Abstract: A process for aligning liquid crystals adjacent to a surface of an optical alignment layer comprising: exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of a liquid crystal medium at an angle + and − with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer; and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer; wherein said anisotropically absorbing molecules consist essentially of diary ketones, is described.

Abstract: A process for aligning liquid crystals adjacent to a surface of an optical alignment layer comprising: exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of a liquid crystal medium at an angle + and - with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer; and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer; wherein said anisotropically absorbing molecules consist essentially of diaryl ketones, is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amine compositions and the preparation of polyimides. The polyimides can be used for inducing alignment of a liquid crystal medium with polarized light and liquid crystal display elements.

Abstract: A process for inducing pre-tilt in alignment of a liquid crystal medium comprising exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules and hydrophobic moieties, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of the liquid crystal medium at an angle + and -.theta. with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer, and induce a pre-tilt at an angle .PHI. with respect to the surface of the optical alignment layer and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer, is described. The invention also is directed to liquid crystal display elements made by the process of the invention and to novel polyimide compositions that are useful as optical alignment layers in the invention.

Abstract: A process for inducing pre-tilt in alignment of a liquid crystal medium comprising exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules and hydrophobic moieties, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of the liquid crystal medium at an angle + and -.theta. with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer, and induce a pre-tilt at an angle .PHI. with respect to the surface of the optical alignment layer and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer, is described. The invention also is directed to liquid crystal display elements made by the process of the invention and to novel polyimide compositions that are useful as optical alignment layers in the invention.

Abstract: An optical storage medium with gray scale capability comprising: a plurality of facing substrates in series; alignment layers disposed on one or both sides of the substrates to give alignment layer pair(s) wherein at least one of the alignment layers of each of the alignment layer pair(s) is an optical alignment layer, and wherein the optical alignment layer(s) comprise anisotropically absorbing molecules or moieties; liquid crystal layers disposed between the alignment layer pair(s); wherein, each of the liquid crystal layer(s) comprises three or more alignment regions having three or more different alignment states; and, wherein the different alignment states are controlled by exposure of optical alignment layer(s) with polarized light of a wavelength or wavelengths within the absorption band of the anisotropically absorbing molecules or moieties therein, is described. The invention is also directed to compact disc, erasable compact discs, photographic storage devices, and storage displays.

Abstract: A process for inducing pre-tilt in alignment of a liquid crystal medium comprising exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules and hydrophobic moieties, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of the liquid crystal medium at an angle + and -.theta. with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer, and induce a pre-tilt at an angle .PHI. with respect to the surface of the optical alignment layer and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer, is described. The invention also is directed to liquid crystal display elements made by the process of the invention and to novel polyimide compositions that are useful as optical alignment layers in the invention.

Abstract: A process for aligning liquid crystals adjacent to a surface of an optical alignment layer comprising: exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of a liquid crystal medium at an angle +and-.theta. with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer; and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer; wherein said anisotropically absorbing molecules consist essentially of diaryl ketones, is described.

Abstract: A process for inducing pre-tilt in alignment of a liquid crystal medium comprising exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules and hydrophobic moieties, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of the liquid crystal medium at an angle + and -.theta. with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer, and induce a pre-tilt at an angle .PHI. with respect to the surface of the optical alignment layer and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer, is described. The invention also is directed to liquid crystal display elements made by the process of the invention and to novel polyimide compositions that are useful as optical alignment layers in the invention.

Abstract: Organosilicon polymers, including crosslinked polymers and crosslinkable prepolymers, of cyclic polysiloxanes, organic dyes, and, optionally, polyenes. The dyes include those with delocalized Pi electron systems linking electron donor groups and electron acceptor groups, and with at least two carbon--carbon double bond-containing pendant groups attached to at least two different sites from among the indicated delocalized Pi electron systems, donor groups, and acceptor groups.

Abstract: Organosilicon polymers, including crosslinked polymers and crosslinkable prepolymers, of cyclic polysiloxane, organic dyes, and, optionally, polyenes. The dyes include those with delocalized Pi electron systems linking electron donor groups and electron acceptor groups, and with at least two carbon-carbon double bond-containing pendant groups attached to at least two different sites from among the indicated delocalized Pi electron systems, donor groups, and acceptor groups.

Abstract: Organosilicon polymers, including crosslinked polymers and crosslinkable prepolymers, of cyclic polysiloxanes, organic dyes, and, optionally, polyenes. The dyes include those with delocalized Pi electron systems linking electron donor groups and electron acceptor groups, and with at least two carbon-carbon double bond-containing pendant groups attached to at least two different sites from among the indicated delocalized Pi electron systems, donor groups, and acceptor groups. Also disclosed are optical substrates coated with the organosilicon crosslinked polymers exhibiting second order non-linear optical susceptibility.

Abstract: Organosilicon polymers, including crosslinked polymers and crosslinkable prepolymers, of cyclic polysiloxanes, organic dyes, and, optionally, polyenes. The dyes include those with delocalized Pi electron systems linking electron donor groups and electron acceptor groups, and with at least two carbon-carbon double bond-containing pendant groups attached to at least two different sites from among the indicated delocalized Pi electron systems, donor groups, and acceptor groups.

Abstract: Organosilicon polymers, including crosslinked polymers and crosslinkable prepolymers, of cyclic polysiloxanes, organic dyes, and, optionally, polyenes. The dyes include those with delocalized Pi electron systems linking electron donor groups and electron acceptor groups, and with at least two carbon-carbon double bond-containing pendant groups attached to at least two different sites from among the indicated delocalized Pi electron systems, donor groups, and acceptor groups.

Abstract: Ionized crosslinked polyacrylamide gels are provided that are capable of drastic volume changes in response to minor changes in solvent concentration, temperature of pH or salt concentration of the solvent. The gels can contain a metal ion.

Abstract: A liquid crystal polymer film or fiber comprising polymeric liquid crystals having aligned multiple oriented mesogens and a process for preparing such a polymeric liquid crystal film or fiber comprising aligning in a multi-oriented state a nematic or smectic monomeric mesophase (liquid crystal monomer) and photopolymerizing the mesophase, are disclosed. The film or fiber may be adhered to a substrate, part of a liquid crystal display cell, or a free standing polymeric film or fiber. According to a preferred process, the mesophase is aligned in a multi-oriented state using linearly polarized light.

Abstract: A process of aligning or realigning a liquid crystal medium adjacent to a substrate which process comprises (1) exposing anisotropically absorbing molecules disposed on the substrate, disposed in the liquid crystal medium or which themselves are the liquid crystal medium to linearly polarized light of a wavelength or wavelengths within the absorption band of the anisotropically absorbing molecules, wherein (a) the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of the liquid crystal medium at an angle + and - .theta.

Abstract: A process of aligning or realigning a liquid crystal medium adjacent to a coated or uncoated substrate comprising exposing anisotropically absorbing molecules to linearly polarized light of a wavelength or wavelengths within the absorption band of the anisotropically absorbing molecules, wherein (a) the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of the liquid crystal medium at an angle + and -.theta. with respect to the direction of the linear polarization of the incident light beam and along a surface of the liquid crystal medium and (b) the liquid crystal medium comprises liquid crystals having a molecular weight of less than 1500, and liquid crystal cells and devices prepared by this process, are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are gelled aqueous compositions having (1)(a) a water thickening amount of an anionic or nonionic water soluble polymer in fresh water or brine solutions at a pH of greater than 10; (b) a water thickening amount of an anionic water soluble polymer having carboxylate functionality and a cellulose backbone in brine solutions at an acidic pH; or (c) a water thickening amount of (i) an anionic water soluble polymer having carboxylate functionality and a cellulose backbone or (ii) a copolymer of sodium acrylate having from about 10% to about 90% acrylate content, in brine solutions at neutral to about 10 pH; and (2) a water soluble cationic poly(diallylamine)-epichlorohydrin resin in an amount sufficient to cause gelation and form the gelled composition. The compositions are useful in the recovery of oil and gas by fracturing and as a matrix plugging agent in enhanced oil recovery.

Abstract: Ionized crosslinked polyacrylamide gels are provided that are capable of drastic volume changes in response to minor changes in solvent concentration, temperature of pH or salt concentration of the solvent. The gels can contain a metal ion.