Alignment facilities for optical dyes

摘要

Provided are phase-separating polymer systems including a cured polymeric liquid crystal matrix phase and a guest phase including at least one photoactive material where the guest phase separates from the matrix phase during the curing process. Optical elements, including ophthalmic elements and other articles of manufacture including the phase-separating polymer systems are also disclosed. Methods of forming a liquid crystal phase-separating photoactive polymer system are also described.

主权项

1. A phase-separating polymer system comprising:
an at least partially cured matrix phase comprising:
a polymeric residue of at least a first liquid crystal monomer; and a guest phase comprising:
at least one photoactive material selected from the group consisting of photochromic compounds, photochromic-dichroic compounds, and mixtures thereof, wherein the photoactive material is adapted to switch from a first state to a second state in response to at least actinic radiation, and to revert back to the first state in response to thermal energy; andat least one liquid crystal material, wherein at least a portion of the guest phase separates from at least a portion of the matrix phase during at least partial curing of the polymeric residue of the at least first liquid crystal monomer.