Abstract: An imaging process uses an imaging medium comprising a polymer having a plurality of first groups. This polymer is imagewise contacted with an imaging reagent comprising a plurality of second groups, thus causing, in the areas of the medium exposed to the imaging reagent, the second groups to react with the first groups and form a colored material, and thereby forming an image on the imaging medium. One of the first and second groups comprises a benzotriazinone or benzothiatriazine-4,4-dioxide benzotriazinone moiety and the other comprises a naphthol or a pyrazalone moiety.

Abstract: An electroluminescent polymer comprises a main chain and a plurality of side chains, each of the side chains comprising an electroluminescent group and a flexible spacer connecting the electroluminescent group to the main chain, the spacers and the main chain being such that the electroluminescent groups are not conjugated with one another. The nature of the main chain and the spacer groups can be varied to enhance solubility, film-forming ability and other characteristics of the polymer, without significantly changing the electroluminescent properties of the polymer.

Abstract: An image-receiving element and a method of using same in the production of images by thermal dye transfer processing, the image-receiving element comprising a support, a polymeric security layer having a printed security layer, and an image-receiving layer for receiving dye by thermal transfer from a dye donor sheet, the polymeric security layer having cohesivity less than its adhesivity for each layer contiguous and the printed security pattern being destroyed by an attempted delamination of the image-receiving layer from the image-receiving element.

Abstract: Electroluminescent devices have, as the active layer, a polymer having a chain comprising a plurality of electroluminescent groupings, adjacent pairs of the electroluminescent groupings being connected via two benzene rings linked by only a single covalent bond, at least one of the benzene rings bearing, at a position ortho to the covalent bond, a substituent of sufficient size that the two benzene rings are essentially not conjugated with each other. Preferred electroluminescent groupings comprise a chain of three or more para-phenylene groups connected to one another by amide, carboxy, ester, urea, urethane or vinyl groups. The polymers have a fixed conjugation length with predictable electroluminescent properties.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compounds which show a ferroelectric phase and which exhibit high spontaneous polarization values and smectic behavior over a range of temperatures have the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl of from 1 to 16 carbon atoms; alkoxy; haloalkyl; alkoxyalkyl, wherein the alkoxy substituent thereof comprises a chain of carbon atoms including one or more oxygen ether atoms; or alkoxyalkoxy, wherein the alkoxy substituent thereof comprises a chain of carbon atoms including one or more oxygen ether atoms; R.sup.2 is alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is alkylene; n is an integer 1 or 2; and W is alkyl of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms or fluoroalkyl of the formula ##STR2## wherein each of X, Y and Z is hydrogen or fluorine, m is zero or an integer from 1 to 6, and at least one of X, Y and Z is fluorine when m is zero.

Abstract: Disclosed are smetic liquid crystal compounds exhibiting ferroelectric behavior and having the formulaR.sup.1 --OR.sup.2).sub.a O--R.sup.3).sub.b Z--R*wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl or alkoxyalkyl, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each alkylene, a is an integer of at least one, b is zero or one, R* is an optically active group containing an asymmetric center and --Z-- is an organic divalent core radical having parallel or coaxially extending bonds at the terminal ends thereof, the core radical having an axial ratio of at least two and being characterized by an essentially rigid and flat molecular structure. Presence of the ether-interrupted hydrocarbon tail moiety at the terminal end of the compounds provides a lowering in observed temperatures of phase transition.

Abstract: Ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable acrylic (or methacrylic) monomers having pendant halogenated carbazole moieties, useful for the production of high refractive index polymers, are disclosed. The monomers are useful for the bonding of optical elements in the fabrication of optical devices.

Abstract: A process for thermal imaging uses a donor sheet and a receiving sheet. The donor sheet comprises a support and a dye capable of being transferred by heat, while the receiving sheet is adapted to receive the dye and thereby form an image. The donor and receiving sheets are placed adjacent one another, and at least one of the adjacent faces of the donor and receiving sheets has a layer of a polymeric liquid crystal thereon. Selected portions of the donor sheet are heated so as to transfer dye from the donor sheet to the receiving sheet, thereby forming an image on the receiving sheet.

Abstract: Melt-processable polyesteramides capable of exhibiting melt-phase anisotropy at temperatures of approximately 360.degree. C. and lower are disclosed. The polyesteramides contain certain essential 2,2'-substituted biphenylene radicals and repeating units which provide ester and amide linkages. The polyesteramides exhibit melt processability suitable for processing into films and fibers.

Abstract: Aromatic polyesteramides exhibiting melt processability are disclosed. The polyesteramides comprise certain essential repeating units of the formulas ##STR1## wherein X is alkyl, alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, halogen or nitro. The polyesteramides exhibit melt anisotropy. Films and fibers combining a balance of properties suited to high strength service can be provided from the melt-processable polyesteramides.

Abstract: A class of polyesters comprising recurring units having certain bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenylene radicals is disclosed. The polyesters exhibit favorable solubility properties in certain organic solvents so as to facilitate the production of the polyesters via polycondensation methods to film- and fiber-forming molecular weights. Monomeric compounds comprising a bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenylene radical and useful for the production of the polyesters are also disclosed.

Abstract: A class of aromatic polyesters exhibiting melt processability is disclosed. A portion of repeating 2,2'-substituted-biphenylene radicals in an aromatic polyester is replaced by certain other aromatic radicals to provide an aromatic polyester which exhibits low-melting properties, melt processability and melt anisotropy. The aromatic polyesters can be melt processed to films and fibers.

Abstract: There are described novel perylene dyes which have at least one, and preferably two, substituted twisted biphenylene radicals. The substituted biphenylene radicals include substituents which confer a non-coplanar molecular configuration about the long axis of the dye molecule. The dyes are soluble in various liquid crystal materials and exhibit a high order parameter in solutions of liquid crystal material. Also disclosed are liquid crystal compositions and liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: Aromatic polyesters exhibiting melt processability are disclosed. The polyesters comprise repeating units of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or nitro. The polyesters exhibit low-melting properties, melt processability and melt anisotropy. The aromatic polyesters can be melt processed to films and fibers.

Abstract: Optical devices including a molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer are disclosed. The devices include molecularly oriented polymers comprising recurring units which exhibit a distribution of high electron density about the long axes of the polymer and the recurring units thereof. Transparent birefringent polymers comprising a plurality of recurring units having a substantially cylindrical distribution of electron density about the long axis of such units and the chain-extended polymers are included in optical devices and articles. The polymers exhibit high birefringence and simulate in a polymer the optical properties of a uniaxial crystal.

Abstract: Optical devices including a molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer are disclosed. The devices include molecularly oriented polymers comprising recurring units which exhibit a distribution of high electron density about the long axes of the polymer and the recurring units thereof. Transparent birefringent polymers comprising a plurality of recurring units having a substantially cylindrical distribution of electron density about the long axis of such units and the chain-extended polymers are included in optical devices and articles. The polymers exhibit high birefringence and simulate in a polymer the optical properties of a uniaxial crystal.

Abstract: Optical devices including a molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer are disclosed. The devices include molecularly oriented polymers comprising recurring units which exhibit a distribution of high electron density about the long axes of the polymer and the recurring units thereof. Transparent birefringent polymers comprising a plurality of recurring units having a substantially cylindrical distribution of electron density about the long axis of such units and the chain-extended polymers are included in optical devices and articles. The polymers exhibit high birefringence and simulate in a polymer the optical properties of uniaxial crystal.

Abstract: A class of polyamides comprising recurring units having substituted-quaterphenylene radicals is disclosed. The polymers comprise recurring units of the formula ##STR1## wherein each of A and B is a divalent radical, except that B can represent a single bond; R and R.sup.1 are each hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl; and c is zero or one; and wherein, when c is one, at least one of A and B is a substituted-quaterphenylene radical having the formula ##STR2## where each U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, each p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and each r is an integer from 1 to 4, the U, W.sub.p and X.sub.r substitution being sufficient to provide the radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration; and wherein, when c is zero, A is a substituted-quaterphenylene radical as aforedescribed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a class of polymers comprising recurring units of the formula ##STR1## where Mu is a divalent radical having the formula ##STR2## where each of D, D', E and E' is hydrogen, alkyl or substituted-alkyl; and Az is a divalent radical having the formula ##STR3## where each of R and R' is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl and W is a single bond, alkylene or alkenylene; or Az is a divalent radical having the formula ##STR4## where each of Y and Y' represent the atoms necessary to complete a piperazine or substituted-piperazine radical.Molecularly oriented polymers of the invention exhibit birefringence and can be utilized in filter, polarizing and other optical devices.

Abstract: A class of polyamides comprising recurring units having certain substituted-biphenylene or substituted-stilbene radicals is disclosed. The substituted radicals include substituents so as to confer a non-coplanar molecular configuration and a substantially cylindrical distribution of electron density about the long axis of the recurring units and the chain-extended polymers including such radicals.Molecularly oriented polymers of the invention exhibit optically uniaxial properties. The highly berefringent polymers are suited to applicaiton in optical filter and other devices where a refractive and birefringent material is desired.