Methods for producing photosensitive microparticles, aqueous compositions thereof and articles prepared therewith

An aqueous composition comprising an effective amount of at least one photosensitive material and at least one polymerizable component comprising at least one hydrophilic functional group and at least one hydrophobic functional group, said at least one photosensitive material and at least one polymerizable component being adapted to form at least partially crosslinked photosensitive polymeric microparticles wherein the photosensitive material comprises at least one functional group capable of reacting with said polymerizable component and is substantially non-extractable from the microparticles.

At least partially crosslinked photosensitive polymeric microparticles comprising an at least partially polymerized component comprising integral surface and interior domains wherein said surface domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophilic region, said interior domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophobic region, and at least one of said surface and/or interior domains has photosensitive material associated with said domain and wherein the photosensitive material comprises at least one functional group capable of reacting with said polymerizable component and is substantially non-extractable from the microparticles.

A photosensitive polymeric article comprising at least partially crosslinked photosensitive polymeric microparticles comprising an at least partially polymerized component comprising integral surface and interior domains wherein said surface domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophilic region, said interior domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophobic region, and at least one of said surface and/or interior domains has photosensitive material associated with said domain and wherein the photosensitive material comprises at least one functional group capable of reacting with said polymerizable component and is substantially non-extractable from the microparticles.

A photosensitive article comprising:

• a) a substrate;
• and
• b) an at least partially cured coating composition connected to at least a portion of at least one surface of the substrate, said coating composition comprising an effective amount of at least partially crosslinked photosensitive polymeric microparticles comprising an at least partially polymerized component comprising integral surface and interior domains wherein said surface domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophilic region, said interior domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophobic region, and at least one of said surface and/or interior domains has photosensitive material associated with said domain and wherein the photosensitive material comprises at least one functional group capable of reacting with said polymerizable component and is substantially non-extractable from the microparticles.

An aqueous composition comprising an effective amount of at least one photochromic material and at least one polymerizable component comprising at least one substantially hydrophilic monomer and at least one substantially hydrophobic monomer, said at least one photochromic material and at least one polymerizable component being adapted to form at least partially crosslinked photochromic polymeric microparticles wherein the photochromic material comprises at least one functional group reactive with the surface and/or interior domains of said microparticles to provide that said photochromic material is substantially non-extractable from the microparticles.

At least partially crosslinked photochromic polymeric microparticles, said microparticles comprising at least one polymerized component comprising integral surface and interior domains wherein said surface domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophilic region, said interior domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophobic region and at least one of said interior and/or surface domains comprises at least one photochromic material wherein the photochromic material comprises at least one functional group reactive with the surface and/or interior domains of said microparticles to provide that said photochromic material is substantially non-extractable from the microparticles.

A photochromic article comprising an at least partially cured polymeric organic material and an effective amount of at least partially crosslinked photochromic polymeric microparticles, said microparticles being the polymerized product of at least one polymerizable component comprising integral surface and interior domains wherein said surface domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophilic region, said interior domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophobic region and at least one of said interior and/or surface domains is photochromic wherein the photochromic material comprises at least one functional group reactive with the surface and/or interior domains of said microparticles to provide that said photochromic material is substantially non-extractable from the microparticles.

A photochromic coated article comprising:

• a) a substrate;
• and
• b) an at least partially cured photochromic coating connected to at least a portion of at least one surface of said substrate, said photochromic coating comprising a film-forming polymer and an effective amount of at least partially crosslinked photochromic polymeric microparticles, said microparticles comprising integral surface and interior domains wherein said surface domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophilic region, said interior domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophobic region and at least one of said interior and/or surface domains comprises a photochromic material wherein the photochromic material comprises at least one functional group reactive with the surface and/or interior domains of said microparticles to provide that said photochromic material is substantially non-extractable from the microparticles.

A photochromic composite article comprising:

• a) a substrate;
• and
• b) an at least partially cured photochromic polymeric sheet connected to at least a portion of at least one surface of said substrate, said photochromic polymeric sheet comprising an effective amount of at least partially crosslinked photochromic polymeric microparticles, said microparticles comprising integral surface and interior domains wherein said surface domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophilic region, said interior domain comprises at least one substantially hydrophobic region and at least one of said interior and/or surface domains comprises at least one photochromic material wherein the photochromic material comprises at least one functional group reactive with the surface and/or interior domains of said microparticles to provide that said photochromic material is substantially non-extractable from the microparticles.