Abstract: A wearable pollutant indicator, methods of making and using same. The indicator includes a polymeric film substrate having a first side and a second side, an adhesive disposed on the first side of the substrate, and a readily understood user interface disposed on the second side of the substrate, wherein the user interface comprises a qualitative indicator of the accumulated exposure to incident airborne particulate pollution as sensed through the reaction of the transition metal oxides therein.

Abstract: A wearable pollutant indicator, methods of making and using same. The indicator includes a polymeric film substrate having a first side and a second side, an adhesive disposed on the first side of the substrate, and a readily understood user interface disposed on the second side of the substrate, wherein the user interface comprises a qualitative indicator of the accumulated exposure to incident airborne particulate pollution as sensed through the reaction of the transition metal oxides therein.

Abstract: A wearable UV indicator, methods of making and using same. The indicator includes a polymeric film substrate having a first side and a second side, an adhesive disposed on the first side of the substrate, and a readily understood user interface disposed on the second side of the substrate, wherein the user interface comprises a qualitative indicator of instantaneous intensity of solar ultraviolet irradiation and a qualitative indicator of accumulated exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: Provided is an oriented polymeric sheet comprising a photochromic-dichroic material, wherein the sheet exhibits dichroism in an activated state. Also provided is a multilayer composite comprising at least a support layer; and an oriented thermoplastic polymeric sheet having two opposing surfaces and comprising a photochromic-dichroic material. The sheet exhibits dichroism in an activated state. At least one surface of the sheet is connected to at least a portion of the support layer. The present invention also relates to an optical element comprising the multilayer composite. Related methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: Described is a method of preparing a cured, non-elastomeric polyurethane-containing film including: a) providing as a first component comprising a polyurethane material having isocyanate functional groups; b) providing as a second component a material having active hydrogen-containing functional groups that are reactive with isocyanate; c) combining the first and second components to form a reaction mixture; d) casting the reaction mixture onto a support substrate in a substantially uniform thickness to form a film thereon; e) heating the film on the support substrate to a temperature and for a time sufficient to yield a cured film; and f) removing the cured film from the support substrate to yield a non-elastomeric polyurethane-containing free film. The free film is non-birefringent. Optical elements and articles prepared from the films are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is an optical element including: a substrate; and at least one at least partially aligned thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound connected to at least a portion of the substrate and having an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in an activated state.

Abstract: Provided is a method for making a customized lens including applying a customizable material onto a surface of an ophthalmic substrate; and writing index-change information to the material to form a variable-index layer on the substrate surface. Also provided is a customized ophthalmic element including an ophthalmic substrate; and a variable-index layer of a liquid crystal material connected to at least a portion of the substrate. Further provided is an ophthalmic element having a pair of complementary substrates, each of which has a complementary surface and being positioned such that their complementary surfaces are spaced apart and facing each other, an alignment layer of a patterned alignment material connected to at least one of the complementary surfaces of the pair of substrates, and a variable-index coating interposed between the pair of substrates, such that the liquid crystal material of the variable-index coating is aligned with the patterned alignment material.

Abstract: Provided is an optical element including: a substrate; at least one at least partially ordered orientation facility connected to at least a portion of the substrate; and an at least partial coating connected to at least a portion of the at least partially ordered orientation facility. The at least partial coating includes at least one at least partially ordered anisotropic material. At least one photochromic-dichroic compound is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially ordered anisotropic material.

Abstract: A security element connected to at least a portion of a substrate, the security element including an at least partial coating having a first state and a second state connected to at least a portion of the substrate, the at least partial coating being adapted to switch from a first state to a second state in response to at least actinic radiation, to revert back to the first state in response to thermal energy, and to linearly polarize at least transmitted radiation in at least one of the first state and the second state.

Abstract: Provided is an optical element including a substrate; a first at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered alignment medium connected to at least a portion of at least one surface of the substrate; a second at least partial coating of an alignment transfer material that is connected to and at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially ordered alignment medium; and a third at least partial coating connected to at least a portion of the alignment transfer material, the third coating including at least one anisotropic material that is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially aligned alignment transfer material and at least one photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially aligned anisotropic material.

Abstract: An optical element including: a substrate; and an at least partial coating having a first state and a second state on at least a portion of the substrate, the at least partial coating being adapted to be circularly polarizing or elliptically polarizing in at least one state and containing: a chiral nematic or cholesteric liquid crystal material having molecules that are helically arranged through a thickness of the at least partial coating; and at least one photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with the liquid crystal material such that a long axis of a molecule of the photochromic-dichroic compound is generally parallel to the molecules of the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element including overmolding an at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material and at least one at least partially aligned photochromic-dichroic compound on at least a portion of an optical substrate.

Abstract: A method of making a composite element including: forming a sheet of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal polymer having at least a first general direction, a liquid crystal material having at least a second general direction distributed within at least a portion of the liquid crystal polymer; and at least one photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the liquid crystal material; and connecting at least a portion of the sheet to at least a portion of an optical substrate to form the composite element.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element including forming an at least partial coating of at least one at least partially aligned thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound on at least a portion of a substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a composite optical element including: a substrate; an at least partially ordered polymeric sheet connected to at least a portion of the substrate; and at least one thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with at least a portion of the at least partially ordered polymeric sheet and has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in the activated state.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element including: (a) forming an at least partial coating on at least a portion of a substrate; and (b) adapting at least a portion of the at least partial coating to switch from a first state to a second linearly polarizing state in response to actinic radiation and to revert back to the first sate in response to thermal energy.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell including: a first substrate having a first surface; a second substrate having a second surface, wherein the second surface of the second substrate is opposite and spaced apart from the first surface of the first substrate so as to define a region; and a liquid crystal material adapted to be at least partially ordered and at least one thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound adapted to be at least partially aligned and having an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in an activated state positioned within the region defined by the first surface and the second surface.

Abstract: Certain, non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure provide ophthalmic elements and devices comprising an at least partial coating adapted to polarize at least transmitted radiation on at least a portion of at least one exterior surface of an ophthalmic element or substrate. Further, according to certain non-limiting embodiments, the at least partial coating adapted to polarize at least transmitted radiation comprises at least one at least partially aligned dichroic material. Other non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure provide methods of making ophthalmic elements and devices comprising forming an at least partial coating adapted to polarize at least transmitted radiation on at least a portion of at least one exterior surface of the ophthalmic element or substrate. Optical elements and devices and method of making the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: Certain, non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure provide ophthalmic elements and devices comprising an at least partial coating adapted to polarize at least transmitted radiation on at least a portion of at least one exterior surface of an ophthalmic element or substrate. Further, according to certain non-limiting embodiments, the at least partial coating adapted to polarize at least transmitted radiation comprises at least one at least partially aligned dichroic material. Other non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure provide methods of making ophthalmic elements and devices comprising forming an at least partial coating adapted to polarize at least transmitted radiation on at least a portion of at least one exterior surface of the ophthalmic element or substrate. Optical elements and devices and method of making the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: Certain, non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure provide ophthalmic elements and devices comprising an at least partial coating adapted to polarize at least transmitted radiation on at least a portion of at least one exterior surface of an ophthalmic element or substrate. Further, according to certain non-limiting embodiments, the at least partial coating adapted to polarize at least transmitted radiation comprises at least one at least partially aligned dichroic material. Other non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure provide methods of making ophthalmic elements and devices comprising forming an at least partial coating adapted to polarize at least transmitted radiation on at least a portion of at least one exterior surface of the ophthalmic element or substrate. Optical elements and devices and method of making the same are also disclosed.