third housing axially connected to the second housing, an adapter disposed on the third housing, a first power shaft actuating the first housing and the second housing to rotate, a second power shaft actuating the third housing to rotate, and a third power shaft actuating the adapter to rotate. The second and third power shafts are a coaxial structure. The first power shaft is an independent rod. Therefore, a motor loaded with a smaller rotation inertia and being thus cheaper can be used to drive the first power shaft, and the transmission device can have a reduced cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making fused ring compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthols, and fused ring indenopyran compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthopyrans, that each employ an unsaturated compound represented by the following Formula II. Referring to the unsaturated compound of Formula II: Ring-A can be selected from optionally substituted aryl (e.g., phenyl); m can be, for example, from 0 to 4; R1 for each m can be selected from optionally substituted hydrocarbyl (e.g., C1-C6 alkyl) optionally interrupted with at least one linking group (e.g., —O—); and R3 and R16 can each be independently selected from, for example, hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, such as C1-C8 alkyl. When Ring-A is a phenyl group, the unsaturated compound represented by Formula II can be referred to as an unsaturated indanone acid/ester compound, or an indenone acid/ester compound (depending on whether R16 is hydrogen, or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group).

Abstract: Compounds that have ultraviolet light absorbing properties, and which can also have mesogenic properties. Compositions that include one or more such compounds. Articles of manufacture that include one or more such compounds, such as optical elements that include an optical substrate and a layer that includes at least one such compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarizing article that includes in order: (a) a substrate; (b) a first orientation facility having a first orientation direction; (c) a first polarized layer, that includes a first dichroic fixed-tint dye and a first liquid-crystal material, and which has a first polarization axis; (d) a second orientation facility having a second orientation direction; and (e) a second polarized layer that includes a second dichroic fixed-tint dye and a second liquid-crystal material, and which has a second polarization axis. The first and second polarization axes are oriented relative to each other at an angle of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°. The electromagnetic absorption spectra of the first and second dichroic fixed-tint dyes are different from each other.

Abstract: A load balancing device for a robot arm including a pneumatic cylinder and a piston rod is provided. The pneumatic cylinder, used to store a gas, includes a first chamber, a second chamber and a communicating passage, wherein the communicating passage connects the first chamber and the second chamber. The piston rod has one end connected to the robot arm and the other end slidably disposed in the pneumatic cylinder. The piston rod adjusts the volume and the pressure of the gas in the first chamber and the second chamber according to a load, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are coaxially disposed in the axial direction of the pneumatic cylinder.

Abstract: A photochromic compound is provided, which may be a pyran, an oxazine, or a fulgide. The photochromic compound has at least one substituent Q attached thereto, each Q independently being —N3, —CN, —COOR?, —CCR?, —C(R?)C(R?)R?, —OCOR?, —OCOOR?, —SR?, —OSO2R??, and/or —CON(R?)R?, wherein each R? is hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, an unsubstituted or substituted alkene or alkyne group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents are halo or hydroxyl and R?? is —CF3 or a perfluorinated alkyl group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms The number, locations and nature of the constituents Q are dependent upon the structure of the photochromic compound.

Abstract: A photochromic compound is provided, which may be a pyran, an oxazine, or a fulgide. The photochromic compound has at least one substituent Q attached thereto, each Q independently being —N3, —CN, —COOR?, —CCR?, —C(R?)C(R?)R?, —OCOR?, —OCOOR?, —SR?, —OSO2R??, and/or CON(R?)R?, wherein each R? is hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, an unsubstituted or substituted alkene or alkyne group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents are halo or hydroxyl and R?? is —CF3 or a perfluorinated alkyl group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms The number, locations and nature of the constituents Q are dependent upon the structure of the photochromic compound.

Abstract: A photochromic compound is provided, which may be a pyran, an oxazine, or a fulgide. The photochromic compound has at least one substituent Q attached thereto, each Q independently being —N3, —CN, —COOR?, —CCR?, —C(R?)C(R?)R?, —OCOR?, —OCOOR?, —SR?, —OSO2R??, and/or —CON(R?)R?, wherein each R? is hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, an unsubstituted or substituted alkene or alkyne group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents are halo or hydroxyl and R?? is —CF3 or a perfluorinated alkyl group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms The number, locations and nature of the constituents Q are dependent upon the structure of the photochromic compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photochromic articles that include a substrate and at least one photochromic material that is adapted to change from an unactivated form to an activated form by exposure to radiation substantially in the wavelength range from 380 to 450 nanometers when measured over a range of from 380 to 700 nanometers. The photochromic article is also adapted to retain at least 12 percent of the delta OD measured in the Outdoor Test when tested in the Behind the Windshield Test. The photochromic material can be selected from certain compounds including, for example, fluoranthenoxazines, naphthopyrans, phenanthropyrans, fluoranthenopyrans, and indenonaphthopyrans, which each have bonded thereto at least one chiral or achiral lengthening group that provides the photochromic compound with dichroic properties. The present invention also relates to methods of forming a photochromic article.