TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Components: The substrate is selected from glass, and ceramic.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The substrate is metal. The metal is selected from Pb, Sn, Bi, In, Ag, and Cu (preferably Sn-Ag, Sn-Ag-Bi, Sn-Ag-Cu, Sn-Cu, Sn-Ag-Cu-Sb, Sn-Bi, and Sn-Zn-Bi).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The method (M1) further involves, prior to step (c), contacting a second substrate with the first substrate such that the glass flake loaded curable organic material lies between them. The barrier forms a cavity, where the cavity is hermetic. The glass flakes are present to an extent of 10-40 vol.% or 40-70 vol.%, and have a length of 0.5-100 (preferably 0.5-80) microns. The average particles size of the glass flakes is 50 nanometers to 20 microns. In the method (M1), prior to step (a), the glass flakes are functionalized by the application to the glass flakes of at least one of adhesion promoting primers; coupling agents; organotitanate coupling agents; silane coupling agents selected from vinyl, chloropropyl, epoxy, methacrylate, primary amine, diamine, mercapto, cationic styryl, cationic methacrylate, titanate, crosslinker, mixed silanes and melamine epoxy; and rubber elastomers. In the method (M1), prior to (a), the glass flakes have been fabricated to contain at least one UV absorbing cation selected from titanium, cerium, transition metals and rare earth metals. In the method (M1), prior to step (a), the glass flakes are fabricated to have a refractive index matching that of the organic matrix to increase transparency of the barrier. The active layer is provided to be contained within the cavity protected by the barrier. The curing is achieved by application of a localized energy source selected from ultrasound, visible light, ultraviolet light, broadband infrared, laser, and/or flame induction; or by application of a dispersed energy source selected from thermal heating, ambient heat, ultrasound, natural gas burners, magnetic induction heating, convection furnace, and eddy currents. After step (b), the glass flake loaded curable organic material is subjected to an ultrasonic horn in order to at least partially align the flakes generally parallel to the substrate. The substrate includes a preformed edge, the preformed edge and substrate are formed by properly cutting and shaping a sufficiently thick block of substrate material to form a preformed edge integral with the substrate. The substrate includes a preformed edge, the preformed edge formed by depositing enamel on at least a portion of the substrate and firing to form an enamel ridge integral with substrate. Prior to step (b), the substrate is coated with at least one selected from conductive coated glass, indium tin oxide, aluminum doped zinc oxide, sputtered metals, antireflective coatings, SiNx coatings, and/or Si3N4 coatings. The curing is achieved by a procedure selected from thermal curing, broadband infrared, laser, flame induction, ultrasound, natural gas burners, magnetic induction heating, and eddy currents. The glass flake loaded curable organic material is applied to at least one substrate by a procedure selected from tape casting, doctor blading, layer by layer application, screen printing, spraying, and/or ink jet printing. In the method (M2), prior to (a), at least one metal is coated onto the glass flakes. The metal is coated onto the glass flakes by a procedure selected from spraying, electroplating, sputtering, CVD or in situ reduction of metal salts. In the method (M3), before the step (c1), the glass flake loaded curable organic material is subjected to an ultrasonic horn in order to at least partially align the flakes generally parallel to the other layers.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The curable organic material is at least one selected from thermoplastics, thermosets, ionomers, elastomers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylics, polyesters, silicones, polyurethanes, halogenated plastics, condensation plastics, polyaddition plastics, cross-linking plastics, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polyisocyanurate (PI), SRP, TPI, PAI, HTS, perfluorosulfonic resin (PFSA), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethersulfone (PESU), PSU, fluoropolymers, LCP, PARA, HPN, poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS), PPA polyamides, polycarbonates, PC, PPC, cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride (PVC) Alloys, PEX, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), POM, nylons ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), rubber, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and/or neoprene rubber (preferably PVB). The substrate is plastic. The rubber elastomers are selected from natural rubber, butyl rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, and neoprene rubber.