Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus to control the temperature of an panel of a vehicle, including sensing a vehicle condition, communicating the vehicle condition to a controller, associating the vehicle condition with a temperature control requirement, based on the temperature control requirement, generating a temperature control signal, communicating the temperature control signal to a beam generator; and in association with the control signal generating a beam within a near infrared band of 800 nm to 2000 nm, selected to transmit substantially through a base layer but not an outer layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an article comprises an infrared blocking layer comprising a host material (18) and a plurality of composite fibers (20); wherein each of the composite fibers of the plurality of composite fibers comprises a contrast material and a matrix material; wherein the contrast material forms a photonic crystal in the matrix material that when exposed to an infrared radiation manifests a photonic band gap. In another embodiment, a method of making an article comprises mixing a host material or a host polymer precursor and a plurality of composite fibers to form a mixture; and forming an infrared blocking layer from the mixture. In another embodiment, a method of making an article comprises one or both of forming a layered stack and co-extruding a host layer, a fiber layer, and an optional polymer layer.

Abstract: In an aspect, an emitting device can comprise a radiation source that emits a source radiation coupled to an edge of an emitting layer; wherein the emitting layer comprises an emitting region comprising a host material and an emitting agent and a non-emitting region comprising the host material and that is free of the emitting agent; wherein the emitting agent comprises at least one of a luminescent agent or an absorber; wherein the emitting layer has a first surface and a second surface; wherein, during use, the source radiation is transmitted from the radiation source through the edge and excites the emitting agent such that, if the luminescent agent is present, the luminescent agent emits an emitted radiation, wherein at least a portion of the emitted radiation exits through the first surface through an escape cone; and, if the absorber is present, the absorber emits heat.

Abstract: An organic resin laminate comprising an organic resin substrate and a multilayer coating system on a surface of the substrate is provided. The multilayer coating system can include a plasma layer which is a dry hard coating obtained from plasma polymerization of an organosilicon compound, and an intermediate layer (II) on the substrate which is a cured coating of a wet coating composition comprising (A) a specific reactive UV absorber, (B) a multi-functional (meth)acrylate, and (C) a photopolymerization initiator. (B) a multi-functional (meth)acrylate, and (C) a photopolymerization initiator. The laminate has a high level of abrasion resistance and improved adhesion and weather resistance.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a vehicle component comprises a thermoplastic element having a thermoplastic element first surface and a thermoplastic element second surface; a structural element defining an opening, wherein the structural element has a structural element first surface and a structural element second surface, wherein the thermoplastic element is in the opening; and an elastic anisotropic bonding element between the thermoplastic element second surface and the structural element first surface.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an enclosure comprises walls forming the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises an internal space; an inhibiting element disposed in at least one wall, the inhibiting element having an internal inhibiting surface exposed to the internal space, wherein the inhibiting element has a transparency of greater than or equal to 20%; and a condensing element disposed in at least one other wall, the condensing element having an internal condensing surface exposed to the internal space; wherein at least one of the inhibiting element and the condensing element comprise a phase change material configured to form a temperature differential between an internal inhibiting surface temperature and an internal condensing surface temperature over a temperature range, and wherein when the temperature differential is formed, the internal inhibiting surface temperature is greater than the internal condensing surface temperature.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an article comprises an infrared blocking layer comprising a host material (18) and a plurality of composite fibers (20); wherein each of the composite fibers of the plurality of composite fibers comprises a contrast material and a matrix material; wherein the contrast material forms a photonic crystal in the matrix material that when exposed to an infrared radiation manifests a photonic band gap. In another embodiment, a method of making an article comprises mixing a host material or a host polymer precursor and a plurality of composite fibers to form a mixture; and forming an infrared blocking layer from the mixture. In another embodiment, a method of making an article comprises one or both of forming a layered stack and co-extruding a host layer, a fiber layer, and an optional polymer layer.

Abstract: A method for coating substrates with multiple coating layers can comprise: establishing a sub-atmospheric pressure within a coating system; transferring each substrate from outside the coating system to inside the coating system though a transfer lock; heating each substrate in a heating zone before entering a coating zone; traversing the coating zone in a first direction of movement and applying a first coating layer to each substrate in the coating zone using expanding thermal plasma type of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition; traversing the coating zone a second time and applying a second coating layer to each substrate in the coating zone using expanding thermal plasma type of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition; determining if the coating zone is occupied or vacant; if the coating zone is vacant, purging a heater zone module with inert gas; and pumping the inert gas out of the coating zone through ports located in the coating zone.

Abstract: An organic resin laminate comprising an organic resin substrate and a multilayer coating system on a surface of the substrate is provided. The multilayer coating system can include a plasma layer which is a dry hard coating obtained from plasma polymerization of an organosilicon compound, and an intermediate layer (II) on the substrate which is a cured coating of a wet coating composition comprising (A) a specific reactive UV absorber, (B) a multi-functional (meth)acrylate, and (C) a photopolymerization initiator. (B) a multi-functional (meth)acrylate, and (C) a photopolymerization initiator. The laminate has a high level of abrasion resistance and improved adhesion and weather resistance.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a radiation emitting device comprises a radiation emitting layer comprising a host material and a luminescent agent; and a radiation source that emits a source radiation; wherein the radiation emitting layer comprises an edge and two broad surfaces, wherein the edge has a height of d and the broad surfaces have a length L, wherein length L is greater than height d, and the ratio of L to d is greater than or equal to 10; and wherein the radiation source is coupled to the edge, wherein the source radiation is transmitted from the radiation source through the edge and excites the luminescent agent, whereafter the luminescent agent emits an emitted radiation, wherein at least a portion of the emitted radiation exits through at least one of the broad surfaces through an escape cone.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a heating device comprises a radiation source that emits a source radiation, a radiation emitting layer comprising an emitting layer host material and a luminescent agent, wherein the radiation emitting layer comprises an edge, an emitting layer first surface, and an emitting layer second surface; wherein the radiation source is coupled to the edge, wherein the source radiation is transmitted from the radiation source through the edge and excites the luminescent agent, whereafter the luminescent agent emits an emitted radiation, wherein at least a portion of the emitted radiation exits through the emitting layer second surface through an escape cone; an absorber layer, wherein the absorber layer comprises an absorber layer first surface and wherein the absorber layer first surface is in direct contact with the emitting layer second surface, wherein the absorber layer comprises an absorber that absorbs emitted radiation that escapes through the escape cone.

Abstract: In an embodiment a method of coating a substrate comprises moving the substrate along a path of travel through a coating zone; generating a plasma jet directed toward a first side of the substrate; injecting a first reagent into the plasma jet; injecting a second reagent into the plasma jet; and regulating the flow of the first reagent according to a first set of parameters so that the first reagent is injected upstream of the plasma jet relative to the path of travel of the substrate; regulating the flow of the second reagent according to a second set of parameters so that the second reagent is injected downstream of the plasma jet relative to the path of travel of the substrate, such that the first and second reagents are applied to the substrate to form at least one layer of a coating on the substrate.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a radiation emitting device comprises a radiation emitting layer comprising a host material and a luminescent agent; and a radiation source that emits a source radiation; wherein the radiation emitting layer comprises an edge and two broad surfaces, wherein the edge has a height of d and the broad surfaces have a length L, wherein length L is greater than height d, and the ratio of L to d is greater than or equal to 10; and wherein the radiation source is coupled to the edge, wherein the source radiation is transmitted from the radiation source through the edge and excites the luminescent agent, whereafter the luminescent agent emits an emitted radiation, wherein at least a portion of the emitted radiation exits through at least one of the broad surfaces through an escape cone.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a heating device comprises a radiation source that emits a source radiation, a radiation emitting layer comprising an emitting layer host material and a luminescent agent, wherein the radiation emitting layer comprises an edge, an emitting layer first surface, and an emitting layer second surface; wherein the radiation source is coupled to the edge, wherein the source radiation is transmitted from the radiation source through the edge and excites the luminescent agent, whereafter the luminescent agent emits an emitted radiation, wherein at least a portion of the emitted radiation exits through the emitting layer second surface through an escape cone; an absorber layer, wherein the absorber layer comprises an absorber layer first surface and wherein the absorber layer first surface is in direct contact with the emitting layer second surface, wherein the absorber layer comprises an absorber that absorbs emitted radiation that escapes through the escape cone.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an enclosure comprises walls forming the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises an internal space; an inhibiting element disposed in at least one wall, the inhibiting element having an internal inhibiting surface exposed to the internal space, wherein the inhibiting element has a transparency of greater than or equal to 20%; and a condensing element disposed in at least one other wall, the condensing element having an internal condensing surface exposed to the internal space; wherein at least one of the inhibiting element and the condensing element comprise a phase change material configured to form a temperature differential between an internal inhibiting surface temperature and an internal condensing surface temperature over a temperature range, and wherein when the temperature differential is formed, the internal inhibiting surface temperature is greater than the internal condensing surface temperature.

Abstract: An organic resin laminate comprising an organic resin substrate and a multilayer coating system on a surface of the substrate is provided. The multilayer coating system can include a plasma layer which is a dry hard coating obtained from plasma polymerization of an organosilicon compound, and an intermediate layer (II) on the substrate which is a cured coating of a wet coating composition comprising (A) a specific reactive UV absorber, (B) a multi-functional (meth)acrylate, and (C) a photopolymerization initiator. (B) a multifunctional (meth)acrylate, and (C) a photopolymerization initiator. The laminate has a high level of abrasion resistance and improved adhesion and weather resistance.

Abstract: In an embodiment a method of making an article, comprises: forming the article comprising a first portion comprising a polymer composition and a second portion, wherein a composition of the first portion and of the second portion are different; and processing the article at a manufacturing temperature that is greater than a Temperature A, wherein Temperature A is at least one of the heat deflection temperature, the glass transition temperature, the melting temperature, and the degradation temperature; wherein the first portion comprises at least one of (a) the polymer composition in the form of a filled, channeled structure and (b) a phase change material; wherein during the processing, an average temperature of the polymer composition is maintained below Temperature B, wherein Temperature B is at least one of the heat deflection temperature, the melting temperature, the glass transition temperature, and the degradation temperature.

Abstract: A method for coating substrates with multiple coating layers can comprise: establishing a sub-atmospheric pressure within a coating system; transferring each substrate from outside the coating system to inside the coating system though a transfer lock; heating each substrate in a heating zone before entering a coating zone; traversing the coating zone in a first direction of movement and applying a first coating layer to each substrate in the coating zone using expanding thermal plasma type of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition; traversing the coating zone a second time and applying a second coating layer to each substrate in the coating zone using expanding thermal plasma type of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition; determining if the coating zone is occupied or vacant; if the coating zone is vacant, purging a heater zone module with inert gas; and pumping the inert gas out of the coating zone through ports located in the coating zone.

Abstract: A plastic assembly having a permanent mark therein at a subsurface location and formed after substantial manufacture of the panel assembly. The plastic panel includes a substrate and a coating over the substrate, the coating including a surface that defines an exterior surface of the panel assembly. A mark is located beneath the exterior surface of the panel assembly. In making the panel assembly, a plastic substrate is provided and a protective coating is applied to the substrate. After the step of applying the protective coating, a subsurface portion of panel assembly is exposed to a laser light. The laser light opacifies a subsurface portion of the panel assembly, thereby rendering the mark within the panel assembly.

Abstract: A polymer part can comprise: a first layer comprising a first polymer, wherein the first layer allows greater than or equal to 5% of visible light to transfer through it; and a second layer comprising a second polymer and a phase change material, wherein the second layer is opaque; wherein when exposed to cyclic temperature and solar radiation conditions for a period of time, the polymer part has a lower effective temperature as compared to a polymer part without a phase change material when exposed to the same cyclic temperature and solar radiation conditions for the same period of time.