Abstract: Forms of the technology relate to a biodegradable composition including at least one biobased or partially biobased polymer and at least one filler comprising processed organic matter wherein the filler is adapted to provide mechanical stiffness to the composition and/or provide one or more nutrient(s) to soil upon degradation of the composition in soil. The at least one biobased or partially biobased polymer may comprise a combination of polymers including polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polylactic acid (PLA). The filler may include processed organic matter obtained from animal matter, for example animal carcasses. Forms of the technology relate to the use of such a biodegradable composition for the manufacture of a container for plants.

Abstract: The invention provide a class of water-processable polymerizable prepolymers which comprises (1) siloxane-containing monomeric units derived at least one siloxane containing monomer having one hydrophilic group or chain and/or polysiloxane-containing crosslinking units derived from at least one hydrophilized polysiloxane or chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker; (2) hydrophilic monomeric units derived from one or more hydrophilic vinylic monomers; and (3) from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of polymerizable units each having a pendant or terminal, ethylenically-unsaturated group and free of any polysiloxane segment. The prepolymer comprises from about 20% to about 50% by weight of silicone relative to the total weight of the prepolymer and has a high water solubility or dispersibility of at least about 5% by weight in water and suitable for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The instant invention pertains to a method and a fluid composition for producing contact lenses with improved lens quality and with increased product yield. The method of the invention involves adding a Butylated Polyvinylpyrrolidone into a fluid composition including a lens-forming material in an amount sufficient to reduce an averaged mold separation force by at least about 20% in comparison with that without the Butylated Polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: The invention provide a class of water-processable polymerizable prepolymers which comprises (1) siloxane-containing monomeric units derived at least one siloxane containing monomer having one hydrophilic group or chain and/or polysiloxane-containing crosslinking units derived from at least one hydrophilized polysiloxane or chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker; (2) hydrophilic monomeric units derived from one or more hydrophilic vinylic monomers; and (3) from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of polymerizable units each having a pendant or terminal, ethylenically-unsaturated group and free of any polysiloxane segment. The prepolymer comprises from about 20% to about 50% by weight of silicone relative to the total weight of the prepolymer and has a high water solubility or dispersibility of at least about 5% by weight in water and suitable for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provide a class of water-processable polymerizable prepolymers which comprises (1) siloxane-containing monomeric units derived at least one siloxane containing monomer having one hydrophilic group or chain and/or polysiloxane-containing crosslinking units derived from at least one hydrophilized polysiloxane or chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker; (2) hydrophilic monomeric units derived from one or more hydrophilic vinylic monomers; and (3) from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of polymerizable units each having a pendant or terminal, ethylenically-unsaturated group and free of any polysiloxane segment. The prepolymer comprises from about 20% to about 50% by weight of silicone relative to the total weight of the prepolymer and has a high water solubility or dispersibility of at least about 5% by weight in water and suitable for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provide a class of linear chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinkers which comprises two terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups, at least two polysiloxane segments, and dangling hydrophilic polymer chains each covalently attached to a divalent organic radical separating each pair of adjacent polysiloxane segments. The present invention is also related to a polymer comprising crosslinking units derived from chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker of the invention and to ophthalmic lenses comprising such a polymer.

Abstract: The invention provide a class of linear chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinkers which comprises two terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups, at least two polysiloxane segments, and dangling hydrophilic polymer chains each covalently attached to a divalent organic radical separating each pair of adjacent polysiloxane segments. The present invention is also related to a polymer comprising crosslinking units derived from chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker of the invention and to ophthalmic lenses comprising such a polymer.

Abstract: The invention provide a class of linear chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinkers which comprises two terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups, at least two polysiloxane segments, and dangling hydrophilic polymer chains each covalently attached to a divalent organic radical separating each pair of adjacent polysiloxane segments. The present invention is also related to a polymer comprising crosslinking units derived from chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker of the invention and to ophthalmic lenses comprising such a polymer.

Abstract: The invention provide a new lens curing method for making hydrogel contact lenses. The new lens curing method is based on actinically-induced step-growth polymerization. The invention also provides hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the method of the invention and fluid compositions for making hydrogel contact lenses based on the new lens curing method. In addition, the invention provide prepolymers capable of undergoing actinically-induced step-growth polymerization to form hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provide a new lens curing method for making hydrogel contact lenses. The new lens curing method is based on actinically-induced step-growth polymerization. The invention also provides hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the method of the invention and fluid compositions for making hydrogel contact lenses based on the new lens curing method. In addition, the invention provide prepolymers capable of undergoing actinically-induced step-growth polymerization to form hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The instant invention pertains to a method and a fluid composition for producing contact lenses with improved lens quality and with increased product yield. The method of the invention involves adding a Butylated Polyvinylpyrrolidone into a fluid composition including a lens-forming material in an amount sufficient to reduce an averaged mold separation force by at least about 20% in comparison with that without the Butylated Polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: The invention provide a class of linear chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinkers which comprises two terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups, at least two polysiloxane segments, and dangling hydrophilic polymer chains each covalently attached to a divalent organic radical separating each pair of adjacent polysiloxane segments. The present invention is also related to a polymer comprising crosslinking units derived from chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker of the invention and to ophthalmic lenses comprising such a polymer.

Abstract: The invention provide a class of water-processable polymerizable prepolymers which comprises (1) siloxane-containing monomeric units derived at least one siloxane containing monomer having one hydrophilic group or chain and/or polysiloxane-containing crosslinking units derived from at least one hydrophilized polysiloxane or chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker; (2) hydrophilic monomeric units derived from one or more hydrophilic vinylic monomers; and (3) from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of polymerizable units each having a pendant or terminal, ethylenically-unsaturated group and free of any polysiloxane segment. The prepolymer comprises from about 20% to about 50% by weight of silicone relative to the total weight of the prepolymer and has a high water solubility or dispersibility of at least about 5% by weight in water and suitable for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provide a new lens curing method for making hydrogel contact lenses. The new lens curing method is based on actinically-induced step-growth polymerization. The invention also provides hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the method of the invention and fluid compositions for making hydrogel contact lenses based on the new lens curing method. In addition, the invention provide prepolymers capable of undergoing actinically-induced step-growth polymerization to form hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provide a new lens curing method for making hydrogel contact lenses. The new lens curing method is based on actinically-induced step-growth polymerization. The invention also provides hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the method of the invention and fluid compositions for making hydrogel contact lenses based on the new lens curing method. In addition, the invention provide prepolymers capable of undergoing actinically-induced step-growth polymerization to form hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provides a continuous-flow process for producing a polymeric material. The process of the invention comprises the steps of: introducing at least two solutions, each comprising one or more reactants, into a microreactor to mix the two solutions to form a reacting solution, wherein the one or more reactants are selected from the group consisting of a monomer, an initiator, a coupling agent, a prepolymer, a macromer, and mixtures thereof; feeding continuously the reacting solution into a flow-through polymerization reactor in a coil form, wherein the flow-through polymerization reactor is capable of providing a residence time sufficient for (co)polymerizing the reactants to form a polymer with a desired polydispersity, wherein the flow-through polymerization reactor is immersed in an ultrasonic bath to minimize or substantially eliminate unwanted high-molecular-weight fractions of the polymer.

Abstract: The invention provide a new lens curing method for making hydrogel contact lenses. The new lens curing method is based on actinically-induced step-growth polymerization. The invention also provides hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the method of the invention and fluid compositions for making hydrogel contact lenses based on the new lens curing method. In addition, the invention provide prepolymers capable of undergoing actinically-induced step-growth polymerization to form hydrogel contact lenses.