One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to bladders that incorporate a multi-layer optical film that impart a structural color to the bladder. The present disclosure is also directed to articles including the bladders having a multi-layer optical film, and methods for making articles and bladders having a multi-layer optical film.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to components having an optical element that imparts structural color to the component or article. The present disclosure is also directed to articles of manufacture including the component having an optical element, and methods for making components and articles having an optical element that imparts structural color.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure provide optical element transfer structures that include an optical element releasably coupled with a transfer medium and methods of making and using the optical element transfer structures. The optical element transfer structures can be used to dispose an optical element onto an article, whereby the optical element imparts a structural color to the article.

A nanovoided polymer-based material may include a bulk polymer material defining a plurality of nanovoids and an interfacial film disposed at an interface between each of the plurality of nanovoids and the bulk polymer material. The interfacial film may include one or more layers of material. A method of forming a nanovoided polymer-based material may include (1) forming a bulk polymer material defining a plurality of nanovoids and (2) forming an interfacial film at an interface between each of the plurality of nanovoids and the bulk polymer material. Various other methods, systems, and materials are also disclosed.

The invention particularly relates to a method of applying a permanent coating to a plastic surface of a first part, comprising the following steps: applying to said plastic surface a layer of a polyamide-based hot-melt material, maintaining this layer of hot-melt material on said plastic surface for a period of time ranging from a few minutes to several hours, removing this layer of hot-melt material from this plastic surface; and applying a permanent coating to said surface, said permanent coating being based on polyurethane, an epoxy resin or polyesters, a polycarbonate and/or an acrylic resin; as well as the use of such a method in the automotive industry.

A laminate containing a metallic base layer and a transparent colored layer formed on the metallic base layer. The metallic base layer contains an aluminum pigment, a light-scattering component, a surface adjusting agent, and a rheology control agent, the aluminum pigment being present in an amount of 15 to 70 parts by mass, on a solids basis; and the light-scattering component being present in an amount of 5 to 55 parts by mass, on a solids basis, based on 100 parts by mass of the metallic base layer. The transparent colored layer contains a resin component, a curing agent, and a color pigment, the color pigment being present in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the resin solids content of the transparent colored layer.

A method for forming a multilayer coating film, sequentially conducting step (1) of applying an aqueous 2-package type first colored paint on both a metal member and a plastic member of an automobile outer panel to form an uncured first colored coating film; step (2) of applying an aqueous 1-package type white paint on the uncured first colored coating film by step (1) to form an uncured white coating film; step (3) of applying an aqueous 1-package type interference color paint on the uncured white coating film by step (2) to form an uncured interference color coating film; step (4) of applying a solvent-based 2-package type clear paint on the uncured interference color coating film by step (3) to form an uncured clear coating film; and step (5) of heating these coating films by steps (1) to (4) at 75 to 100° C. to simultaneously cure them.

A coating agent for oil seal comprising 10 to 90 parts by weight of a filler and 10 to 40 parts by weight of a wax, based on 100 parts by weight of isocyanate group-containing 1,2-polybutadiene, and being prepared as an organic solvent solution, wherein as the filler, silicone resin particles having a particle size of 0.5 to 10 μm and fluororesin particles having a particle size of 0.1 to 2 μm are each used at a ratio of 20 to 80 wt. % of the total filler amount. The coating agent for oil seal can exhibit excellent seal performance inherent in oil seal while maintaining excellent dispersibility of the coating agent, and can further achieve low torque characteristics.

In some examples, a method includes forming a material layer on a substrate, partially polymerizing a component of the material layer, to form fluid-filled droplets within a partially polymerized matrix, deforming the material layer to form anisotropic fluid-filled droplets, and further polymerizing the partially polymerized matrix to form an anisotropic voided polymer, including anisotropic voids in a polymer matrix. The anisotropic voids may include anisotropic nanovoids. Example methods may further include depositing electrodes on the anisotropic voided polymer so that at least a portion of the anisotropic voided polymer is located between the electrodes. Examples may include forming electroactive elements including an anisotropic nanovoided polymer, and devices (such as sensors and/or actuators) including electroactive elements.

In some examples, a device includes a multilayer structure, a first electrode, and a second electrode, where the multilayer structure is located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the multilayer structure includes a nanovoided polymer layer, and a solid layer. The solid layer may include a non-nanovoided layer. The nanovoided polymer layer may be an electroactive layer. The device may further include a control circuit configured to apply an electrical potential between the first electrode and the second electrode, which may induce a mechanical deformation of the multilayer.