Abstract: A fiber comprises a birefringent fibril discontinuous polymeric phase dispersed in a continuous polymeric phase with prescribed matched and mis-matched refractive indices. A diffusely polarizing organic film, optical element, display, and method of making such a film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for making a diffusely reflecting polarizer comprises the steps of arranging polymeric fibers containing certain fibrils and forming a solid film. A diffusely-reflective polarizer employs the film to effect polarization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diffusely-reflecting polarizer comprising: a first polymer which is amorphous and having a birefringence of less than about 0.02 and a second polymer, the first polymer being a continuous phase, and the second polymer being a disperse phase whose index of refraction differs from said continuous phase by greater than about 0.05 along a first axis and by less than about 0.05 along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis; wherein the diffuse-reflectivity of said first and second polymers taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is at least about 50%, the diffuse transmittance of said first and second polymers taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation is at least about 50%.

Abstract: A reflective optical film comprises a layer containing a polyester voided with inorganic particles such as barium sulfate in a size and an amount sufficient to provide a visible light reflectivity of at least 93%, a void volume of 40 to 70%, the film at least (1) having a thickness of less than 150 ?m, or (2) containing UV particles in amounts sufficient to provide a UV light reflectivity of less than 40%.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising an image layer and a base material wherein said base material comprises at least one oriented sheet laminated to a core sheet comprising a vacuous composite of polyolefin and polyester having a density of less than 0.7 g/cc.

Abstract: Processes for making a pragmatic label, a receiver sheet for making such a pragmatic label, and intermediates thereof are described. The receiver sheet comprises a pragmatic pre-label sheet, a lower strippable carrier, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer between said lower strippable carrier and the pragmatic pre-label sheet. The pragmatic pre-label sheet is made by coextruding a first melt for a polymeric image-receiving layer with one or more other melts for forming a single-layer or multiple-layer pragmatic polymer sheet, wherein said other melts includes a second melt comprising an orientable thermoplastic polymeric material for forming a microvoided layer, said coextruded melts forming a multilayer composite film that is subsequently subjected to stretching. The pragmatic labels and receiver sheets of the present invention can advantageously be made without the use of solvent coating.

Abstract: This patent relates to an imaging member comprising a vacuous polymer base having adhered thereto an image formed on a transparent polymer sheet, wherein said vacuous polymer base has a density of less than 0.7 grams/cc and a modulus to density ratio of between 1500 and 4000 and wherein said image is in contact with said vacuous polymer base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light diffuser comprising a polymeric film wherein the film comprises a plurality of layers having void geometry in which the x/y/z size or frequency varies by at least 28% between at least two layers.

Abstract: Thermal-dye-transfer labels, and pre-label media from which they are made, comprising an extruded pragmatic polymer film comprising a microvoided layer, a continuous phase of which comprises a polylactic-acid-based material wherein the microvoids are formed by employing relatively smaller size void initiators, including, for example, various inorganic particles such as titanium dioxide. A method of making sheets for such media is also disclosed involving an extrusion process. High-quality pressure-sensitive labels for application to packages are obtainable by the present invention.

Abstract: Thermal-dye-transfer labels, and pre-label media from which they are made, comprising an extruded pragmatic polymer film comprising a microvoided layer, a continuous phase of which comprises a polylactic-acid-based material. A method of making sheets for such media is also disclosed involving an extrusion process. High-quality pressure-sensitive labels for application to packages are obtainable by the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal dye-transfer dye-image receiving element comprising a thermal dye-transfer receiver element comprising a dye-receiving layer 1; beneath layer 1, a substrate layer 2 containing a microvoided layer 2 comprising, in a continuous phase, a polylactic-acid-based material, wherein microvoids in said microvoided layer provide a void volume of at least 25% by volume, and wherein at least about half of the microvoids are formed from void initiating particles less than 1.5 micrometer in average diameter; and beneath layer 2, an optional support layer 3.

Abstract: An inkjet recording element comprising an ink-permeable microvoided substrate comprising a porous ink-receiving layer over and adjacent to an ink-permeable microvoided substrate layer comprising, in a polyester continuous phase, a polyester ionomer, wherein the microvoided substrate layer and the porous ink-receiving layer both having interconnecting voids. Also disclosed is an inkjet printing process, comprising the step of providing an ink-jet printer with such an inkjet recording element.

Abstract: A phosphor screen comprises an inorganic phosphor capable of absorbing X-rays and emitting electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength greater than 300 nm. The phosphor is disposed on a support that has a reflective substrate comprising a continuous polyester first phase and a second phase dispersed within the continuous polyester first phase. The second phase contains microvoids that in turn contain barium sulfate particles. This support provides improved reflectivity particularly at shorter wavelengths.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical element comprising a polymer film containing a dispersion of minute layered particulates and microvoids.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making an image-recording element, for example a dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer, that includes a support having on one side thereof a image-receiving layer and, between the image-receiving layer and the support, a tie layer comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) forming a first melt of a polymer for the surface layer and a second melt comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer in a polymeric binder; (b) coextruding the two melts onto a polyolefin support; (c) stretching the coextruded layers to reduce the thickness; and (d) applying the coextruded melts to a support while simultaneously reducing the temperature below the Tg of the composition of the surface layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal dye-transfer dye-image receiving element comprising a thermal dye-transfer receiver element comprising a dye-receiving layer 1; beneath layer 1, a microvoided layer 2 containing a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein a mixture of crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix; beneath layer 2, a substrate layer 3 comprised of a voided or non-voided polyester material; and beneath layer 3, a composite support 4. The invention provides a receiver exhibiting an improved combination of dye-transfer efficiency and robustness.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transparent polymeric diffusion film exhibiting at least 50% transmissivity containing a thermoplastic polymeric material with internal microvoids and containing a plurality of complex lenses on a surface thereof. Such films are useful for diffusing light when it is desired to provide and even light distribution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material comprising a sheet wherein said sheet comprises at least one layer comprising polyether polymeric antistat and thermally processable onium salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal image recording element comprising a microvoided layer comprising a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix of the microvoided layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inkjet recording element comprising a microvoided layer comprising a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix of said microvoided layer.