Essentially water-free polymerized crystalline colloidal array composites having tunable radiation diffracting properties and process for making
US7008567B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2202/32
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a composite having tunable radiation diffracting properties which includes a flexible, water-free polymeric matrix and a crystalline colloidal array of particles having a lattice spacing, the array being embedded in the polymeric matrix and the lattice spacing changing responsive to stress applied to the polymeric matrix, thereby causing the radiation diffracting properties to change, wherein the polymeric matrix, the lattice spacing and the radiation diffracting properties all return to their original state essentially immediately upon removal of the stress. The present inventive composite is preferably made by a process, which involves forming a preliminary hydrogel polymerized crystalline colloidal array (PCCA), dehydrating the PCCA, and then forming a final, encapsulating polymeric matrix.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.