Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing functionalised monomers, the method comprising: a) providing a starting material selected from terpenes and terpenoids; b) forming a derivative of the starting material by incorporation of a hydroxyl group; c) esterifying the hydroxyl group of the derivative to introduce a moiety containing a vinyl group, so as to produce a functionalised monomer. The functionalised monomer can be polymerised to obtain a bio-derived polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to degradable composites and their use in biomedical implants, in particular the repair of damaged bones and/or cartilage.

Abstract: Ethylenically unsaturated, particularly acrylic, monomers are polymerised using a catalyst system including a manganese carbonyl initiator, an organic halogen reactive substrate and an allylic halide chain termination agent. Desirably the manganese carbonyl initiator is a dimanganese compound, particularly dimanganese decacarbonyl (Mn2(CO)10). The catalysis mechanism appears to involve initiator homolysis, abstraction of halogen from the reactive substrate forming an organic free radical which acts as a chain initiator for polymerisation and eventual reaction of the propagating chain radical with the chain terminating agent. The speed or extent of reaction may be modified by the inclusion of Lewis acids in the reaction mixture. The resulting polymers are telechelic and may have different end groups. The polymers can be reacted further to functionalise them and/or to form block copolymers.

Abstract: Detergent or micelle free cleaning media based on detergent free and/or micelle free liquid CO2 and including from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the formulation of a cleaning additive which is at least one multi-ester having a molecular weight of not more than 750 can be used in dry cleaning of textiles. Desirable cleaning additives are of the formula (1): R1(XR2)n where X, R1, R2, and n have defined meanings, particularly to be esters of multi-carboxylic acids and mono-hydroxy alcohols or esters of mono-carboxylic acids and multi-hydroxy alcohols.

Abstract: Fatty branched polyalkoxylates, particularly of the formula: R1O(AO)mR2 (I) where R1 is C8 to C30 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl; AO is predominantly branched alkyleneoxy, particularly propyleneoxy; m is from 2 to 50; and R2 is H or a is C1 to C4 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl, are used as fabric conditioners in CO2 based dry cleaning systems. The cleaning medium may include detergent surfactant and/or non surfactant cleaning additive or may be free from such additives in which case the treatment can be provided in a rinse cycle in a cleaning process.

Abstract: Cleaning media based on liquid CO2 and including from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the formulation of a cleaning additive which is at least one C6 to C24 hydrocarbyl ester of a multi-carboxylic acid can be used in dry cleaning of textiles. Desirable cleaning additives are of the formula (I): R1(CO2R2)n where R1 is the residue of a C1 to C10 hydrocarbyl group from which n hydrogen atoms have been removed, R2 is a C6 to C24 hydrocarbyl, particularly alkyl or alkenyl, group; and n is from 2 to 5; particularly C12 to C18 adipate esters.