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AssigneeAmerican Optical Corporation
InventorsDonald R. Uhlmann, Elias Snitzer, Richard J. Hovey, Nori Y. C. Chu, Joseph T. Fournier, Jr.
Estimating the term…
Organic photochromic materials comprising a photochromic dye and a resinous material can be stabilized with a protective coating which will protect them from deactivation by exposure to moisture, oxygen, various plastic host materials, reactive chemicals or even normal atmospheric conditions. Useful organic photochromic dyes include the spiropyrans, the spirooxazines, the metal dithizonates, the phenazines, the phenothiazines and other known photochromic compositions. Useful resinous materials include vinyl-type thermoplastics, cellulosic materials, polyesters, epoxy resins and aminoplast resins. The encapsulated photochromic materials of the invention comprise an organic photochromic dye in combination with an organic resinous material enclosed within an outer shell of an inorganic material and find use in the preparation of photochromic plastic films, sheets, ophthalmic lenses such as lenses for sunglasses and in camera lenses and filters.
A stabilized photochromic particle for incorporation into a plastic host to impart photochromic properties thereto, said particle comprising an organic photochromic dye mixed with a resinous material, said particle being from 30 A to 1 micron in diameter and having a protective coating on substantially the entire surface thereof, said coating being effective to render the particle impervious to the effects of oxygen, moisture, monomers, catalysts, and other chemicals used in the formation of the plastic host which are deleterious to said photochromic dye.
A material which exhibits photochromic properties comprising a plastic host having a plurality of photochromic particles incorporated therein, each said photochromic particle comprising an organic photochromic dye mixed with a resinous material, said particle being between 30 A and 1 micron in diameter and having a protective coating on substantially the entire surface thereof, said coating being effective to render the particle impervious to the effects of oxygen, moisture, monomers, catalysts, and other chemicals used in the formation of the plastic hosts which are deleterious to said photochromic dye, the coating on said photochromic dye and resinous material enabling said dye to impart photochromic properties to said plastic hosts when incorporated therein.
A process for producing a stabilized photochromic particle suitable for incorporation into a plastic host for imparting photochromic properties thereto, said process comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.