The present invention provides multifunctional monomers, including, but not limited to include multifunctional methylene malonate and methylene beta-ketoester monomers; methods for producing the same; and compositions and products formed therefrom. The multifunctional monomers of the invention may be produced by transesterification or by direct synthesis from monofunctional methylene malonate monomers or methylene beta-ketoester monomers. The present invention further compositions and products formed from methylene beta-ketoester monomers of the invention, including monomer-based products (e.g., inks, adhesives, coatings, sealants or reactive molding) and polymer-based products (e.g., fibers, films, sheets, medical polymers, composite polymers and surfactants).

A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a first substrate which has a first surface, a first alignment layer which is disposed on the first surface of the first substrate and includes a polymerization initiator, a photocurable layer which is formed on the first alignment layer and includes an azobenzene group, a second substrate which has a first surface facing the first substrate and a second surface located opposite the first surface thereof, a second alignment layer which is disposed on the first surface of the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the photocurable layer and the second alignment layer.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a first substrate which has a first surface, a first alignment layer which is disposed on the first surface of the first substrate and includes a polymerization initiator, a photocurable layer which is formed on the first alignment layer and includes an azobenzene group, a second substrate which has a first surface facing the first substrate and a second surface located opposite the first surface thereof, a second alignment layer which is disposed on the first surface of the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the photocurable layer and the second alignment layer.

The present invention is directed to a coated substrate comprising: A) a heat sensitive substrate having a heat distortion temperature less than 120 degrees C., and B) a coating layer deposited on at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the coating layer is deposited from a waterborne coating composition comprising: (a) a continuous phase comprising water, and (b) a dispersed phase comprising: (i) optional pigments; (ii) polymeric particles containing carboxylic acid functionality prepared from the polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated compounds including ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and (iii) a polycarbodiimide or a polyhydrazide. The present invention is further directed to the waterborne coating compositions used to prepare the coated substrates.

The present invention is directed to a coated substrate comprising: A) a heat sensitive substrate having a heat distortion temperature less than 120 degrees C., and B) a coating layer deposited on at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the coating layer is deposited from a waterborne coating composition comprising: (a) a continuous phase comprising water, and (b) a dispersed phase comprising: (i) optional pigments; (ii) polymeric particles containing carboxylic acid functionality prepared from the polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated compounds including ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and (iii) a polycarbodiimide or a polyhydrazide. The present invention is further directed to the waterborne coating compositions used to prepare the coated substrates.

The present invention provides methylene beta-ketoester monomers, methods for producing the same, and compositions and products formed therefrom. In the method for producing the methylene beta-ketoesters of the invention, a beta-ketoester is reacted with a source of formaldehyde in a modified Knoevenagel reaction optionally in the presence of an acidic or basic catalyst, and optionally in the presence of an acidic or non-acidic solvent, to form reaction complex. The reaction complex may be an oligomeric complex. The reaction complex is subjected to further processing, which may be vaporization by contact with an energy transfer means in order to isolate the beta-ketoester monomer. The present invention further compositions and products formed from methylene beta-ketoester monomers of the invention, including monomer-based products (e.g., inks, adhesives, coatings, sealants or reactive molding) and polymer-based products (e.g., fibers, films, sheets, medical polymers, composite polymers and surfactants).

The present invention provides multifunctional monomers, including, but not limited to include multifunctional methylene malonate and methylene beta-ketoester monomers; methods for producing the same; and compositions and products formed therefrom. The multifunctional monomers of the invention may be produced by transesterification or by direct synthesis from monofunctional methylene malonate monomers or methylene beta-ketoester monomers. The present invention further compositions and products formed from methylene beta-ketoester monomers of the invention, including monomer-based products (e.g., inks, adhesives, coatings, sealants or reactive molding) and polymer-based products (e.g., fibers, films, sheets, medical polymers, composite polymers and surfactants).