The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of fluorinated compounds, to novel compounds containing fluorinated end groups, to the use thereof and to compositions comprising novel compounds containing fluorinated end groups.

The present invention relates to an anti-reflective film exhibiting one or more peaks (q.sub.max) at a scattering vector of 0.0758 to 0.1256 nm.sup.−1, in a graph showing a log value of scattering intensity to a scattering vector defined in small-angle X-ray scattering.

A method for applying a coating to a surface includes the step of providing a reaction mixture comprising a silicon alkoxide and an alcohol. A reaction limiting amount of water is added. The silicon alkoxides and water are allowed to react to form silica precursor particles during an initial reaction period. A coating precursor composition is prepared by adding an acid soluble in the alcohol to the reaction mixture during a second reaction period after the initial reaction period. The precursor silica particles grow to form silica nanofeatures having a major dimension that is larger than a major dimension of the silica precursor particles. The coating precursor composition is applied to a surface, and the alcohol and water are allowed to evaporate and the silica nanofeatures to adhere to the surface and form a nanostructured layer on the surface. A coating precursor composition and a coated article are also disclosed.

A method for generating antireflective coatings for polymeric substrates using a deposition process and/or a dissolving process can provide a coating onto the outer surface of the substrate. Some embodiments can include a GLAD generated fluoropolymer coating or a co-evaporated fluoropolymer coating on a substrate that may achieve ultralow refractive index as well as improved adhesion and durability properties on polymeric substrates. In some embodiments, the deposition process is performed such that a fluoropolymer can be evaporated to form chain fragments of the fluoropolymer. The chain fragments diffused into the substrate can subsequently re-polymerize, interlocking with the polymer chains of the substrate. In some embodiments, the co-evaporation process can form a nanoporous polymer chain scaffold of the fluoropolymer, from which a sacrificial material can be dissolved out. The formed coating can be a multilayer or continuously-graded antireflective coating that has strong adhesion with the substrate.

A porous film is a porous film having a silica particle, wherein a refractive index is 1.1 to 1.25, and a contact angle with respect to water is equal to or more than 40°.

A thin-film coating applicator assembly is disclosed for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative thin-film coating applicator assembly is adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.

Touch screen displays and other coated articles demonstrating antiglare properties are provided. A method of forming an antiglare coating on a substrate is also provided, and may be used to prepare the coated articles. The method comprises: (a) heating the substrate to a temperature of at least 100° F. (37.8° C.) to form a heated substrate; (b) applying a curable film-forming composition on at least one surface of the heated substrate to form a substrate coated with a sol-gel layer; and (c) subjecting the coated substrate to thermal conditions for a time sufficient to effect cure of the sol-gel layer. The curable film-forming composition comprises: (i) a silane; (ii) a mineral acid; and (iii) a solvent;
wherein the weight ratio of mineral acid to silane is greater than 0.008:1 and the curable film-forming composition has a solids content of less than 10 percent by weight.

Embodiments of durable, anti-reflective articles are described. In one or more embodiments, the article includes a substrate and an anti-reflective coating disposed on the major surface. The article exhibits an average light transmittance of about 94% or greater over an optical wavelength regime and/or an average light reflectance of about 2% or less over the optical wavelength regime, as measured from an anti-reflective surface. In some embodiments, the article exhibits a maximum hardness of about 8 GPa or greater as measured by a Berkovich Indenter Hardness Test along an indentation depth of about 50 nm or greater and a b* value, in reflectance, in the range from about −5 to about 1 as measured on the anti-reflective surface only at all incidence illumination angles in the range from about 0 degrees to about 60 degrees under an International Commission on Illumination illuminant.

To provide an antifouling layer-provided transparent substrate, which is excellent in antiglare and antifouling properties, especially in removability of a creamy product such as hand cream. An antifouling layer-provided transparent substrate, containing a transparent substrate and an antifouling layer provided as the top surface layer on one main surface of the transparent substrate, where the antifouling layer has a divalent group represented by —(OCF.sub.2).sub.v(OCF.sub.2CF.sub.2).sub.w— (where v and w are each independently an integer of at least 1), and the surface of the antifouling layer is such that the mean width RSm of the elements and the arithmetical mean roughness Ra satisfy RSm≥Ra×100+5.

An antireflection film is provided and includes a base material layer that contains a thermoplastic resin and a high refractive index layer that is superposed on at least one surface of the base material layer, while having a refractive index that is higher than the refractive index of the base material layer, and which is configured such that the high refractive index layer contains a fluorene diol, an isocyanate and a polymer of a resin material that contains a (meth)acrylate and a urethane (meth)acrylate derived from a (meth)acrylate.