Abstract: Described are nanostructured molded articles and layers which are produced by a wet chemical process comprising the following steps: a) provision of a free-flowing composition containing solid nanoscaled inorganic particles having polymerizable and/or polycondensable organic surface groups; b) introduction of said composition of step a) into a mold; or b2) application of said composition of step a) onto a substrate; and c) polymerization and/or polycondensation of the surface groups of said solid particles with formation of a cured molded article or a cured layer.

Abstract: Optical components have a material-distribution gradient due to nanometer-size particles embedded in a solid matrix. The components are manufactured by forming a dispersion of nanometer-size particles in a liquid, curable matrix material, causing the particles to migrate in the matrix material on the basis of a potential difference to form a distribution gradient, and subsequently curing the matrix material, retaining the distribution gradient. The method is suitable for use in the manufacture of optical lenses with a refractive index gradient.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preserving paper involving the following steps:(a) a plurality of paper layers in contact with one another at least in regions is simultaneously brought into contact with a preservative fluid containing polycondensates based on one or more hydrolytic polycondensation-capable compounds of elements M of main groups III-V and sub-groups II-IV of the Periodic Table; in said polycondensates, at least one organic group (G) with at least two carbon atoms and for each carbon atom at least one atom selected from hydrogen or fluorine and without polar substituents is bound, either directly via one of the carbon atoms or via a connecting group A, to at least 0.1% of the central atoms M; and(b) the paper thus treated with the preservative fluid is dried and/or hardened.