Abstract: The invention concerns novel polymerisable compositions and optical lenses with high refractive index obtained from said compositions, characterized in that they comprise as constituents base copolymerisable monomers at least 85 wt. % of the total weight of copolymerisable monomers present in the composition: of a mixture M, for 100 parts by weight of the mixture; of (A) 20 to 80 parts of one or several, preferably only one, non-aromatic compounds (I) comprising two thio(meth)acrylate functions, and (B) 80 to 20 parts of a compound of formula (I) in which R1 and R2 represent, independently of each other, H or CH3 and m+n has a mean value from 0 to 20 inclusively; and 3 to 30% by weight relative to the weight of mixture M of a polythiol; the composition containing less than 5 wt. % of other aromatic thio(meth)acrylate copolymerisable, cyclanic or vinyl aromatic mono(meth)acrylate monomers. The invention is applicable to the manufacture of spectacle lenses.

Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing a thermoplastic starch and synthetic polymer blend, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a starch suspension comprising starch, water and a plasticizer, preferably glycerol; (b) obtaining a thermoplastic starch from the starch suspension by causing gelatinization and plasticization of said starch suspension by exerting heat and pressure on said starch suspension in a first extrusion unit; (c) evaporating and venting off residual water from said thermoplastic starch to obtain a substantially moisture-free thermoplastic starch; (d) obtaining a melt of a synthetic polymer or polymer blend in a second extrusion unit; and (e) combining the melt obtained from step (d) with the substantially moisture-free thermoplastic starch. Also provided are compositions of matter comprising immiscible blends of thermoplastic starches, polymers, and compatibilizers.

Abstract: Optical devices fabricated from solvent processible polymers suffer from susceptibility to solvents and morphological changes. A semiconductive polymer capable of luminescence in an optical device is provided. The polymer comprises a luminescent film-forming solvent processible polymer which contains cross-linking so as to increase its molar mass and to resist solvent dissolution, the cross-linking being such that the polymer retains semiconductive and luminescent properties.

Abstract: Disclosed are a modified polyvinyl acetal resin consisting essentially of repeating units represented by the following formula (I), and a modifier for curable resins which comprises the modified polyvinyl acetal resin: wherein R1 represents an optionally substituted aryl group, an optionally substituted aralkyl group, or an optionally substituted alkenyl group having an optionally substituted aryl group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R3 represents an optionally substituted, bivalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and a, b, c, d, and e indicate the proportions in mol % of the respective structural units in the formula and satisfy 0<a≦85, 0≦b≦80, 0≦c≦50, 0≦d≦30, and 0<e≦50; a curable resin composition comprising a curable resin (A), a curing agent (B), and a modified polyvinyl acetal resin (C) consisting essentially of repeating units represented by (I′); and a laminated product comprising a laye

Abstract: A description is given of a process for preparing aqueous copolymer dispersions by free-radical polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in an aqueous solution in which (a) from 10 to 90% by weight of at least one hydrophilic monomer A which has an N-vinyl group and whose polymerisation rate possesses a maximum at pH levels above 7, and (b) from 10 to 90% by weight of at least-one monoethylenically unsaturated hydrophobic monomer B whose polymerisation rate possesses a maximum at pH levels below 7, are copolymerised in the presence of a free-radical initiator system such that in the course of the polymerization the pH falls by from 2 to 5 units. The copolymer dispersions prepared in this way and the copolymers obtainable therefrom are suitable as auxiliaries for pharmaceutical, cosmetic or agrochemical formulations and for preparing paints, coating compositions, sizes, and adhesives.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polyelectrolyte having the step of sulfonating polystyrene resin in a state where the polystyrene resin has been dissolved or dispersed in solvent composed of alicyclic compounds.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing, by radical polymerisation, block polymers of general formula (1), which consists in contacting: an ethylenically unsaturated monomer of formula CYY′(═CW—CW′)a═CH2: and a precursor compound of general formula (II): a radical polymerization initiator.

Abstract: An emulsion-polymerized addition copolymer formed from a monomer mixture comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomers including from more than 4 to 15 wt % based on the weight of said mixture of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid functional monomer, and from 0.05 to 5 wt % based on the weight of said mixture of at least one polymerizable surfactant monomer comprising hydrophobic and hydrophilic functional groups, wherein said hydrophobic functional group comprises a polymerizable group within it, is useful as a binder in an ink jet ink having improved print quality.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition that includes a monomer of the formula wherein X is hydrogen or one or more of methyl, chlorine, bromine or iodine, R1 is a straight or branched alkyl linking group of 2 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 is hydrogen or methyl, and n is 1 to 3; and a monomer of the formula wherein X1 and X2 are each independently hydrogen or one or more of methyl, chlorine, bromine or iodine, and R2 is hydrogen or methyl is described having a high index of refraction and being suitable for use in forming an optical product.

Abstract: Molded articles formed of polystyrene or other polymers containing an aromatic moiety can be derivatized on the surface of the article by subjecting the molded article to a chemical reaction wherein the reaction media utilizes tetramethylsulfone as the reactant solvent and a suitable substituent group which is substituted on to the aromatic moiety of the polystyrene or other polymer by electrophilic substitution. By choosing the substituent group to further include a leaving group, further substitution of the primary substituent can be effected normally by nucleophilic substitution reaction. In this way, biologically important molecules can be attached to a polystyrene or other aromatic containing polymer without effecting certain properties of the molded article such as its optical or spectroscopic clarity.

Abstract: There is disclosed a polymerizable sulfur-containing (meth)acrylate, it has a high refractive index, a great Abbe's number and excellent light resistance and is suitable for the production of a transparent resin which rarely smells at the time of molding and is further excellent in storage stability. A polymerizable composition containing the (meth)acrylate and an optical lens which is a cured product of the composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of polyphenol oligomers having n polyphenol monomeric units, n being an integer from 2-18. The process includes coupling of a protected polyphenol, having protected phenolic hydroxyl groups, with a C-4 functionalized polyphenol monomer. The protected polyphenol may be a protected polyphenol monomer or a protected polyphenol oligomer having 2-17 monomeric units. Advantageously, polyphenol monomeric units forming the polyphenol oligomers may be the same or different flavanoid compounds.

Abstract: A process for polymerizing polycycloolefins containing pendant anhydride moieties is disclosed. The process utilizes a single component nickel containing catalyst of the formula EnNi(C6F5)2 wherein n is 1 or 2 and E represents a neutral electron donor ligand.

Abstract: A rubber composition is disclosed containing an ethylene-propylene-nonconjugated diene copolymer rubber (or a blend of an ethylene-propylene-nonconjugated diene copolymer rubber and a diene rubber), a specific alkoxysilane compound, and amorphous silica powder having a specific surface area of 50 to 100 m2/g (BET adsorption). The vulcanized rubber is prepared by vulcanizing such a rubber composition. The rubber composition is excellent in dynamic characteristics and also in mechanical characteristics, dynamic fatigue resistance and thermal aging resistance. It also can provide a vulcanized rubber having the above-mentioned effects.

Abstract: The invention describes novel methods for calibrating or standardizing flow cytometry instruments using synthetic polymer particles or beads having physical properties which provide advantages for their use in such instruments. The polymer particles or beads employed in the calibration methods are spherical, have an average particle diameter of from about 1 to about 8 microns, a relatively narrow particle distribution, and a low refractive index, i.e., from about 1.35 to about 1.45. The particles are safe, stable for long time periods and are particularly suitable for employment as hematology analyzer calibration substances. The invention provides an advantageous improvement over the types of standards currently used to calibrate a variety of instruments that rely on light scatter combined with other parameters to identify and measure biological particles or cells, as well as nonbiological particles.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprising a vulcanizable rubber, a reinforcing filler, a softening agent, and other reagents for rubber to which is added in a specific amount of a sulfur compound having the formula (I): —(SxR1)n—  (I) wherein R1 represents an organic group, x is a number of 3 to 5 on average, and n is an integer of 1 to 100, or a specific sulfur compound (1) and sulfur (2), and optionally a thiazole base, sulfenamide base, thiuram base, and/or diothio acid base vulcanization accelerator (3).

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing polymers which contain as polymerized units hydrophobic monomers wherein a stable emulsion is formed and the formation of suspension particles is minimized. The process includes making a concentrated monomer emulsion, diluting the concentrated monomer emulsion with water, feeding the diluted monomer emulsion to a reactor, and polymerizing the monomer.

Abstract: Sulfonated substantially random interpolymers made from monomer components comprise from 1 to 65 mole percent of (a) at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer, or (b) at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinylidene monomer, or (c) a combination of at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer and at lest one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinylidene monomer, and from 35 to 99 mole percent of at least one aliphatic &agr;-olefin having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; and optionally, from 0 to 20 mole percent of a diene containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms; wherein the sulfonated interpolymer contains at least one mer (or moiety) of a group represented by the formula —SO3M where M is hydrogen or a group 1, 7 or 12 metal in ionic form or combination thereof. Blends of these polymers with polyamides and polyolefins are made.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to copolymers of norbornene and functional group containing norbornene comonomers and processes for the preparation thereof. These polymers may be random, alternating or block copolymers or terpolymers, etc.

Abstract: Metallocene having two cyclic dienyl groups connected by a single carbon having an aryl substituent and a terminally unsaturated hydrocarbyl substituent, olefin polymerization catalyst systems prepared therefrom, and the use of such catalyst systems are disclosed.