Abstract: A method of forming a printed image on an image receiving element is disclosed, comprising: providing an image receiving element comprising at least one activatable stiffening and/or thickening layer which comprises a polymer matrix and an activatable material; printing an image over a designated area of said image receiving element, and substantially uniformly and non-imagewise activating said activatable stiffening and/or thickening layer over the designated area of said image receiving element after step (b) to produce a printed image receiving element with an activated stiffened and/or thickened layer.

Abstract: Printing apparatii and methods are provided. In one aspect the printing method is provided for recording an image on a receiver medium having an image receiving layer and a support layer and with a stiffening and/or expansion layer therebetween comprising: a medium transport system for conveying a receiver medium to a range of positions wherein a print engine can record an image on the receiver medium; and an activation system is adapted to apply an activating energy or an activating material to the receiver medium to cause said stiffening and/or expansion layer to generally uniformly increase the stiffness and/or thickness of the receiver medium.

Abstract: A multilayer compensator includes one or more polymeric first layers and one or more polymeric second layers. The first layers comprise a polymer having an out-of-plane birefringence between ?0.005 and +0.005. The second layers comprise an amorphous polymer having an out-of-plane birefringence that is either less than ?0.005 or greater than +0.005. The overall in-plane retardation of the multilayer compensator is greater than 20 nm, and the out-of-plane retardation is more negative than ?20 nm or more positive than +20 nm. The amorphous polymer of the second layer(s) has a glass transition temperature (Tg) such that 110° C.?Tg?180° C. when the Rth of the multilayer compensator is more negative than ?20 nm, and 100° C.?Tg?160° C. when the Rth of the multilayer compensator is more positive than +20 nm.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical film comprising a first component having a birefringence dispersion of D1>1 and a second component having a birefringence dispersion of D2<1, wherein the birefringence ratio of the first and second component is delta n1/delta n2>0, wherein the optical film has a reverse birefringence dispersion of D<1.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a nanocomposite material includes generating nanoparticles in-situ with a polymer. A nanocomposite material includes a polymer having nanoparticles characterized by a dimension of not more than 50 nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a nanostructured pattern on a substrate. The steps include providing a substrate and coating the substrate with functional material to form a layer of functional material. A block copolymer of at least an A polymer chain and a B polymer chain is coated on the functional material to forma a layer. The block copolymer is dried to form ordered nanodomains. The A polymer chain of the dried block copolymer is removed to form voids and the functional material is then removed from where the A polymer chain has been removed.

Abstract: The invention relates a wire grid polarizer that includes a micropatterned substrate having channels. An electrically conductive material is disposed on the micropatterned substrate in strips having a width of 10 to 20 nm and oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for forming an integral protective layer on a polarizing layer comprising coating the layer with a sol, gelling the sol, and then curing the coating to form a contiguous crosslinked adherent protective layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a nanocomposite material includes generating nanoparticles in-situ with a polymer. A nanocomposite material includes a polymer having nanoparticles characterized by a dimension of not more than 50 nm.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical element comprising a first component having a birefringence dispersion of D1>1, and a second component having a birefringence dispersion of D2>1 and a maximum peak absorption at a wavelength less than 400 nm, wherein the birefringence ratio at any wavelength of the first and second component is ?n1/?n2<0, and wherein the optical element has a reverse birefringence dispersion of D<1.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical film comprising a first component having a birefringence dispersion of D1>1 and a second component having a birefringence dispersion of D2<1, wherein the birefringence ratio of the first and second component is delta n1/delta n2>0, wherein the optical film has a reverse birefringence dispersion of D<1.

Abstract: A thermal printing ribbon that has reduced or no wrinkling during printing includes inorganic particles in a polymeric host material in at least one layer of the ribbon. The ribbon has improved mechanical and thermal properties as compared to ribbons not incorporating the inorganic particles. The ribbon can be used to form images on a dye-receiver element wherein the images have few or no artifacts caused by wrinkling of the thermal printing ribbon. The ribbon can be used in high speed printing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical film comprising a layer containing layered clay particles in a radiation cured binder. Also disclosed is a coating dispersion and a method of forming an optical film comprising coating the dispersion on a flexible transparent polymeric support and an LCD or touch screen display incorporating the film.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a nanocomposite material includes generating nanoparticles in-situ with a polymer. A nanocomposite material includes a polymer having nanoparticles characterized by a shorter dimension of not more than 50 nm and elongated strands or dense packing.

Abstract: Nanocomposite films having controlled dispersion, in out-of-plane birefringence, or equivalent retardation are obtained, including films having essentially flat dispersion behavior, reverse dispersion behavior, and non-birefringence dispersion. The nanocomposite comprises film comprises metallic oxide nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix. The present invention also provides a novel method for making and controlling the out-of-plane birefringence dispersion of a film using an organic-inorganic nanocomposite. The nanocomposite material exhibits high optical transmittance, low haze, and is useful in the field of liquid-crystal displays.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising an imaging layer and a base wherein said base comprises a closed cell foam core sheet and adhered thereto an upper and lower flange sheet, wherein said foam core sheet has a modulus of between 100 and 2758 MPa and a tensile toughness between 0.344 and 35 MPa, and wherein said upper and lower flange sheet has a modulus of between and 1380 and 20000 MPa and a toughness between 1.4 and 210 MPa.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising an imaging layer and a base wherein said base comprises a closed cell foam core sheet and adhered thereto an upper and lower flange sheet, wherein said foam core sheet has a modulus of between 100 and 2758 MPa and a tensile toughness between 0.344 and 35 MPa, and wherein said upper and lower flange sheet has a modulus of between and 1380 and 20000 MPa and a toughness between 1.4 and 210 MPa.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for forming an integral protective layer on a polarizing layer comprising coating the layer with a sol, gelling the sol, and then curing the coating to form a contiguous crosslinked adherent protective layer

Abstract: A multilayer compensator includes one or more polymeric first layers and one or more polymeric second layers. The first layers comprise a polymer having an out-of-plane birefringence between ?0.005 and +0.005. The second layers comprise an amorphous polymer having an out-of-plane birefringence that is either less than ?0.005 or greater than +0.005. The overall in-plane retardation of the multilayer compensator is greater than 20 nm, and the out-of-plane retardation is more negative than ?20 nm or more positive than +20 nm. The amorphous polymer of the second layer(s) has a glass transition temperature (Tg) such that 110° C.?Tg?180° C. when the Rth of the multilayer compensator is more negative than ?20 nm, and 100° C.?Tg?160° C. when the Rth of the multilayer compensator is more positive than +20 nm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging element comprising at least one imaging layer and a support wherein the support comprises at least one layer comprising a splayant and a layered material, wherein the layered material has an aspect ratio from 20:1 and 500:1 and wherein the layered material comprises less than 10% by weight of the layer. The present invention also relates to a method of making a dimensionally stable imaging element comprising providing a support wherein said support comprises at least one layer comprising a splayant and a layered material, wherein said layered material comprises an aspect ratio of from 20:1 to 500:1 and wherein said layered material comprises less than 10% by weight of said at least one layer; and applying at least one imaging layer.