A composite material of particles disposed in a matrix material is provided in which the particles have an asymmetric geometric shape with a longest dimension and a shortest dimension different from the longest dimension. Adjacent volume portions of the composite material are arranged in a mosaic pattern to abut along an interface or surface forming a common boundary between the adjacent volume portions. The particles within the adjacent volume portions are arranged with differing orientations with respect to the interface. The orientations of the particles in the adjacent volume portions are selected so that a crack propagating on a crack propagation path through one or the other of the adjacent volume portions stops at or deflects to propagate along the interface. Methods of making composite materials are also provided.

A structure for use in a compressible resilient pad. The structure contains both axially elastomeric strands and relatively inelastic strands co-extruded in various patterns. The structure has a high degree of both compressibility under an applied normal load and excellent recovery (resiliency or spring back) upon removal of that load.

Provided is an anisotropic optical film, which can, while keeping excellent display characteristics (e.g., brightness and contrast) in the direction of a viewing angle, suppress decreased display characteristics in the other directions, when the anisotropic optical film is used as a diffusion film of a display panel.

In an anisotropic optical film including two or more anisotropic light diffusion layers where the linear transmittance varies depending on the incident angle of incident light, each of the anisotropic light diffusion layers is provided with a matrix region and a plurality of pillar regions that differ in refractive index from the matrix region, the film includes, as the anisotropic light diffusion layers, at least two types of anisotropic light diffusion layers (a) and (b) that differ in linear transmittance, the maximum linear transmittance of the anisotropic light diffusion (a) is 40% or more and less than 95%, and the minimum linear transmittance thereof is less than 20%, and the maximum linear transmittance of the anisotropic light diffusion layer (h) is 20% or more and less than 40%, and the minimum linear transmittance thereof is less than 20%.

Provided is a method for producing a light absorption anisotropic film having a three-dimensional shape and having excellent alignment, which is capable of manufacturing a light absorption anisotropic film having a high degree of polarization even where a three-dimensional shape is provided by heating molding. The method includes a step of producing an intermediate laminate having an optical coating film formed using a liquid crystal composition containing a liquid crystalline compound and a dichroic substance, and an alignment film; a step of heating the intermediate laminate produced by the film forming step to impart a three-dimensional shape; an aligning step of aligning a liquid crystalline component included in the optical coating film in the intermediate laminate imparted with the three-dimensional shape by the heating molding step to produce a light absorption anisotropic film; and a step of curing the light absorption anisotropic film produced by the aligning step.

A method for producing a light absorption anisotropic film that includes a film forming step of producing an intermediate laminate having an optical coating film formed using a liquid crystal composition containing a liquid crystalline compound and a dichroic substance, and an alignment film; a heating molding step of heating the intermediate laminate produced by the film forming step to impart one of a curved shape on a whole or a part of the intermediate laminate, or an irregular shape on one surface or both surfaces of the intermediate laminate; an aligning step of aligning a liquid crystalline component included in the optical coating film in the intermediate laminate imparted with one of the curved shape or the irregular shape by the heating molding step to produce a light absorption anisotropic film; and a curing step of curing the light absorption anisotropic film produced by the aligning step.

The present disclosure relates to patterned photonic crystals. Provided photonic crystals are large scale silk inverse opals with tunable, geometrically defined structural color. Provided photonic crystals exhibit structural color or a photonic band gap (PBG). Provided photonic crystals are is found to be highly sensitive to water vapor and UV irradiation. Provided multicolored photonic macro- or micro-patterns are shown by selectively applying water vapor or UV irradiation through a shadow mask. The present disclosure also provides methods for making and using the same.

The present invention relates to novel anisotropic composite materials and processes for production thereof. The composite materials are based on the crosslinking of polyisocyanates and feature good weathering stability.