Abstract: An optically or mechanically anisotropic polymer thin film is characterized by compound curvature, where a maximum variation of an angle of orientation of an extraordinary axis of the polymer thin film is at most 2% greater than an orientation variation associated with an initially planar polymer thin film formed to the same compound curvature.

Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of at least approximately 500,000 g/mol, where the thin film is characterized by transparency within the visible spectrum of at least approximately 80%, bulk haze of less than approximately 5%, and an in-plane elastic modulus of at least approximately 10 GPa. The polymer thin film may be thermally conductive and may be incorporated into an optical element and configured to dissipate heat, such as from a light-emitting device.

Abstract: Methods of bonding together substrates that do not require use of primers, mixing, fixturing, or autoclaving. These methods can include the steps of disposing an adhesive layer on a bonding surface of either substrate, the adhesive layer comprising a curable composition that is dimensionally stable at ambient conditions; either before or after disposing the adhesive layer on the bonding surface, irradiating the adhesive layer with ultraviolet radiation to initiate curing of the curable composition; placing one substrate so as to be bonded to the other substrate by the adhesive layer; and allowing the adhesive layer to cure.

Abstract: This application discloses a database transaction processing method performed by a computer device. The method includes: in a case of starting a target transaction, obtaining, by a working node in a distributed database system, a transaction timestamp of the target transaction and current global latest version information, the target transaction including at least one operation statement for a target data object, and the global latest version information being version information of latest generated metadata of metadata stored in the distributed database system; determining latest-version metadata of the target data object according to the current global latest version information, and determining to-be-accessed user data of the target transaction according to the transaction timestamp; and executing an operation statement of the target transaction on the to-be-accessed user data based on the latest-version metadata of the target data object.

Abstract: An example device may include a light source, an optical element, and an encapsulant layer. A light beam generated by the light source may be received by the optical element, and redirected into the encapsulant layer. The optical element may include a high-index material, for example, with a refractive index of at least approximately 1.5 at the wavelength of the light beam. The light source may be a semiconductor light source, such as a light emitting diode or a laser. The optical element may be embedded in the encapsulant layer, and the optical element may have a curved exit surface. Refraction at the exit surface of the optical element may redirect the light beam towards a target.

Abstract: A piezoelectric polymer article may be characterized by a Young's modulus of 5 GPa or greater along at least one dimension thereof. The piezoelectric polymer article may include polyvinylidene fluoride, for example, and may have a polydispersity index of at least 2. A piezoelectric coefficient of the polymer article, which may be a thin film or fiber, may be at least 20 pC/N.

Abstract: In some examples, a method includes forming a material layer on a substrate, partially polymerizing a component of the material layer, to form fluid-filled droplets within a partially polymerized matrix, deforming the material layer to form anisotropic fluid-filled droplets, and further polymerizing the partially polymerized matrix to form an anisotropic voided polymer, including anisotropic voids in a polymer matrix. The anisotropic voids may include anisotropic nanovoids. Example methods may further include depositing electrodes on the anisotropic voided polymer so that at least a portion of the anisotropic voided polymer is located between the electrodes. Examples may include forming electroactive elements including an anisotropic nanovoided polymer, and devices (such as sensors and/or actuators) including electroactive elements.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic polymer thin film includes a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the polymer (e.g., via ?-? interactions) to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 50% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example crystallizable polymers include polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, as well as derivatives thereof. Example additives, which may occupy up to approximately 10 wt. % of the polymer thin film, include aromatic ester oligomers, aromatic amide oligomers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, for example. The optically anisotropic polymer thin film may be characterized by a refractive index greater than approximately 1.

Abstract: A curable composition that includes a urethane multifunctional (meth)acrylate, an inorganic filler having a primary particle dimension of at least 200 nm, a photoinitiator system that can be activated by electromagnetic radiation in the range of 340-550 nm, a reactive diluent, and a reinforcing silica having a primary particle dimension of 100 nm of less. The sum of the absolute value of the difference in the refractive index of the filler and the refractive index of the composition cured without filler plus the birefringence of the filler is 0.054 or less, i.e. 0.054?|nfiller?nmatrix|+?filler, where nfiller is the refractive index of the filler, nmatrix is the refractive index of the composition cured without filler, and ?filler is the birefringence of the filler.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.

Abstract: Methods of bonding together substrates that do not require use of primers, mixing, fixturing, or autoclaving. These methods can include the steps of disposing an adhesive layer on a bonding surface of either substrate, the adhesive layer comprising a curable composition that is dimensionally stable at ambient conditions; either before or after disposing the adhesive layer on the bonding surface, irradiating the adhesive layer with ultraviolet radiation to initiate curing of the curable composition; placing one substrate so as to be bonded to the other substrate by the adhesive layer; and allowing the adhesive layer to cure.

Abstract: Compositions that are curable to polythioether polymers are provided, comprising: a) a dithiol monomer; b) a diene monomer; c) a radical cleaved photoinitiator; d) a peroxide; and e) an amine; where the peroxide and amine together are a peroxide-amine redox initiator. In some embodiments, the amine is a tertiary amine. In some embodiments, the amine is selected from the group consisting of dihydroxyethyl-p-toluidine, N,N-diisopropylethylamine, and N, N, N?, N?, N?-pentamethyl-diethylenetriamine. In some embodiments, the peroxide is selected from the group consisting of di-tert-butyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, and benzoyl peroxide. In some embodiments, the composition may additionally comprise a polythiol monomer having three or more thiol groups.

Abstract: A method includes attaching a clip array to opposing edges of a polymer thin film, the clip array having a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the polymer thin film and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the polymer thin film, applying a positive in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first and second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction while applying the in-plane strain to form an optically anisotropic polymer thin film. During stretching, a strain rate of the thin film may be decreased and/or a temperature of the thin film may be increased.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optically anisotropic polymer thin film includes forming a composite structure that includes a polymer thin film and a high Poisson's ratio polymer thin film disposed directly over the polymer thin film, attaching a clip array to opposing edges of the composite, the clip array including a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the composite and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the composite, applying a positive in-plane strain to the composite along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first clips and the second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction, wherein the high Poisson's ratio polymer thin film applies a negative in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along the machine.

Abstract: A method includes attaching a clip array to opposing edges of a polymer thin film, the clip array having a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the polymer thin film and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the polymer thin film, applying a positive in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first clips and the second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction while applying the in-plane strain to form an optically anisotropic polymer thin film.

Abstract: A film stack includes a plurality of first films and a plurality of second films alternately stacked. At least one second film of the plurality of second films includes a solid crystal including crystal molecules aligned in a predetermined alignment direction. At least one first film of the plurality of first films includes an alignment structure configured to at least partially align the crystal molecules of the solid crystal in the predetermined alignment direction.

Abstract: Described herein is a curable composition comprising an amorphous fluoropolymer having an iodine, bromine and/or nitrile cure site; a peroxide cure system comprising a peroxide and a Type II coagent; and a photoinitiator, wherein the curable composition is substantially free of a binder material. Also described herein, are methods of curing the curable composition using actinic radiation and articles thereof.

Abstract: An optical film includes an organic solid crystal film formed of a contiguous organic solid crystal having a first dimension no less than 100 micrometer and a second dimension distinct from the first dimension no less than one centimeter. Methods for making the organic solid crystal film are also described.

Abstract: A composition includes a photolatent amine, camphorquinone, and a coumarin sensitizer. The coumarin sensitizer is triplet photosensitizer and has an absorbance with a wavelength of maximum absorbance in a range from 390 nanometers to 510 nanometers. Compositions that further include a polymerizable material are also disclosed. Polymer networks preparable from such compositions and methods for making the polymer networks are also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid lens architecture includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based membrane overlying at least a portion of the transparent substrate, and a liquid layer disposed between and abutting the transparent substrate and the multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane-based membrane. The TPU-based membrane may exhibit a reversible elastic response to imposed strains of up to approximately 2% and is configured to limit the transpiration of fluid to less than approximately 10?2 g/m2/day.