Photochromic compositions

Abstract

A photochromic composition having at least one photochromic naphthopyran-based component with R′ and R″ groups selected from hydrogen, alkyl, fluorinated alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylaryl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, halogen, amine, carbonate ester, carboxylate, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl or a heterocyclic group and Ar′ and Ar″ groups selected from unsubstituted or substituted cyclic five-membered or six-membered structures including benzene, pyridine, thiophene, furan, carbazole, triphenylamine, dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, fluorine, naphthalene, anthracene and pyrene. The photochromic composition is excitable under a visible light range to produce a color change. A second photochromic naphthopyran-based component with a different thermal decay rate constant (k) may further be included in the photochromic composition. The photochromic composition is incorporated into color-changing inks and polymers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.