A process of forming a cross-linked electronically active hydrophilic co-polymer is provided and includes the steps of: a. mixing an intrinsically electronically active material and at least one compound of formula (I) with water to form an intermediate mixture; b. adding at least one hydrophilic monomer, at least one hydrophobic monomer, and at least one cross-linker to the intermediate mixture to form a co-monomer mixture; and c. polymerising the co-monomer mixture. Formula (I) is defined as: ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl and X.sup.− is an anion.

A process of forming a cross-linked electronically active hydrophilic co-polymer is provided and includes the steps of: a. mixing an intrinsically electronically active material and at least one compound of formula (I) with water to form an intermediate mixture; b. adding at least one hydrophilic monomer, at least one hydrophobic monomer, and at least one cross-linker to the intermediate mixture to form a co-monomer mixture; and c. polymerising the co-monomer mixture. Formula (I) is defined as: ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl and X.sup.− is an anion.

A process of forming a cross-linked electronically active hydrophilic co-polymer is provided and includes the steps of: a. mixing an intrinsically electronically active material and at least one compound of formula (I) with water to form an intermediate mixture; b. adding at least one hydrophilic monomer, at least one hydrophobic monomer, and at least one cross-linker to the intermediate mixture to form a co-monomer mixture; and c. polymerising the co-monomer mixture. Formula (I) is defined as: ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl and X.sup.− is an anion.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet enables a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to be formed, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has a low dielectric constant, is excellent in level difference conformability while maintaining adhesive strength and adhesion reliability at high temperatures, and suitable for laminating a metal mesh film and the like. The pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet of the present invention is a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer containing an acrylic polymer (A) and a hydrogenated polyolefinic resin (B) that exhibits liquid flowability at 25° C. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has a dielectric constant at a frequency of 1 MHz of from 2.3 to 3.5. The pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet has a 180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 65° C. of 6 N/20 mm or more. In the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet, the proportion of the 180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 65° C. to the 180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 25° C. (180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 65° C./180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 25° C.×100) is 30 or more.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet enables a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to be formed, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has a low dielectric constant, is excellent in level difference conformability while maintaining adhesive strength and adhesion reliability at high temperatures, and suitable for laminating a metal mesh film and the like. The pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet of the present invention is a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer containing an acrylic polymer (A) and a hydrogenated polyolefinic resin (B) that exhibits liquid flowability at 25° C. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has a dielectric constant at a frequency of 1 MHz of from 2.3 to 3.5. The pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet has a 180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 65° C. of 6 N/20 mm or more. In the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet, the proportion of the 180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 65° C. to the 180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 25° C. (180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 65° C./180° peel adhesive strength to a glass plate at a tensile speed of 300 mm/minute at 25° C.×100) is 30 or more.

The invention provides a method for producing photochromic silicone hydrogel (SiHy) contact lenses based on thermal cast-molding technology in a relatively efficient and consistent manner. The method is characterized by selecting a high radical-reactive hydrophilic acrylic monomer while eliminating any low radical-reactive hydrophilic N-vinyl amide monomer in a lens formulation (polymerizable composition), by selecting a weight ratio of low-radical-reactive hydrophilic N-vinyl amide monomer to a high radical-reactive hydrophilic acrylic monomer in a lens formulation if the low radical-reactive hydrophilic N-vinyl amide monomer is needed, and/or by using a relatively high temperature thermal initiator in a lens formulation, to control the lens properties (e.g., water content, elastic modulus, etc.) and lens processability (capability of dry-delensing from molds) of thermally cast-molded SiHy contact lenses while minimizing loss in photochromic ability of resultant SiHy contact lenses.

The invention provides a method for producing photochromic silicone hydrogel (SiHy) contact lenses based on thermal cast-molding technology in a relatively efficient and consistent manner. The method is characterized by selecting a high radical-reactive hydrophilic acrylic monomer while eliminating any low radical-reactive hydrophilic N-vinyl amide monomer in a lens formulation (polymerizable composition), by selecting a weight ratio of low-radical-reactive hydrophilic N-vinyl amide monomer to a high radical-reactive hydrophilic acrylic monomer in a lens formulation if the low radical-reactive hydrophilic N-vinyl amide monomer is needed, and/or by using a relatively high temperature thermal initiator in a lens formulation, to control the lens properties (e.g., water content, elastic modulus, etc.) and lens processability (capability of dry-delensing from molds) of thermally cast-molded SiHy contact lenses while minimizing loss in photochromic ability of resultant SiHy contact lenses.

An anti-forgery color conversion film includes a photonic crystal structure whose color is converted by an external stimulus such as a breath. The photonic crystal structure includes a first refractive index layer including a first polymer exhibiting a first refractive index; and a second refractive index layer which is alternately laminated with the first refractive index layer and includes a second polymer exhibiting a second refractive index. A consumer who purchases an article including the color conversion film may easily distinguish the authenticity of the article.

An anti-forgery color conversion film includes a photonic crystal structure whose color is converted by an external stimulus such as a breath. The photonic crystal structure includes a first refractive index layer including a first polymer exhibiting a first refractive index; and a second refractive index layer which is alternately laminated with the first refractive index layer and includes a second polymer exhibiting a second refractive index. A consumer who purchases an article including the color conversion film may easily distinguish the authenticity of the article.

A novel graft polymer can include a block copolymer backbone (A) as a graft base having polymeric sidechains (B) grafted thereon. The polymeric sidechains (B) are obtainable by polymerization of at least one vinyl ester monomer (B1) and optionally N-vinylpyrrolidone as optional further monomer (B2). For example, the block copolymer backbone (A) is a triblock copolymer of polyethylene oxide (PEG) and polypropylene oxide (PPG). Also included is a process for obtaining such a graft polymer, the process is preferably carried out by free-radical polymerization.