An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal polymer film having a low dielectric loss tangent. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a laminate having the liquid crystal polymer film.

The liquid crystal polymer film includes a liquid crystal polymer and a filler, in which, in a case where the liquid crystal polymer film includes one kind of the filler, a dielectric loss tangent of the filler under conditions of 25° C. and a frequency of 10 GHz is 0.0020 or less, and in a case where the liquid crystal polymer film includes two or more kinds of the fillers, a mass average value of dielectric loss tangents of the two or more kinds of the fillers under the conditions of 25° C. and a frequency of 10 GHz is 0.0020 or less, and a ratio of a volume occupied by the filler is 10% by volume or more with respect to a total volume of the liquid crystal polymer film.

A polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing two polymerizable liquid crystal compounds (A) and (B) is provided. A polymer of compound (A) exhibits a reverse wavelength dispersion property and the phase difference value [R(A,3000,450)] at a wavelength of 450 nm measured after irradiation in an oriented state with ultraviolet ray at 3000 mJ/cm.sup.2 varies in a positive sense relative to the phase difference value [R(A,500,450)] at a wavelength of 450 nm measured after irradiation in an oriented state with ultraviolet ray at 500 mJ/cm.sup.2. A polymer of compound (B) exhibits a reverse wavelength dispersion property and the phase difference value [R(B,3000,450)] at a wavelength of 450 nm measured after irradiation in an oriented state with ultraviolet ray at 3000 mJ/cm.sup.2 varies in a negative sense relative to the phase difference value [R(B,500,450)] at a wavelength of 450 nm measured after irradiation in an oriented state with ultraviolet ray at 500 mJ/cm.sup.2.

Methods, systems, and methods of manufacture for soft robotic actuators are described herein. In one aspect, a soft robotic actuator can include an elastomeric material defining a cavity; a volume of liquid metal (LM) positioned within the cavity; and an energy source coupled to the LM, where the energy source is adapted or configured to alter a temperature of the volume of LM, whereby altering the temperature of the volume of LM initiates an actuation of the elastomeric material.

In light of requests to reduce or reverse the wavelength dispersion of the birefringence of a phase-retardation film in order to increase the viewing angle of a liquid crystal display, the present invention provides a polymerizable compound that reduces, for example, the likelihood of crystals precipitating in a polymerizable composition including the polymerizable compound and enables the polymerizable composition to have high preservation stability and a polymerizable composition including the polymerizable compound which reduces the likelihood of inconsistencies being formed in a film-like polymer produced by polymerizing the polymerizable composition. Another object of the present invention is to provide a polymer produced by polymerizing the polymerizable composition and an optically anisotropic body including the polymer.

In light of requests to reduce or reverse the wavelength dispersion of the birefringence of a phase-retardation film in order to increase the viewing angle of a liquid crystal display, the present invention provides a polymerizable compound that reduces, for example, the likelihood of crystals precipitating in a polymerizable composition including the polymerizable compound and enables the polymerizable composition to have high preservation stability and a polymerizable composition including the polymerizable compound which reduces the likelihood of inconsistencies being formed in a film-like polymer produced by polymerizing the polymerizable composition. Another object of the present invention is to provide a polymer produced by polymerizing the polymerizable composition and an optically anisotropic body including the polymer.

The polymerizable composition contains: a) a polymerizable compound having one or two or more polymerizable groups and satisfying formula (I):

Re(450 nm)/Re(550 nm)<1.0  (I);

b) at least one photopolymerization initiator selected from the group consisting of alkylphenone-based compounds, acylphosphine oxide-based compounds, and oxime ester-based compounds; and c) a polymerization inhibitor. The present invention also provides an optically anisotropic body, a retardation film, an antireflective film, and a liquid crystal display device that are produced using the polymerizable liquid crystal composition. The polymerizable composition of the present invention is excellent in solubility and has high storage stability, so that no precipitation of crystals etc. occurs. When a film-shaped polymer is produced by polymerizing the above composition, the unevenness of the surface of the coating film is small while the alignment of the liquid crystal is maintained, and high durability is obtained. Therefore, the polymerizable composition is useful.

The polymerizable composition contains: a) a polymerizable compound having one or two or more polymerizable groups and satisfying formula (I):

Re(450 nm)/Re(550 nm)<1.0  (I);

b) at least one photopolymerization initiator selected from the group consisting of alkylphenone-based compounds, acylphosphine oxide-based compounds, and oxime ester-based compounds; and c) a polymerization inhibitor. The present invention also provides an optically anisotropic body, a retardation film, an antireflective film, and a liquid crystal display device that are produced using the polymerizable liquid crystal composition. The polymerizable composition of the present invention is excellent in solubility and has high storage stability, so that no precipitation of crystals etc. occurs. When a film-shaped polymer is produced by polymerizing the above composition, the unevenness of the surface of the coating film is small while the alignment of the liquid crystal is maintained, and high durability is obtained. Therefore, the polymerizable composition is useful.

This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing an ophthalmic lens of variable optical power. The variable optic insert may have surfaces within that have differing radii of curvature. The variable optic insert may also comprise polarizing elements. In some examples, an intermediate optic piece may be formed to comprise a UV absorbing dye, allowing differential processing of regions on either side of the intermediate optic piece. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast-molded from a silicone hydrogel. The various ophthalmic lens entities may include electroactive liquid crystal layers to electrically control refractive characteristics.

This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing an ophthalmic lens of variable optical power. The variable optic insert may have surfaces within that have differing radii of curvature. The variable optic insert may also comprise polarizing elements. In some examples, an intermediate optic piece may be formed to comprise a UV absorbing dye, allowing differential processing of regions on either side of the intermediate optic piece. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast-molded from a silicone hydrogel. The various ophthalmic lens entities may include electroactive liquid crystal layers to electrically control refractive characteristics.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a composition that can be used to make liquid crystalline networks using thiol-ene-based polymerization. In particular embodiments, the liquid crystalline networks can be formed by using the composition embodiments in additive manufacturing methods. The composition comprises a monomer, chain extender compound, and a crosslinker compound and each of these components can be selected so as to influence the thermomechanical and shape memory properties of the liquid crystalline networks and/or objects formed therewith.