Abstract: Techniques, systems, and assemblies are presented relating to micro spacers positioned between optical substrates. In some embodiments, a stacked optical assembly comprises a first optical substrate having a first index of refraction greater than 1.4, a second optical substrate having a second index of refraction greater than 1.4 and disposed in a stacked position relative to the first optical substrate, and a plurality of micro spacers positioned between the first optical substrate and the second optical substrate. The plurality of micro spacers may maintain a gap having a gap height between the first optical substrate and the second optical substrate. The plurality of micro spacers may be fixedly attached to (a) the first optical substrate, (b) the second optical substrate, or (c) both the first optical substrate and the second optical substrate.

Abstract: A multilayer polymer thin film includes an anti-reflective coating directly overlying a reflective polarizer stack. The reflective polarizer stack includes alternating first and second polymer layers, where the first layers include an isotropic polymer thin film and the second layers include an anisotropic polymer thin film. The anti-reflective coating (ARC) includes alternating third and fourth layers, where the third layers include an isotropic polymer thin film or an anisotropic polymer thin film and the fourth layers include an isotropic polymer thin film. The multilayer polymer thin film may be formed by co-extrusion where the reflective polarizer stack and the anti-reflective coating are formed simultaneously.

Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyethylene having a molecular weight of at least approximately 250,000 g/mol, and has an elastic modulus of at least approximately 25 GPa, a tensile strength of at least approximately 0.8 GPa, and a thermal conductivity of at least approximately 5 W/mK. Formation of the polymer thin film may include forming a polymer solution from a crystallizable polyethylene and a liquid solvent, forming a gel from the polymer solution, forming a polymer thin film from the gel by calendering or solid state extrusion, and stretching the polymer thin film.

Abstract: A lens is provided. The lens includes a first material layer including a first lens material with a first birefringence, a first density, and a first impact resistance. The lens also includes a second material layer coupled with the first material layer and including a second lens material with a second birefringence, a second density, and a second impact resistance. The first birefringence is lower than the second birefringence, the first density is lower than the second density, and the second impact resistance is stronger than the first impact resistance.

Abstract: A polymer multilayer includes two or more laminated layers of ultra-drawn, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene or high density polyethylene. A transparent laminated structure may include such a polymer multilayer disposed between a pair of transparent substrates. The polymer multilayer may be configured to induce a compressive stress in a near surface region of each transparent substrate, which may improve the toughness and fracture resistance of the laminated structure. A photothermal dye may be incorporated into the polymer matrix and the compressive stresses may be achieved using photothermal actuation of the dye-containing polyethylene layers.

Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer thin film may be formed by gel casting a solution that includes a crystallizable polymer and a liquid solvent. The solvent may be configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the cast thin film. The thin film may also include up to approximately 90 wt. % of an additive and may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution of a crystallizable polymer where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. In some examples, the polymer(s) and the additive(s) may be independently selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropene, vinyl fluoride, etc. The anisotropic polymer thin film may be characterized by an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least 0.1.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for converting a multilayer film to a plurality of nano-ribbons. The process includes co-extruding a first film and a second film to form the multilayer film, slitting the multilayer film to form a plurality of multilayer ribbons, and separating the multilayer ribbons to form a plurality of nano-ribbons having substantially flat cross-sections.

Abstract: Stretch-release adhesives are provided which are derived from mixtures comprising: a) a tackified styrenic block copolymer comprising: i) one or more tackifiers; and ii) one or more styrenic block copolymers; wherein the weight ratio of i) to ii) is not more than 1.0:2.0; and b) one or more (meth)acrylate polymers. In some embodiments, the weight ratio of a) to b) is between 0.4:1.0 and 5.0:1.0 and in some between 1.0:1.0 and 3.9:1.0. In some embodiments, the one or more styrenic block copolymers comprise at least 90 wt % linear block copolymers. In some embodiments, the tackifiers are miscible with rubbery blocks of the styrenic block copolymers and not miscible with the (meth)acrylate polymers. In some embodiments, the mixture is crosslinked. Tapes comprising stretch-release adhesives according to the present disclosure are also provided.

Abstract: Traditionally, the rheological properties, including, for example, the viscosities, of two or more polymers that are to be co-extruded must be well matched in order to obtain acceptable multilayer structures. This limitation severely narrows the processing window for such co-extrusions as well as the combinations of polymers that can be used in such co-extrusions. The technology disclosed herein removes these limitations and allows for the co-extrusion of a wider variety of combinations of polymers, even when the rheological properties of the polymers to be used are significantly different, while still providing acceptable multilayer structures. Stated another way, the technology disclosed herein improves the multilayer structures that can be obtained when processing two or more polymer materials with significantly different rheological properties via layer-multiplying co-extrusion.