Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a composition comprising an amphiphilic polymeric material which comprises a straight or branched chain carbon-carbon backbone and a multiplicity of side chains attached to the backbone; wherein in the method, backbone precursors comprising acylating groups are mixed with side chain precursors which comprise a nucleophilic group at at least one terminus, to form a reaction mixture; the backbone precursors, side chain precursors and/or the reaction mixture are heated; the reaction mixture is stirred; and the nucleophilic groups react with the acylating groups to form the amphiphilic polymeric material wherein the side chains are linked to the backbone via acyl linkages; characterized in that the reaction mixture does not comprise organic solvent.

Abstract: A polymeric material having low tack which has a straight or branched chain carbon-carbon polymer backbone and a multiplicity of side chains attached to the backbone wherein the side chains, which are attached directly to carbon atoms of the polymer backbone, have the formula wherein R1 is H, —C(O)OR4 or —C(O)Q and R2 is —C(O)OR4 or —C(O)Q provided that at least one of R1 and R2 is the group —C(O)Q; R3 is H or —CH3; R4 is H or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Q is a group having the formula —O—(YO)b—(ZO)c—R5? wherein each of Y and Z is, independently, an alkylene group having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and R5 is H or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; a is 3 or 4 and each of b and c is, independently, 0 or an integer of from 1 to 125 provided that the sum b+c has a value in the range of from 10 to 250, preferably from 10 to 120.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a composition comprising an amphiphilic polymeric material which comprises a straight or branched chain carbon-carbon backbone and a multiplicity of side chains attached to the backbone; wherein in the method, backbone precursors comprising acylating groups are mixed with side chain precursors which comprise a nucleophilic group at at least one terminus, to form a reaction mixture; the backbone precursors, side chain precursors and/or the reaction mixture are heated; the reaction mixture is stirred; and the nucleophilic groups react with the acylating groups to form the amphilphilic polymeric material wherein the side chains are linked to the backbone via acyl linkages; characterised in that the reaction mixture does not comprise organic solvent.