Abstract: Multilayer films are provided that exhibit a colored appearance when viewed at an oblique angle as a result of one or more reflection bands in the visible region of the spectrum. The films however provide no substantial reflection bands in either the visible or near infrared regions for light normally incident on the film. The films can be made to shift from clear at normal incidence to an arbitrary designed color at an oblique angle without necessarily becoming cyan.

Abstract: A multilayer optical film includes alternating layers of first and second optical layers; the first optical layer comprising a first polyester, wherein the first polyester comprises first dicarboxylate monomers and first diol monomers, and from about 0.25 to less than 10 mol % of the first dicarboxylate monomers have pendant ionic groups; the second optical layer comprising a second polyester; and wherein the first and second optical layers have refractive indices along at least one axis that differ by at least 0.04. The multilayer optical film may be a polarizer film, a reflective polarizer film, a diffuse blend reflective polarizer film, a diffuser film, a brightness enhancing film, a turning film, a mirror film, or a combination thereof. The multilayer optical film may also be a transaction card such as a financial transaction card, an identification card, a key card, or a ticket card. A method of making the multilayer film is also disclosed.

Abstract: Exemplary methods include includes providing a film comprising at least one polymeric material; widening the film under a first set of processing conditions in a first draw step along the crossweb direction such that in-plane birefringence, if any, created in the film is low; and drawing the film in a second draw step along a downweb direction under a second set of processing conditions, wherein the second set of processing conditions creates in-plane birefringence in at least one polymeric material. Exemplary roll of film includes an oriented optical film characterized by an effective orientation axis. The oriented optical film comprises only one birefringent polymeric material, at least one birefringent material and at least one isotropic material, or a first birefringent material and a second birefringent material, the birefringent materials characterized by effective orientation axes along the MD. The optical film has a width of greater than 0.3 m and a length a length greater than 10 m.

Abstract: Exemplary methods include includes providing a film comprising at least one polymeric material; widening the film under a first set of processing conditions in a first draw step along the crossweb direction such that in-plane birefringence, if any, created in the film is low; and drawing the film in a second draw step along a downweb direction under a second set of processing conditions, wherein the second set of processing conditions creates in-plane birefringence in at least one polymeric material. Exemplary roll of film includes an oriented optical film characterized by an effective orientation axis. The oriented optical film comprises only one birefringent polymeric material, at least one birefringent material and at least one isotropic material, or a first birefringent material and a second birefringent material, the birefringent materials characterized by effective orientation axes along the MD. The optical film has a width of greater than 0.3 m and a length a length greater than 10 m.

Abstract: A display system includes a display panel, a backlight and a reinforced reflective polarizer disposed between the display panel and the backlight. The reinforced reflective polarizer includes a first layer formed from a polymer matrix embedded with inorganic fibers. The reinforced reflective polarizer also includes a second layer attached to the first layer. The second layer comprises a reflective polarizing layer.

Abstract: An optical film has a first layer and a second layer. The first and second layers each include fibers embedded within respective polymeric matrices. A third layer having a reflective polarizer layer is mounted between the first and second layers.

Abstract: A multilayered polymer film includes a first set of optical layers and a second set of optical layers. The first set of optical layers is made from a polyester which is often birefringent. The polyesters of the first set of optical layers typically have a composition in which 70-100 mol % of the carboxylate subunits are first carboxylate subunits and 0-30 mol % are comonomer carboxylate subunits and 70 to 100 mol % of the glycol subunits are first glycol subunits and 0 to 30 mol % of the glycol subunits are comonomer glycol subunits, where at least 0.5 mol % of the combined carboxylate and glycol subunits are comonomer carboxylate or comonomer glycol subunits. The multilayered polymer film may be used to form, for example, a reflective polarizer or a mirror.

Abstract: Methods of forming multilayer reflective polarizers are described. One method includes providing a multilayer polymer film having a plurality of alternating polymeric optical layer pairs, heating the multilayer polymer film to a temperature of about or greater than both polymers layer glass transition temperatures to from a heated multilayer film, and stretching the heated multilayer polymer film in an in-plane direction to form a multilayer reflective polarizer. Each first polymer layer includes a first polyester material and each second polymer layer includes a second polyester material that has a different polymer composition than the first polymer layer composition. The stretching includes a uniaxial stretch.

Abstract: A display system has a controlled transmission mirror disposed between the light sources and the display panel. The controlled transmission mirror includes a light-diverting input coupling element facing the light sources, a light-diverting output coupling element facing the display panel and a multilayer reflector between the input and output coupling elements. The controlled transmission mirror laterally spreads the light, making the illumination of the panel more uniform. The controlled transmission mirror may include a transparent substrate between the input and output coupling elements for additional light spreading. The light sources may be positioned within the controlled transmission mirror, rather than behind it. The output coupling element can be polarization sensitive so that the output light is polarized.

Abstract: A display system has a controlled transmission mirror disposed between the light sources and the display panel. The controlled transmission mirror includes a light-diverting input coupling element facing the light sources, a light-diverting output coupling element facing the display panel and a multilayer reflector between the input and output coupling elements. The controlled transmission mirror laterally spreads the light, making the illumination of the panel more uniform. The controlled transmission mirror may include a transparent substrate between the input and output coupling elements for additional light spreading. The light sources may be positioned within the controlled transmission mirror, rather than behind it. The output coupling element can be insensitive to polarization, so the light passing out of the controlled transmission mirror is unpolarized, or the output coupling element can be polarization sensitive so that the output light is polarized.

Abstract: Multilayer optical films, including but not limited to p-polarizing films, have alternating optical layers at least some of which contain nanoparticles in an amount sufficient to enhance the refractive indices of the optical layers.

Abstract: A multilayer optical body is disclosed. The optical body includes an optical film including polyester, a first skin layer is disposed on at least one side of the polyester optical film, and a strippable skin layer is disposed on the first skin layer. In some embodiments, the first skin layer includes a mixture of a polyacrylate and a second polymer. Methods of making such optical bodies are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to optical bodies including a first optical film, a second optical film and one or more strippable boundary layers disposed between the first and second optical films. Each major surface of a strippable boundary layer may be disposed adjacent to an optical film or another strippable boundary layer. At least one of the first and second optical films may include a reflective polarizer. The present disclosure is also directed to methods of processing such optical bodies.

Abstract: Optical bodies are disclosed that include a first optical film, a second optical film and at least one rough strippable boundary layer disposed between the first and second optical films. Also disclosed are optical bodies including a strippable boundary layer disposed between the first and second optical films and including a first polymer and a second polymer that is substantially immiscible in the first polymer. The present disclosure also provides methods of processing optical bodies that include stretching the optical bodies.

Abstract: An optical body including an optical film, a first layer on a first major surface of the optical film, and a second layer on a second major surface of the optical film, wherein at least one of the first and second layers may include an adhesion-promoting layer that comprises a polycarbonate/polyester blend resin or a styrene copolymer. The present disclosure is also directed to an optical body wherein at least one of the first and second layers may include an imprint-resistant layer that comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of crystalline polyesters, copolyesters, olefin homopolymers and olefin copolymers.

Abstract: A method of making an optical film includes providing a film, substantially uniaxially orienting the film, and heat setting the oriented film. The film includes a polymeric material capable of developing birefringence.

Abstract: A polarizing film includes a first phase of a first polymer having a birefringence of at least 0.05 and a second phase of a second polymer disposed within the first phase. The index of refraction difference between the first and second phases is greater than about 0.05 along a first axis and is less than about 0.05 along at least one axis orthogonal to the first axis. The diffuse reflectivity of the first and second phases taken together along at least one axis for at least one polarization state of electromagnetic radiation may be at least about 30%. In some exemplary embodiments, the second phase has a refractive index of about 1.53 to about 1.59. In some exemplary embodiments, the second polymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) higher than the Tg of the birefringent first polymer.

Abstract: Optical bodies are disclosed that include an optical film and at least one rough strippable skin layer. The at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a continuous phase and a disperse phase. In some embodiments, the at least one rough strippable skin layer can include a first polymer, a second polymer different from the first polymer and an additional material that is substantially immiscible in at least one of the first and second polymers. In some exemplary embodiments, a surface of the at least one rough strippable skin layer adjacent to the optical film comprises a plurality of protrusions and the adjacent surface of the optical film comprises a plurality of asymmetric depressions substantially corresponding to said plurality of protrusions. Methods of making such exemplary optical bodies are also disclosed.

Abstract: Multilayer films are provided that exhibit a colored appearance when viewed at an oblique angle as a result of one or more reflection bands in the visible region of the spectrum. The films however provide no substantial reflection bands in either the visible or near infrared regions for light normally incident on the film. The films can be made to shift from clear at normal incidence to an arbitrary designed color at an oblique angle without necessarily becoming cyan.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical bodies including one or more norbornene-based cyclic olefin film layers and one or more rough strippable skin layers operatively connected to a surface of the norbornene-based cyclic olefin film layer. The rough strippable skin layer comprises a continuous phase and a disperse phase. Methods of producing such optical bodies are also disclosed.