Abstract: A shape memory polyurethane or polyurethane-urea polymer including a reaction product of: (A) (a) silicon-based macrodiol, silicon-based macrodiamine and/or polyether of the formula (I): A—[(CH2)m—O]n—(CH2)m—A?, wherein A and A are endcapping groups; m is an integer of 6 or more; and n is an integer of 1 or greater; (b) a diisocyanate; and (c) a chain extender; or (B) (b) a diisocyanate: and (c) a chain extender, said polymer having a glass transition temperature which enables the polymer to be formed into a first shape at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature and maintained in said first shape when the polymer is cooled to a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature, said polymer then being capable of resuming its original shape on heating to a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature.

Abstract: A shape memory polyurethane or polyurethane-urea polymer including a reaction product of: (A) (a) silicon-based macrodiol, silicon-based macrodiamine and/or polyether of the formula (I): A—[(CH2)m—O]n—(CH2)m—A′, wherein A and A are endcapping groups; m is an integer of 6 or more; and n is an integer of 1 or greater; (b) a diisocyanate; and (c) a chain extender; or (B) (b) a diisocyanate: and (c) a chain extender, said polymer having a glass transition temperature which enables the polymer to be formed into a first shape at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature and maintained in said first shape when the polymer is cooled to a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature, said polymer then being capable of resuming its original shape on heating to a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature.

Abstract: A process for the production of poly(alkylene oxide) which includes providing a polyhydroxy compound or compounds and an acid resin catalyst or a salt thereof that has been converted to the acid form; and reacting said polyhydroxy compound or compounds in the presence of said acid resin catalyst at a temperature and under conditions to allow polymerization.

Abstract: A polyurethane or polyurethane-urea elastomeric composition, characterized in that the composition is a reaction product of:(A) a soft segment macrodiol which is either:(i) a homopolymer represented by formula I,HO--[(CH.sub.2).sub.n O].sub.m --H Iwherein n represents an integer greater than 5 and less than 13, m is a number such that the number average molecular weight of the compound of formula I falls in the range from 218 to 5000 and optionally at least one hydrogen atom represented in formula I is substituted by a C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alkyl group or a halogen atom;(ii) a copolymer containing at least 25% by mass of repeating units --(CH.sub.2).sub.n O-- wherein n is as defined in formula I above; or(iii) mixture of macrodiols comprising greater than 10% of a macrodiol as defined in formula I above;(B ) an aliphatic or aromatic diisocyanate known in the art of polyurethane manufacture; and(C) optionally a chain extender.

Abstract: A process for the production of polymers by free radical polymerization, characterized in that there is added to the polymerization system one or more compounds of the general formula (A). ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a group capable activating the vinylic carbon towards free radical addition;Y is OR.sup.2 or CH.sub.2 X(R.sup.2).sub.nwhere R.sup.2 is an optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, or optionally substituted saturated, unsaturated or aromatic, aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring;X is an element other than carbon selected from Groups IV, V, VI or VII of the Periodic Table or a group consisting of an element selected from Groups IV, V, or VI to which is attached one or more oxygen atoms; andn is a number from 0 to 3, such that the valency of the group X is satisfied and, when n is greater than 1, the groups represented by R.sup.2 may be identical or different.