Abstract: A process for the preparation of water-soluble polymers of esters of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and polyalkylene glycols by azeotropic esterification, in the presence of organic solvents which form an azeotrope with water, of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids with polyalkylene oxides which are capped at one end by end groups, to a degree of at least 85 wt %, followed by free-radical polymerization of the resulting esters optionally together with other ethylenically unsaturated monomers, in aqueous medium, wherein the organic solvents are removed by azeotropic distillation from the reaction mixture during polymerization and the water that is removed by distillation is recycled or the quantity of water removed by distillation from the reaction mixture is replaced by a feed of fresh water.

Abstract: Solid rigid acrylic copolymer materials, useful for forming ophthalmic devices, are processed into the shape of an ophthalmic device, such as an intraocular lens and are then processed into a foldable form. The acrylic copolymer material has polymer units derived from an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, such as, (meth)acrylic acid, 1-butenoic acid, and the like, and an aryl(meth)acrylate monomer, such as, phenyl(meth)acrylate, 2-ethyloxy(meth)acrylate, and the like. The processing into a foldable shape may be accomplished by contacting the rigid material, having a Tg of 25° C. or higher, with an alcohol, preferably in the presence of acid catalyst, to lower the Tg to 20° C. or less.

Abstract: It is to provide a block copolymer and its copolymer composition which provides a heat shrinkable (multilayer) film with less spontaneous shrinkage while maintaining favorable low temperature shrinkability, and a heat shrinkable (multilayer) film containing the block copolymer. By using a block copolymer comprising a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene characterized in that the relation of the loss tangent value obtained by dynamic viscoelasticity measurement with the temperature satisfies specific conditions, or a composition containing the copolymer composition as an essential component, a heat shrinkable (multilayer) film with less spontaneous shrinkability and less odor while maintaining favorable low temperature shrinkability can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymers which are modified by functional end groups and are based on conjugated dienes or on conjugated dienes and vinylaromatic compounds, a process for their preparation and their use for the production of rubber shaped articles of all types, in particular for the production of tires and tire components, such as tire treads.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a hydrogenated modified polymer which can afford a molded body excellent in improvement in the balance among the impact resistance, the strength, the adherability and as the appearance, and a process for producing the same as well as a composition containing the same. Another objective is to provide a composition which can afford a molded body excellent in the balance among the flame retardancy, the tensile strength, the tensile extension, the heat resistance, the characteristic at low temperature, the insulation property, the pliability and the like. The hydrogenated modified polymer of the invention is a hydrogenated polymer of a modified conjugated diene-based polymer obtained by reacting an alkoxysilane compound to a polymer which is polymerized a conjugated diene or a conjugated diene and another monomer using an organic alkali metal compound as a polymerization initiator in an inert organic solvent such as cyclohexane and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a polymer composition having quaternary alkane units and aromatic hydrocarbon units. The aromatic hydrocarbon units have substituents of the general formula R1SiR2R3R4, wherein R1 is optional and is a hydrocarbon or ether linking the silicon and the aromatic hydrocarbon, and R2, R3, and R4 are one or more of hydrogen, alkyl, and alkoxy, with the provision that no more than two may be hydrogen or alkyl.

Abstract: New photoactive polymers, their use as liquid crystal (LC) orientation layers and their use in the construction of unstructured and structured optical and electro-optical elements and multi-layer systems. The new photoactive polymers are crosslinkable polymers that can be readily cross linked over a relatively short irradiation time.

Abstract: It has been discovered that improved polystyrene products may be obtained by polymerizing styrene in the presence of at least one multifunctional initiator, at least one chain transfer agent, and at least one cross-linking agent. The presence of the multifunctional initiator tends to cause more branched structures in the polystyrene. A mathematical model that helps optimize the levels of these additives for given molecular weights, melt flow indices (MFIs) and zero shear viscosities (&eegr;0) has also been discovered.

Abstract: A method of preparing a (meth)acrylate functionalised polymer comprising the steps of mixing together a monofunctional vinylic monomer with from 0.3-100% w/w (based on monofunctional monomer) of a polyfunctional vinylic monomer and from 0.0001-50% w/w of a chain transfer agent, reacting said mixture to form a polymer and terminating the polymerisation reaction before 99% conversion. The resulting polymers are useful as components of surface coatings and inks, as moulding resins or in curable compounds, e.g. curable moulding resins or photoresists.

Abstract: Photoiniferters for controlled radical polymerizations and telechelic copolymers comprising polymerized units of one or more free radically (co)polymerizable monomers having a first azalactone terminal group and a second dithiocarbamate terminal group are described.

Abstract: A method for encoding a polymer. The method comprises incorporating, into a polymer formed by polymerizing at least one bulk monomer, from 0.1 ppm to 1% each of at least two additional monomer residues.

Abstract: Novel ethylene styrene interpolymers having atactic ES repeating units and an alternating structure substantially higher than that predicted using Bernoullian statistics may be prepared in the presence of a transition metal phosphinimine compound and an activator.

Abstract: A polymerization process comprising initiating a first polymerization of monomers using an initiator functionalized with an ATRP initiating site, wherein the first polymerization is selected from the group of cationic polymerization, anionic polymerization, conventional free radical polymerization, metathesis, ring opening polymerization, cationic ring opening polymerization, and coordination polymerization to form a macroinitiator comprising an ATRP initiating site and further initiating an ATRP polymerization of radically polymerizable monomers using the macroinitiator comprising an ATRP initiating site. Novel block copolymers may be formed by the disclosed method.

Abstract: A highly uniform vinyl compound polymer-cross-copolymerized olefin/styrene/diene copolymer excellent in processability, mechanical properties, high temperature properties, compatibility and transparency, and its composition and a process for its production, are provided. This copolymer is a crossed polymer obtained by cross-copolymerizing an olefin/styrene/diene copolymer having a styrene content of from 0.03 mol % to 96 mol %, a diene content of from 0.0001 mol % to 3 mol % and the rest being an olefin, with an olefin/aromatic vinyl compound copolymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to safely produce, handle and transport packaged organic peroxide formulations comprising a reactive phlegmatiser and to the use of such packaged material in polymerisation and polymer modification processes, particularly the high-pressure (co)polymerisation process of ethylene and/or the suspension (co)polymerisation process of styrene.

Abstract: A copolymer composition that includes a copolymer comprised of at least 30 mol % of residues having the following alternating residues from a donor monomer and from an acceptor monomer. The copolymer contains at least 15 mol % of an isobutylene type donor monomer and at least 15 mol % of an acrylic monomer as an acceptor monomer. The copolymer is substantially free of maleate or fumarate monomer segments and the copolymer composition is substantially free of Lewis acids and transition metals. Also disclosed is a thermosetting composition that includes a reactant comprising functional groups, a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups first reactant, and a copolymer flow control agent that includes the copolymer composition as well as substrates coated with the thermosetting composition.

Abstract: A biocompatibilising process in which a substrate having a surface which bears substrate pendant functional groups is biocompatibilised by coating it with a coating composition containing a polymer formed from a radical polymerisable monomers including a radical polymerisable zwitterionic monomer and a radical polymerisable monomer containing a reactive group to form a polymer having zwitterionic groups and pendant reactive groups and the said pendant reactive groups are reacted to form covalent bonds with said substrate pendant functional group and thereby form a stable coating of polymer on the said surface.

Abstract: Initiators for nitroxide-mediated radical polymerizations are described. The initiators have an azlactone or ring-opened azlactone moiety to provide telechelic (co)polymers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a water-based acrylic emulsion dispersant to be used as a grind resin to incorporate inorganic pigment into a pigment dispersion for a coating composition. The acrylic emulsion dispersant is the reaction product of butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, styrene, methyl ether polyethylene glycol methacrylate, polyethylene glycol methacrylate, and polyphosphoric acid. The present invention is also directed to a method of preparing the acrylic emulsion dispersant. In this method, the butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and styrene are combined with water to establish a first reaction blend. Similarly, the methyl ether polyethylene glycol methacrylate and the polyethylene glycol methacrylate are combined with water to establish a second reaction blend. Next, the first and second reaction blends are polymerized to form an intermediate emulsion polymer containing a hydroxyl group from the functionality of the polyethylene glycol methacrylate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing polymers, which consists in contacting: an ethylenically unsaturated monomer; a soure of free radicals; and a halogenated xanthate.

Abstract: A hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated macromonomer is disclosed that is prepared by the addition polymerization of addition polymerizable monomers that include monomers that have hydroxyl or amino functional groups, some of which may be subsequently reacted to provide (meth)acryl ethylenic unsaturation. The macromonomers may be used to form intraocular lenses in situ by polymerization of the macromonomers.

Abstract: Initiators for nitroxide-mediated radical polymerizations are described. The initiators have an azlactone or ring-opened azlactone moiety to provide telechelic (co)polymers.

Abstract: The new metallocene catalysts according to the present invention are prepared by reacting a metallocene compound with a compound having at least two functional groups. The metallocene compound is a transition metal compound which a transition metal is coordinated with a main ligand such as cycloalkanedienyl group and an ancillary ligand. The functional groups of the compound having at least two functional groups are selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy group, a thiol group, a primary amine group, a secondary amine group, etc. The metallocene catalysts according to the present invention have a structure which an ancillary ligand of a metallocene compound is bonded with functional groups. A structure of the metallocene catalysts can be varied according to the metallocene compounds, the compound having at least two functional groups, and the molar ratio of each reactant. The metallocene catalyst is employed with a co-catalyst for styrene and olefin polymerization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of aqueous dispersions of latex particles having a heterogeneous morphology by a semicontinuous emulsion polymerization, comprising the emulsion polymerizing of ethylenically unsaturated (co)monomers, accompanied by, the addition of cationic and/or anionic and/or nonionic emulsifiers and/or protective colloids as stabilizers, which are directly used as such or synthesized in situ, the semicontinuous emulsion polymerization being performed in the presence of the stabilizer or stabilizers with a monomer mixture, which a) contains at least one nonionic, ethylenically unsaturated monomer with a glass transition temperature Tg above about 30° C. in a quantity of about 10 to 70 wt. %, based on the total weight of ethylenically unsaturated (co)monomers and b) at least one hydrophilic, ethylenically unsaturated monomer in a quantity of about 5 to 30 wt. %, based on the total weight of ethylenically unsaturated (co)monomers.

Abstract: Processes for the controlled radical polymerization of acrylic and related polymers to produce improved low VOC coating materials, or powder coating compositions, the novel polymers so produced, the catalyst systems employed, processes for application of the improved coatings, coatings so produced and objects coated on at least one surface with the novel coatings are disclosed.

Abstract: A shape memory polymer which is a reaction product of styrene, a vinyl compound, a multifunctional crosslinking agent and an initiator. The shape memory polymer has particular application as a contact lens mold.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing anion exchange resins based on the use of a non-agitated plug-flow quench procedure followed by recycle of a portion of the recovered chloromethylation reaction fluids into subsequent chloromethylation reactions is disclosed. The combination of plug-flow hydration, providing highly concentrated recovered sulfuric acid, together with the recycle or reuse of the recovered concentrated sulfuric acid, allows for reduced raw material requirements during anion exchange resin manufacture and reduces the environmental impact of waste sulfuric acid processing.

Abstract: Functional polymers containing hydroxyl groups as supports for use with catalysts can increase the activity of these catalysts which results in improved ethylene polymerization. The present invention seeks to provide catalysts with improved activity by incorporating 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) into the support of the catalyst.

Abstract: A free radical polymerization process suitable for synthesizingpolymers is disclosed. The process utilizes novel sulfur based chain transfer agents and is widely compatible over a range of monomers and reaction conditions. Novel polymers having low pollydispersity and predictable specific polymer architecture and molecular weight are produced by the process. The polymers produced by the process are suitable for use as binders in automotive OEM and refinish coatings.

Abstract: A catalyst system useful to polymerize and co-polymerize polar and non-polar olefin monomers is formed by in situ reduction with a reducing agent of a catalyst precursor comprising {Cp*MRR′n}+{A}− wherein Cp* is a cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl moiety; M is an early transition metal; R is a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl; R′ are independently selected from hydride, C1-C20 hydrocarbyl, SiR″3, NR″2, OR″, SR″, GeR″3, SnR″3, and C═C-containing groups (R″=C1-C10 hydrocarbyl); n is an integer selected to balance the oxidation state of M; and A is a suitable non-coordinating anionic cocatalyst or precursor. This catalyst system may form stereoregular olefin polymers including syndiotactic polymers of styrene and methylmethacrylate and isotactic copolymers of polar and nonpolar olefin monomers such as methylmethacrylate and styrene.

Abstract: A polymer used for a negative type resist composition having a first repeating unit of a Si-containing monomer unit, a second repeating unit having a hydroxy group or an epoxy ring and copolymerized with the first repeating unit is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer for a chemically amplified resist and a resist composition using the same. The present invention provides a polymer represented by the Formula (1) and a chemically resist composition for deep ultraviolet light comprising the same, The chemically amplified resist composition comprising the polymer represented by the formula (1) of the present invention responds process and can embody a micro-paten of high resolution on a substrate.

Abstract: A biocompatibilising process in which a substrate having a surface which bears substrate pendant functional groups is biocompatibilised by coating it with a coating composition containing a polymer formed from a radical polymerisable monomers including a radical polymerisable zwitterionic monomer and a radical polymerisable monomer containing a reactive group to form a polymer having zwitterionic groups and pendant reactive groups and the said pendant reactive groups are reacted to form covalent bonds with said substrate pendant functional group and thereby form a stable coating of polymer on the said surface.

Abstract: An ethylene styrene copolymer having isolated styrene monomer units separated by 5 or 6 methylene groups as determined by 13C-NMR may be polymerized in the presence of an activator and a transition metal catalyst containing a phosphinimine ligand.

Abstract: A rubber composition which is obtained by compounding 100 parts by weight of a rubber component and 3 to 250 parts by weight of an olefin-aromatic vinyl compound copolymer. The rubber composition exhibits an excellent gripping property, an excellent resistance to fracture and an excellent abrasion resistance simultaneously and can be applied to tires, and industrial products such as vibration isolation rubbers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a continuous process for the production of polymerized controlled architectures materials under high solids loading conditions. The materials are made under stirred, plug-flow and temperature-controlled conditions.

Abstract: A method of preparing a (meth)acrylate functionalised polymer comprising the steps of mixing together a monofunctional vinylic monomer with from 0.3-100% w/w (based on monofunctional monomer) of a polyfunctional vinylic monomer and from 0.0001-50% w/w of a chain transfer agent, reacting said mixture to form a polymer and terminating the polymerisation reaction before 99% conversion. The resulting polymers are useful as components of surface coatings and inks, as moulding resins or in curable compounds, e.g. curable moulding resins or photoresists.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new catalyst system that improves the heat transfer capability of a butyl reactor slurry process system in the production of isobutylene-based polymers in continuous slurry polymerization processes. The process is carried out in an anhydrous polymerization system containing a mixture of the monomers in a polar diluent along with a Lewis acid and a C5 or greater initiator having a tertiary halide.

Abstract: This invention is cross-linked, polymerized hydrocarbon particles which composition is characterized in that the particles have an average diameter of less than 30 nm, the particles exhibit a volume swell factor of no greater than 3.0; the composition is essentially free of metal ions; the particles have a polydispersity (polystyrene relative Mw/Mn) of less than 3.0, and the particles are characterized by a Mark-Houwink plot having a slope with an absolute value of less than 0.4 for the peak molecular weight range. The invention is also a method of making nanoparticles having a weight average diameter less than 30 nm by emulsion polymerization in the substantial absence of ionic components. Finally, the invention is a method of using such particles as thermally degradable components in making porous films.

Abstract: New ligands, compositions, metal-ligand complexes and arrays with pyridyl-amine ligands are disclosed that catalyze the polymerization of monomers into polymers. Certain of these catalysts with hafnium metal centers have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, isobutylene or styrene. Certain of the catalysts are particularly effective at polymerizing propylene to high molecular weight isotactic polypropylene in a solution process at a variety of polymerization conditions.

Abstract: The new metallocene catalysts according to the present invention are prepared by reacting a metallocene compound with a compound having at least two functional groups. The metallocene compound is a transition metal compound which a transition metal is coordinated with a main ligand such as cycloalkanedienyl group and an ancillary ligand. The functional groups of the compound having at least two functional groups are selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy group, a thiol group, a primary amine group, a secondary amine group, etc. The metallocene catalysts according to the present invention have a structure which an ancillary ligand of a metallocene compound is bonded with functional groups. A structure of the metallocene catalysts can be varied according to the metallocene compounds, the compound having at least two functional groups, and the molar ratio of each reactant. The metallocene catalyst is employed with a co-catalyst for styrene and olefin polymerization.

Abstract: An objective of the invention is to provide a conjugated diene-based rubber having a specific composition and an oil extended rubber using the same, as well as a rubber composition capable of being converted into a vulcanized rubber which has a low rolling resistance, an excellent wearing resistance and the like, and is useful for a tire or the like. A conjugated diene-based rubber in the invention has repeating units consisting of 1 to 30% by mass of an olefinically unsaturated nitrile monomer unit such as acrylonitrile, 10 to 50% by mass of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit such as styrene, 19.9 to 88.9% by mass of a conjugated diene monomer unit such as 1,3-butadiene and 0.1 to 10% by mass of a monomer unit having one polymerizable unsaturated group and at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of an amino group, a hydroxyl group, an epoxy group, a carboxyl group and an alkoxysilyl group, and has a specific glass transition point and a Mooney viscosity [ML1+4(100° C.

Abstract: Provided is a novel olefin copolymer comprising [A] a cyclic olefin, [B] an aromatic vinyl compound and [C] an aliphatic &agr;-olefin having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms. (1) the component [A] therein accounts for from 0.1 to 30 mol %, the component [B] for from 0.1 to 49.9 mol %, and the total of the components [A] and [B] for from 0.2 to 50 mol %; and (2) the copolymer has a glass transition temperature Tg of lower than 60° C. Having a suitable modulus of elasticity, the copolymer can be a substitute for soft polyvinyl chloride as a soft resin, and it has good elastic recovery and transparency.

Abstract: A multifunctional polymer comprising a polymeric chain having chromophore groups and cross-linking sites is suitable as a resist material and especially as the underlayer for bilayer and top surface imaging strategies. The multifunctional polymer can function as an antireflective coating, planarizing layer or etch resistant hard mask.

Abstract: A copolymer composition that includes a copolymer comprised of at least 30 mol % of residues having the following alternating residues from a donor monomer and from an acceptor monomer. The copolymer contains at least 15 mol % of an isobutylene type donor monomer and at least 15 mol % of an acrylic monomer as an acceptor monomer. The copolymer is substantially free of maleate or fumarate monomer segments and the copolymer composition is substantially free of Lewis acids and transition metals. Also disclosed is a thermosetting composition that includes a reactant comprising functional groups, a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups first reactant, and a copolymer flow control agent that includes the copolymer composition as well as substrates coated with the thermosetting composition.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition, wherein the vulcanizable rubber composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), from about 30 to 100 phr of high trans random SIBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SIBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

Abstract: Initiators for nitroxide-mediated radical polymerizations are described. The initiators have an azlactone or ring-opened azlactone moiety to provide telechelic (co)polymers.

Abstract: A method of making a copolymer composition containing a copolymer, which includes the steps of (a) providing a donor monomer composition that includes an isobutylene type monomer; (b) mixing the donor monomer composition with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer composition that includes one or more ethylenically unsaturated acceptor monomers, and is substantially free of maleate type monomers and fumarate type monomers, and (c) polymerizing the mixture resulting from step (b) in the presence of a free radical polymerization initiator. The polymerization is carried out in the substantial absence of Lewis acids and/or transition metals. The isobutylene type monomer is present at a molar excess of at least 10 mol % based on the molar concentration of monomers in the ethylenically unsaturated monomer composition. The ethylenically unsaturated acceptor monomers are present in an amount of at least 15 mol % of the total monomer composition.

Abstract: Metal complexes having constrained geometry and a process for preparation thereof, addition polymerization catalysts formed therefrom, processes for preparation of such addition polymerization catalysts, methods of use, and novel polymers formed thereby, including ElPE resins and pseudo-random copolymers, are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Novel ethylene styrene interpolymers having atactic ES repeating units and an alternating structure substantially higher than that predicted using Bernoullian statistics may be prepared in the presence of a transition metal phosphinimine compound and an activator.