Abstract: A radiation switchable polymer, especially a visible or UV light switchable adhesive polymer capable of switching from a tacky to a less tacky state, a composition thereof, a process for the manufacture of the composition, and a dressing comprising the polymer. The polymer has a backbone polymeric moiety having radiation curable residues on it, and the polymer may be synthesised in a single step by choice of groups in the monomers such that polymerisation leaves the curable residues on it unreacted. For example, the polymer may be synthesised from norborn-2-ene with methacrylate groups on the monomer, such that polymerisation via a ring opening metathesis polymerisation may be carried out without affecting the methacrylate groups.

Abstract: A radiation switchable polymer, especially a visible or UV light switchable adhesive polymer capable of switching from a tacky to a less tacky state, a composition thereof, a process for the manufacture of the composition, and a dressing comprising the polymer. The polymer has a backbone polymeric moiety having radiation curable residues on it, and the polymer may be synthesised in a single step by choice of groups in the monomers such that polymerisation leaves the curable residues on it unreacted. For example, the polymer may be synthesised from norborn-2-ene with methacrylate groups on the monomer, such that polymerisation via a ring opening metathesis polymerisation may be carried out without affecting the methacrylate groups.

Abstract: An orthopaedic splinting or casting material comprises a substrate which carries a hardenable resin containing a multi-functional vinyl ether monomer, an agent which when mixed with the monomer increases the viscosity thereof and a catalyst capable of causing the resin to harden when exposed to actinic radiation.