Laser protection polymeric materials

A method of using a composition comprising, as a solid system or a solvent-less liquid system, the following components:

• 1) obtaining by purchasing or preparing by known methods a Polymer Matrix selected from the group consisting of hyperbranched polycarboxysilane polymer, hyperbranched polycarbosiloxane polymer, hyperbranched polyurea siloxane polymer and preparing their functionalized derivatives, and
• 2) obtaining by purchase carbon nanotubes (CNT) as optical power limiters (OPL) having a size from about 0.1 μm to about 5 μm in length and about 1 nm to about 30 nm in diameter;
• and
• 3) obtaining by purchase or prepared using known method carbon-rich molecules that liberate carbon as a decomposition product by instant blackening when irradiated with intense laser beams;
• 4) mixing the CNT and the carbon-rich molecules with the Polymer Matrix either separately or at the same time;
• and
• 5) mixing the Polymer Matrix containing the CNT with the Polymer Matrix containing the carbon-rich molecules;
• and
• 6) applying the mixture to a substrate to prepare a film or a coating;
• 7) curing the film or the coating to obtain a solid film or coating;
• and 8) evaluating the cured film or coating for optical power limiting properties under exposure to a laser beam.