Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device.

Abstract: A method of preparing polymer, the method comprising polymerizing one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers of formula (I) where U is selected from H, C1-C4 alkyl or halogen; V is halogen or of the form O-G where G is selected from —C(O)R1 and —R1, or V is of the form NGGa where G is as defined above and Ga is selected from H and R1, G and Ga form together with N a heterocyclic ring, or V is of the form CH2Gb where Gb is selected from H, R1, OH, OR1, NR12, PR12, P(O)R12, P(OR1)2, SR1, SOR1, and SO2R1; and where the or each R1 is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted alkylaryl, optionally substituted alkylheteroaryl, and an optionally substituted polymer chain, under the control of a RA

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for increasing the melt flow index of a propylene polymer, the process comprising melt mixing the propylene polymer in the presence of aqueous hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a conducting or semiconducting segment coupled to a polymer segment having an insulating polymer backbone, the polymer further comprising a RAFT functional group coupled to the polymer segment, wherein there is no RAFT functional group in between the conducting or semiconducting segment and the polymer segment.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a conducting or semiconducting segment coupled to a polymer segment having an insulating polymer backbone, the polymer further comprising a RAFT functional group coupled to the polymer segment, wherein there is no RAFT functional group in between the conducting or semiconducting segment and the polymer segment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the cleavage of one or more starting polymers having thiocarbonylthio groups of the formula (I) into derived polymers in which the —S—(C?S)— group is transformed. The process includes contacting the starting polymer containing groups Yb with one or more reagents containing groups Xa to produce the derived polymer and a byproduct containing the groups Yb, wherein the groups Xa is one or more reactive groups and the groups Yb is an extracting group and a byproduct, which is then separated from the derived polymer by conventional separation processes. The derived polymer is free from odor or color that is sometimes associated with the starting polymer and it can be used in making optical lenses, such as high refractive index spectacle lenses.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a conducting or semiconducting segment coupled to a polymer segment having an insulating polymer backbone, the polymer further comprising a RAFT functional group coupled to the polymer segment, wherein there is no RAFT functional group in between the conducting or semiconducting segment and the polymer segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for increasing the melt flow index of a propylene polymer, the process comprising melt mixing the propylene polymer in the presence of aqueous hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dye sensitized solar cell comprising a semiconductor formed of a particulate metal oxide, a dye adsorbed onto the semiconductor wherein the semiconductor interface with the dye is formed by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of a semiconductor material onto the particulate metal oxide.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the cleavage of one or more starting polymers having thiocarbonylthio groups of the formula —S—(C?S)— into derived polymers having thiol end groups of the formula —SH. The process includes contacting the aforedescribed starting polymers, with a reagent having the formula Xa Yb, wherein Xa is a nucleophilic group and Yb is an extracting group that results in the starting polymer and a byproduct, which is then separated from the derived polymer by conventional separation processes. The derived polymer is free from any odor or color that is sometimes associated with the starting polymer and it can be used in making optical lenses, such as contact lenses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions comprising (a) a synthetic polymer, (b) a talc as a filler, wherein the talc particles have a mean particle size of from 0.4 to 25 ?m, and are present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% based on the weight of component (a) and (c) a dispersing agent which is based on a non-ionic surfactant or an amphiphilic statistical, block or comb copolymer, provided that when the synthetic polymer (a) is a polyamide, this is present in an amount of less than 55% based on the weight of (a), (b) and (c).

Abstract: A method of preparing polymer, the method comprising polymerising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers of formula (I) where U is selected from H, C1-C4 alkyl or halogen; V is halogen or of the form O-G where G is selected from —C(O)R1 and —R1, or V is of the form NGGa where G is as defined above and Ga is selected from H and R1, G and Ga form together with N a heterocyclic ring, or V is of the form CH2Gb where Gb is selected from H, R1, OH, OR1, NR12, PR12, P(O)R12, P(OR1)2, SR1, SOR1, and SO2R1; and where the or each R1 is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted alkylaryl, optionally substituted alkylheteroaryl, and an optionally substituted polymer chain, under the control of a RA

Abstract: The instant invention discloses a process for the preparation a polyolefin nanocomposite which comprises melt mixing a mixture of a polyolefin, a filler and a non-ionic surfactant.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a conducting or semiconducting segment coupled to a polymer segment having an insulating polymer backbone, the polymer further comprising a RAFT functional group coupled to the polymer segment, wherein there is no RAFT functional group in between the conducting or semiconducting segment and the polymer segment.

Abstract: The instant invention discloses a composition, preferably a nanocomposite material, comprising (a) a synthetic polymer, (b) a filler such as for example a natural or synthetic phyllosilicate or a mixture of such phyllosilicates, preferably in nanoparticles, and (c) a dispersing agent prepared by controlled free radical polymerization (CFRP).

Abstract: The instant invention discloses a process for the preparation a polyolefin nanocomposite which comprises melt mixing a mixture of a polyolefin, a filler and a non-ionic surfactant.