Polymer with high inducible birefringence undergoing very rapid permanent change on intensive irradiation

摘要

Flat articles made of photo-addressable polymers are claimed which are characterised by being optically anisotropic. Also claimed is their manufacture by irradiating the article with polarised light until the required optical anisotropy is established. In an example, Ar laser-inscribed information which is stable at room temperature can be applied to an article comprising a glass plate coated with a mixture of 45% polymer with repeat units of formula (I) and 55% polymer of formula (II) after the article has been made birefringent by irradiation with polarised light from a 15 W Planilux LJ-S (RTM) light source. The laser had maximum power 280 mW and the inscription had density increase ( delta D) = 0.9, with the required energy to achieve this being 1.3 /* 10<6> mJ/m<2>.