Abstract: A process for making a colored article of manufacture is disclosed. Accordingly an article of manufacture is first prepared of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, glass, ceramic, masonry and polymeric materials. A polymeric coating (superstrate) is then applied to at least a portion of the surface of the article. At least a portion of the superstrate is brought into contact with a material system that contains (i) water, (ii) a carrier, (iii) a dye and (iv) a diol, under conditions calculated to bring about diffusion of said dye into said superstrate.

Abstract: A process for making an article molded of polymeric material, the article featuring photochromic properties is disclosed. To at least a portion of the surface of an article, molded of a composition that contains at least one transparent thermoplastic polymer or a transparent thermosetting composition there is applied a curable weatherable polyurethane coating. At least a portion of the coating is after curing brought into contact with a material system that contains (i) water, (ii) at least one carrier conforming to wherein R1 is a radical selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl, benzyl, benzoyl and phenyl, R2 is R1 or H, n is 2, 3 or 4, and m is 1 to 35; (iii) a photochromic compound and (iv) a diol, under conditions calculated to bring about diffusion of said compound into the cured coating.

Abstract: A method of impregnating a plastic article with a drug is disclosed. Accordingly at least a portion of the surface of a plastic article is contacted with a treatment composition which contains: (i) at least one drug; (ii) water; (iii) at least one carrier represented by the following general Formula I, wherein R1 is a radical selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl, benzyl, benzoyl and phenyl, R2 is R1 or H, n is 2, 3 or 4, and m is 1 to 35; and (iv) a diol.

Abstract: A method of dyeing a semi-finished product is disclosed.

Abstract: A composition of matter (e.g., a molded article) is described. More particularly, the composition of matter includes: (a) a resinous component selected from at least one member of the group consisting of (co)polyester, (co)polycarbonates, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyamide, polyurethane, polyalkyl(meth)acrylate and styrene copolymers; (b) at least one water-insoluble dye; (c) a carrier represented by the following formula, R1[—O—(CH2)n]mOR2 wherein R2is butyl, R1 is H, n is 2 or 3, and m is 2-35; (d) an emulsifier that is poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-phenyl-omega-hydroxy, styrenated; and (e) a particulate or plate-like material, such as metal flakes.

Abstract: In the method of the present invention at least a portion of the surface of a plastic article (e.g., a molded article of thermoplastic polycarbonate) is contacted with (e.g., immersed in) a treatment composition which includes one or more performance additives. The treatment composition contains: (i) at least one performance additive (e.g., an ultraviolet light absorber); (ii) water; (iii) at least one carrier represented by the following general formula I, wherein R1 is a radical selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl, benzyl, benzoyl and phenyl, R2 is a radical selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl, benzyl, benzoyl, phenyl and H, n is 2, 3 or 4, and m is 1 to 35; and (iv) a diol selected from at least one of linear or branched C2-C20 aliphatic diols, poly(C2-C4 alkylene glycol), cycloaliphatic diols having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms in the cyclic ring, monocyclic aromatic diols, bisphenols and hydrogenated bisphenols.

Abstract: In the method of the present invention a plastic article (e.g., a molded article of thermoplastic polycarbonate) is immersed at least partially in a dye bath which includes one or more dyes, water, at least one carrier, and at least one diol. The dye bath contains: (i) at least one dye (e.g., a static and/or photochromic dye); (ii) water; (iii) at least one carrier represented by the following general formula I, R—O—(CH2)n—OH ??I wherein R is a radical selected from linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl, benzyl, benzoyl and phenyl, and n is 2 or 3; and (iv) a diol selected from at least one of linear or branched C2-C20 aliphatic diols, poly(C2-C4 alkylene glycol), cycloaliphatic diols having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms in the cyclic ring, monocyclic aromatic diols, bisphenols and hydrogenated bisphenols. In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier is ethyleneglycol butyl ether, and the diol is diethylene glycol.