Abstract:
An improved photorecording medium suitable for use in holographic storage systems contains a glassy hybrid inorganic-organic, three dimensional matrix, in which is distributed a photoimageable system comprising one or more photoactive, organic monomers. The medium is fabricated by providing a precursor of the hybrid inorganic-organic matrix, mixing the matrix precursor with the photoimageable system, and curing the matrix precursor to form the matrix in situ . The matrix and photoimageable system exhibit independent chemistries, such that the step of matrix formation does not substantially affect the photoimageable system. The hybrid matrix precursor is typically an oligomer derived from a compound represented by R n M(OR') 4-n , where M is a metallic element having a valence of three or higher, such as silicon, titanium, germanium, zirconium, vanadium, or aluminum, R is an alkyl or aryl, R' is a lower alkyl, and n ranges from 1 to 2. The hybrid nature of the matrix material provides several advantages. The inorganic character offers thermal, mechanical, and chemical stability, and also reduces both the bulk viscoelastic creep and the bulk polymerization-induced shrinkage typically exhibited by media utilizing organic polymer matrices. The organic character provides compatibility between the matrix precursor and the organic components (e.g., the photoactive monomer) of the photoimageable system, allowing homogeneous mixing during fabrication of the medium. The organic moieties also offer some flexibility to the matrix, and, it appears, ease diffusion of the photoactive monomer within the matrix during exposure, thereby improving the process of storing data.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method for coating an article with a siloxane-based coating composition that results in a coating with high thermal mechanical stability, the method also allowing commercially acceptable speeds to be employed while inhibiting beading of the coating prior to cure. In one embodiment, an article is coated with a composition containing a first methylsilsequioxane oligomer having an initial viscosity of about 2000 cp or less, a second methylsilsequioxane oligomer having an initial viscosity of about 40,000 to about 90,000 cp, a viscosity-lowering additive of a lower aliphatic ketone, and a catalyst. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for coating an article with a modified methylsilsequioxane coating suitable for higher temperature applications than an all-methyl coating. This embodiment involves coating an article with a composition comprising an oligomer characterized by A:B:C, where A represents the number of methyl pendant groups in the oligomer and is about 13 to about 67, B represents dimethyl pendant groups and is about 0 to about 33, and C represents phenyl pendant groups and is about 10 to about 80, a lower aliphatic ketone viscosity-lowering additive, and a catalyst of a moderately strong protic acid. In a third embodiment, it is possible to attain an even higher temperature coating. The method involves a step of applying a coating containing modified methylsilsequioxane oligomer that was prepared by mixing methyltriethoxysilane monomer with dimethyldiethoxysilane monomer that has already been partially hydrolyzed and oligomerized.