Abstract: A method of forming a polarizing material is provided including exposing a layer of dichroic material to activating light illumination to provide an ordered structure with a distinguished absorption axis and thus photo-induce polarization, and fixing the induced polarization by polymerization of the dichroic layer. Novel polarizing materials formed thereby are also provided. By selectively exposing regions of the dichroic material to differing activating radiation, different regions with different polarization axes can be created. The polarizing material can also be provided with a coating or coatings to alter the spectral responses, and a stack formed of a plurality if dichroic layers can be provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a polarizing material is provided including exposing a layer of dichroic material to activating light illumination to provide an ordered structure with a distinguished absorption axis and thus photo-induce polarization, and fixing the induced polarization by polymerization of the dichroic layer. Novel polarizing materials formed thereby are also provided. By selectively exposing regions of the dichroic material to differing activating radiation, different regions with different polarization axes can be created. The polarizing material can also be provided with a coating or coatings to alter the spectral responses, and a stack formed of a plurality if dichroic layers can be provided.

Abstract: An ink comprising a liquid medium and a compound of Formula (1) or salt thereof: ##STR1## provided (i) if the compound of Formula (1) has no --SO.sub.3 H groups then it has at least two groups selected from --COOH and --COSH; and (ii) the compound of Formula (1) has at least as many groups selected from --COOH and --COSH as --SO.sub.3 H groups. The inks are useful for ink-jet printing.

Abstract: Anionic azo compounds which, in the free acid form, have the Formula (1): ##STR1## wherein: Ar and Ar.sup.1 are each independently aryl or substituted aryl providing at least one of Ar and Ar.sup.1 has at least one substituent selected from COOH and COSH;J and J.sup.1 are each independently of formula (2), (3) or (4): ##STR2## each R.sup.5 is independently selected from H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, CN, ureido and NHCOR.sup.6 ;R.sup.6 is H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl or substituted aralkyl;each T is independently alkyl;each W is independently selected from H, CN, CONR.sup.10 R.sup.11, pyridinium and COOH;each m is an alkylene chain having 2 to 8 carbon atoms;B is H, alkyl or COOH;R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are each independently H, alkyl or substituted alkyl;L is a divalent organic linking group;n is 0 or 1;each X is independently carbonyl or a group of the Formula (5), (6) or (7): ##STR3## Z is OR.sup.7, SR.sup.7 or NR.sup.8 R.sup.