Abstract: Disclosed is a cladding composition suitable for a plastic clad silica or glass core optical fiber of a good light transmittance. The cladding composition comprises (A) a fluorinated monofunctional acrylate or .alpha.-fluoroacrylate composition, (B) a polyfunctional acrylate or .alpha.-fluoroacrylate having at least two acryloyl or .alpha.-fluoroacryloyl radicals in the molecule, (C) a photoinitiator, and if desired, (D) a stabilizer selected from thiodicarboxylic acid diesters and hindered phenols. The fluorinated monofunctional acrylate or .alpha.-fluoroacrylate comprises 1-60 weight % of a highly fluorinated acrylate or .alpha.-fluoroacrylate of the formula: ##STR1## wherein Y is H or F, X is H or F, l is 1 to 12 and n is 5 to 12, and 40-99 weight % of a lowly fluorinated acrylate or .alpha.-fluoroacrylate of the formula: ##STR2## wherein X and Y are as defined above, and m is 1 to 3.

Abstract: A methacrylimide group-containing polymer containing repeating units represented by the following general formulas, respectively. ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are preferably methyl, butyl and methyl ester group, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymer composition comprising (I) 60 to 99.8 wt. % of an amorphous copolymer comprising (a) units derived from perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole and (b) units derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, and CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFOCF.sub.3, and (II) 0.2 to 40 wt. % of a compound having a hydrocarbon group containing at least one fluorine atom and at least one functional group selected from --OH, --SR, --COOH, --SO--, --SO.sub.2 --, --CONH--, --COO--CO--, --CONHCO--, --COO--, --CN, --NCO, --CO--, --HCOO--, --NH.sub.2 --, --NH--, .dbd.N, --SO.sub.3 H, --NHNH.sub.2, --CONH.sub.2, --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, --CH.dbd.CH--, (RO).sub.n X.sub.3-n Si--, wherein R is a C.sub.1-5 alkyl group, n is a number of 0 to 3, and X is halogen or a C.sub.1-5 alkyl group. The polymer composition is useful for a plastic cladding of an optical fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an impact-resistant thermoplastic resin composition comprising (a) a graft copolymer (II) prepared by polymerizing a monomer or monomer mixture predominantly comprised of methyl methacrylate and/or styrene in the presence of an agglomerated rubber copolymer (I') latex, and (b) bent-resistant rigid thermoplastic resin (III) comprised of .alpha.-methylstyrene or a maleimide compound. The agglomerated rubber copolymer (I') is prepared by emulsion-polymerizing an alkyl acrylate/1,3-butadiene mixture, and then agglomerating the resulting rubbery copolymer. The agglomeration is effected by adding (a) an acid group-containing copolymer prepared by emulsion polymerizing an alkyl methacrylate/unsaturated monomer mixture, and/or (b) an oxy acid salt selected from alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, zinc, nickel and aluminum salts of oxy acids having as the center element an element selected from elements belonging to the second and third periods of groups IIIA through VIA of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: A distributed refractive index type optical transmission plastic article has a circular cross section of a radius r.sub.0 between 0.4 and 0.6 mm. A refractive index distribution of the optical transmission article substantially approximates predetermined ideal refractive index distribution curve at least in a range of 0.25r.sub.0 to 0.70r.sub.0 extending from a center axis toward a peripheral face of the article. The article has a refractive index n.sub.0 between 1.4 and 1.6 for its central part, a refractive index distribution constant between 0.3 and 0.7 mm.sup.-1, and a modulation transfer function (MTF) of at least 55%. This optical transmission article is made from uncured liquid substances each having a viscosity between 10.sup.3 and 10.sup.8 poises and refractive indexes n of n.sub.1 >n.sub.2 >n.sub.3 . . . n.sub.N when cured. N (N.gtoreq.

Abstract: A synthetic resin molded article having a good antistatic property, includes a synthetic resin substrate and a film of an antistatic polymer formed on the surface of the substrate. The antistatic polymer is prepared by polymerizing an anionic monomer represented by the formula (I) or a mixture of the anionic monomer and a monomer copolymerizable therewith: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is H or --CH.sub.3, A.sub.1 ##STR2## or phenylene, X is N or P, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 independently represent an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group which may have a substituent, n is 0, 1 or 2, B is an alkylene, arylene or aralkylene group which may have an ester bond, and R.sub.6 is H or an alkyl group.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a synthetic resin-shaped article having good antistatic properties is provided, which entails a) polymerizing a monomer mixture containing monomers (A), (B) and (C) to form a first copolymer; b) subsequently polymerizing monomers (D) and (E) in the presence of the first polymer to prepare a second copolymer; forming a film of the second copolymer on the molding surface of a casting mold; and supplying a starting material capable of forming a synthetic resin into the casting mold and polymerizing the starting material to form the substrate in the casting mold, thereby transferring the film of the previous step to the surface of the substrate from the molding surface of the casting mold.

Abstract: Disclosed is a methacrylic resin cast plate which is comprised of 100 parts by weight of [I] polymethyl methacrylate or a methyl methacrylate copolymer containing at least 90% by weight of methyl methacrylate units and, dispersed therein, a graft copolymer [IV] obtained by graft-polymerizing a hard resin component [III] containing at least 90% by weight of methyl methacrylate units onto a crosslinked rubbery copolymer [II] containing at least 45% by weight of butyl acrylate units and having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 1 .mu.m, the amount of the graft copolymer [IV] being 2 to 30 parts by weight as the amount of the crosslinked rubbery copolymer.

Abstract: An antistatic agent capable of imparting a permanent antistatic property to a methacrylic resin is prepared as follows. First, an alkyl methacrylate is subjected to living polymerization in an atmosphere substantially free of water in the pressure of at least one compound acting as a source for supplying an anion selected from HF.sub.2.sup.-, (CH.sub.3).sub.3 SiF.sub.2.sup.- and F.sup.- by using as an initiator a compound represented by the formula (I) or (II): ##STR1## wherein R is H or CH.sub.3 and R.sup.1 is H or alkyl; second, a methacrylic acid ester comprising at least 80 mole % of a methacrylic acid ester represented by the formula (III): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2 is alkyl and m is from 1 to 6, is subjected to living polymerization in the presence of the polymer obtained in the first step, to prepare a di-block or tri-block copolymer; and then, amino groups of segments derived from the methacrylic acid ester of the formula (III) in the block copolymer are quaternized.

Abstract: A polyester resin comprised of (a) units derived from a terephthalic acid component and/or a isophthalic acid component, (b) 0 to 80 mole %, based on the total carboxylic acid component, of units derived from a diol component represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, and x and y are integers satisfying the requirement of 2.ltoreq.x+y.ltoreq.6,and (c) 20 to 200 mole %, based on the total carboxylic acid component, of units derived from an aliphatic diol component. The polyester has a weight average molecular weight M.sub.w of 3,000 to 20,000, a number average molecular weight M.sub.n of 1,000 to 10,000, a glass transition temperature T.sub.g of 40.degree. to 70.degree. C., and a softening temperature of 70.degree. to 130.degree. C. The polyester is valuable for a toner.

Abstract: A silicon-modified thermoplastic resin is prepared by heating a mixture comprised of 10 to 90% by weight of an imide group-containing thermoplastic resin and 90 to 10% by weight of a modified silicon compound having an amino group--NH.sub.2 at one end of the molecule and an alkyl group --C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 (n is an integer of at least 1) at the other end of the molecule, to chemically bond the imide group-containing thermoplastic resin to the modified silicon compound.

Abstract: An optical imaging device for projecting an image in a strip area, comprising a reflecting plate having a plurality of pairs of reflecting surfaces arranged on a flat surface and forming an array in a first direction parallel to a long direction of a strip image, and at least one cylindrical focusing lens or mirror having a focusing power directed only to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pair of reflecting surfaces is composed of two flat surfaces which cross at about a .pi./2 radian, and the crossing line of two adjacent reflecting surfaces is perpendicular to the first direction. The reflecting plate projects the image component in parallel to the first direction and the cylindrical focusing lens or mirror projects an image component perpendicular to the first direction. The resolving power in the first direction of the obtained image is determined by the pitch length of the pair of reflecting surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optically active compound represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl, alkenyl or alkoxy-alkyl, which may be substituted by halogen, X and U are a direct bond, --O--, --COO-- or --OCO--, Y and Z are a direct bond, --COO--, --OCO--, --CH.sub.2 O-- or --OCH.sub.2 --, A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 are phenylene, cyclohexylene or a phenylene- or cyclohexylene-containing group, p and q are 0 or 1, C* is an asymmetric carbon atom, with the proviso that when Z is a direct bond, q is 0, R.sub.2 is alkyl, Y is a direct bond, --OCO-- or --OCH.sub.2 --. The optically active compound is used as a ferroelectric liquid crystal or an additive to a ferroelectric or non-ferroelectric liquid crystal.

Abstract: A light-transmitting plastic fiber comprising, as a core component, a methacrylimide group-containing polymer prepared by polymerizing methyl methacrylate in the absence of a chain transfer agent and then imidizing the methyl methacrylate polymer thus prepared, and another polymer as a sheath component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resin composition comprising a copolymer [I] having a number average molecular weight of at least 15,000, which comprises at least 30 mole % of the following recurring units [A]: ##STR1## and a compound [II] having a number average molecular weight of at least 1,000, which is comprised of perfluoroalkylether recurring units [D]. This resin composition is used as a cladding of a core-clad optical fiber.

Abstract: The flame-retardant cable of this invention is a single-core or multiple-core cable comprising a plastic optical fiber and at least one covering material covering this plastic optical fiber, and this flame-retardant cable is characterized in that at least one covering material is a highly flame-retardant resin, for example, a highly flame-retardant resin having an oxygen index (OI) of at least 32, preferably from 40 to 45, such as chlorinated polyethylene. This flame-retardant cable has an excellent flame retardancy with no lowering of the performances of the optical fiber. Moreover, the cable has an excellent flame resistance.

Abstract: A methacrylimide-containing polymer comprising a polymer (A) comprised of 5-100 weight % of units represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is H or C1-20 hydrocarbon group, and 0-95 weight % of units derived from an ethylenic monomer, wherein a polymer derived from at least one ethylenic monomer has been grafted onto the polymer (A). The methacrylimide-containing polymer is used as a blend with another thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoplastic resin composition of an enhanced impact strength comprising 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin and 2 to 50 parts by weight of a graft copolymer (A) obtained by emulsion-graft-polymerizing a monomer mixture comprised of a major amount of an acrylic monomer and a minor amount of a monomer selected from aromatic vinyl monomers and vinyl cyanide monomers in the presence of 60 to 90% by weight (as solids), based on the weight of the graft copolymer (A), of a diene type rubber latex containing more than 50% by weight of a diene type rubber polymer having a weight average particle diameter of at least 0.3 .mu.m.

Abstract: A vinyl chloride resin composition having excellent impact resistance even at a low temperature and good weather resistance is disclosed. Such vinyl chloride resin composition comprises:(A) a vinyl chloride resin, and(B) a compound rubber type graft copolymerwherein one or more vinyl monomers are graft-polymerized onto a compound rubber that has an average particle diameter of 0.08 to 0.6 .mu.m and possesses such a structure that 1 to 10 wt. % of a polyorganosiloxane rubber component and 90 to 99 wt. % of a polyalkyl (meth)acrylate rubber component are entangled in an inseparable fashion, and the total amount of the polyorganosiloxane rubber component and the polyalkyl (meth)acrylate rubber component is 100 wt. %.

Abstract: An endoscope comprising as an image-transmitting member a multifilament type plastic optical fiber in which 50 to 20,000 islands having a core-sheath structure, a core diameter of 2 to 70 .mu.m and a circular or substantially circular section are arranged in a zigzag-stacked or square-stacked structure in the sea having a circular or substantially circular section, so that the lamination structure of the entire cores has a substantially circular shape in the section of the image-transmitting portion, wherein the same positional relationship of the ends of light-transmitting paths arranged in the section of the optical fiber is maintained on both the ends of the optical fiber, the periphery of the section of the image-transmitting portion of the optical fiber has a circular or substantially circular shape, and an object lens is attached to one end of the image-transmitting member and an image-transmitting light-receiving member is arranged on the other end of the image-transmitting member.