The present invention relates to a responsive photonic coating and to a substrate provided with such a responsive photonic coating. The present invention also relates to a sensor. An object of the present invention is to provide a responsive photonic coating that can be used for simultaneously measuring the exposure to high temperature and steam, such as in an autoclave.

Suggested are new adhesion promoters, which are particular suitable for use in displays. Its inclusion in the polymerisable LC mixture results in an excellent adhesion on substrate without colouration over time i.e. compared to amino siloxanes. The new additives have no effect on alignment of LC on the substrate while improving the adhesion.

An optically transparent actuator apparatus is provided that includes an optically transparent bi-stable member including an optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layer. The bi-stable member is structured to move from a first state to a second state in response to a first stimulus and from the second state to the first state in response to a second stimulus. Also, a display apparatus includes a plate member and an actuator assembly coupled to the plate member. The actuator assembly includes a number of optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers, wherein each of the optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers is structured to move from a first state to a second state in response to a first stimulus.

A water-responsive interpenetrating polymer network, a preparation method and use thereof are provided. The water-responsive interpenetrating polymer network comprises an interpenetrating polymer network formed by a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer and a polyionic liquid; wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is formed by polymerization of a liquid crystal mixture; and the polyionic liquid contains a hydrophilic group or is a hydrophilic salt. The interpenetrating polymer network is water responsive without needs of activation with an alkaline solution, which simplifies the preparation process, and has stable water responsiveness performance after prolonged and/or repeated exposure to water. The water-responsive interpenetrating polymer network can be used to prepare light reflective coatings and reflective devices, and has higher commercial value.

The invention relates to a composition comprising i) A colorant ii) A radical generating photoinitiator, iii) A polymer wherein at least 40 mol-% of the repeating units are units according to formula (I), [Formula should be inserted herm] wherein R.sup.1 independently of each occurrence is H or CH.sub.3, R.sup.2 is a group of formula (II), [Formula should be inserted here] wherein L is a linking group, n is 0 or 1, and X independently of each occurrence is O or CH.sub.2, R.sup.3 independently of each occurrence is selected from H, COOH, and a group of formula (II), iv) 0.0 to 10.0% by weight, calculated on the on the weight of the polymer iii), of one or ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers having a molecular weight of less than 1500 g/mol.

##STR00001##

A liquid-crystal polymer includes at least one repeating unit having a spiro structure, and the repeating unit occupies 1 mol % to 20 mol % of the liquid-crystal polymer. The liquid-crystal polymer is composed of the following repeating units: 1 mol % to 20 mol % of ##STR00001##
10 mol % to 35 mol % of ##STR00002##
10 mol % to 35 mol % of ##STR00003##
10 mol % to
50 mol % of ##STR00004##
and 10 mol % to 40 mol % of ##STR00005##
AR.sup.1 is ##STR00006##
wherein each of ring R and ring S is independently a C.sub.3-20 ring, ring R and ring S share a carbon atom, and each of K.sup.1 and K.sup.2 is independently a C.sub.5-20 conjugated system. Each of AR.sup.2, AR.sup.3, AR.sup.4, and AR.sup.5 is independently AR.sup.6 or AR.sup.6—Z—AR.sup.7.

A liquid crystal composition is provided containing a first liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
and a second liquid crystal compound represented by formula (2): ##STR00002## Also provided is a method for producing the liquid crystal composition having a desired wavelength dispersion characteristic.

Provided are a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) film and a laminate comprising the same. The LCP film has a first surface and a second surface opposite each other, and a Kurtosis (Rku) of the first surface ranges from 3.0 to 60.0. With the Rku, the LCP film is able to improve the peel strength with a metal foil and ensure that a laminate comprising the same maintains the merit of low insertion loss.

A method for producing flakes of a resin thin film including: a step (1) of forming a resin thin film on a substrate film to obtain a multilayer film; a step (2) of pressing the multilayer film by a member having a concavo-convex shape to form cracks in the resin thin film; and a step (3) of stripping the resin thin film from the substrate film to obtain flakes. The step (2) is preferably performed with a pressing pressure of 100 MPa or less. The resin thin film is preferably formed of a cured product of a photocurable liquid crystal composition. The resin thin film is preferably a cholesteric resin layer.

A liquid crystal composition contains: at least one compound of general formula I and at least one polymerizable compound of general formula II. Such a liquid crystal composition has a suitable optical anisotropy, a suitable dielectric anisotropy, and a better pretilt angle consistency while maintaining a relatively high clearing point, and the drop mura is good. When the liquid crystal composition is applied to a PSA liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal composition has an excellent display effect. ##STR00001##