Abstract: The invention aims to provide latent curing agents which exert high low-temperature curing properties when used together with ionically polymerizable compounds and which exhibit high storage stability at room temperature. Latent curing agents for ionically polymerizable compounds which agents each contain a hydroxyl-free amine imide compound having an N—N bond energy of 100 to 210 kJ/mol as determined by B3LYP functional theory method.

Abstract: The invention aims to provide latent curing agents which exert high low-temperature curing properties when used together with ionically polymerizable compounds and which exhibit high storage stability at room temperature. Latent curing agents for ionically polymerizable compounds which agents each contain a hydroxyl-free amine imide compound having an N—N bond energy of 100 to 210 kJ/mol as determined by B3LYP functional theory method.

Abstract: A saturated hydrocarbon compound is brought into contact at least with a first adsorbent and a second adsorbent to obtain a liquid for immersion exposure containing the saturated hydrocarbon compound with a purity of 99.5 wt % or more.

Abstract: The object is to resolve a finer pattern with a narrower line/space width by immersion lithography technology in the manufacture of a semiconductor or the like. A liquid for use in immersion exposure includes a saturated hydrocarbon compound as a main component, wherein the content of an impurity or impurities having an unsaturated bond or a heteroatom in its structure is respectively as follows: (i) 2 ?g/mL or less in total for a compound having a conjugated unsaturated bond; (ii) 30 ?g/mL or less in total for a compound having no conjugated unsaturated bond but having a non-conjugated unsaturated bond; (iii) 15 ?g/mL or less in total for amines having no unsaturated bond; and (iv) 100 ?g/mL or less in total for a heterocyclic compound, alcohols, ethers and a halogen-containing compound, other than above compounds (i) to (iii).

Abstract: A sustained releasing drug which includes an effective component and a copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000 which comprises, as repeating structure units, both of a succinimide unit represented by the structural formula (1) and a hydroxycarboxylic acid unit represented by the structural formula (2) wherein R is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and a process for preparing a copolymer which comprises a polymerization step of heating a mixture of aspartic acid and a cyclic ester compound.

Abstract: There are herein disclosed a copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000 which comprises, as repeating structure units, both of a succinimide unit represented by the structural formula (1) 1

Abstract: A copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000 which comprises, as repeating structure units, both of a succinimide unit represented by the structural formula (1) and a hydroxycarboxylic acid unit represented by the structural formula (2) wherein R is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and a process for preparing a copolymer which comprises a polymerization step of heating a mixture of aspartic acid and a cyclic ester compound.

Abstract: There are here disclosed a resin composition comprising a block or a graft copolymer (A) having a polyamino acid as a hydrophilic segment (a-1), and a degradable polymer as a hydrophobic segment (a-2), and a resin (B); and a method of accelerating the hydrolysis of a resin and inhibiting the heat deterioration thereof by mixing this copolymer (A) with the resin (B).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing with good productivity a cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin having biodegradability and high water absorbency. The process features inclusion of one of the following steps: (a) a polysuccinimide, which has been brought into a dispersed state by a dispersant, and a cross-linking agent are reacted to produce the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin; (b) imide rings of a cross-linked polysuccinimide are subjected to a hydrolysis reaction while controlling a swelling degree of a resulting gel, whereby the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin is produced; and (c) a gel of a cross-linked polysuccinimide, which has been obtained by reacting a cross-linking agent to a solution of a polysuccinimide in an organic solvent, is disintegrated to subject imide rings of the cross-linked polysuccinimide to a hydrolysis reaction, so that the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin is produced.

Abstract: A medical composition is here disclosed which comprises a hydroxy acid-based oligomer (A) and a drug (B), wherein the hydroxy acid-based oligomer (A) is an oligomer in which the carboxylic acid-terminals are at least partially esterified, and the oligomer (A) has a function of becoming pH 5 to 8 when administered into an organism, and the oligomer (A) shows fluidity at 25° C. This composition sustainedly releases the drug (B) to deliver it into an organism by a syringe or the like, and scarcely gives rise to irritation, inflammation or the like.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing with good productivity a cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin having biodegradability and high water absorbency. The process features inclusion of one of the following steps: (a) a polysuccinimide, which has been brought into a dispersed state by a dispersant, and a cross-linking agent are reacted to produce the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin; (b) imide rings of a cross-linked polysuccinimide are subjected to a hydrolysis reaction while controlling a swelling degree of a resulting gel, whereby the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin is produced; and (c) a gel of a cross-linked polysuccinimide, which has been obtained by reacting a cross-linking agent to a solution of a polysuccinimide in an organic solvent, is disintegrated to subject imide rings of the cross-linked polysuccinimide to a hydrolysis reaction, so that the cross-linked polyaspartic acid resin is produced.

Abstract: A cross-linked polymer containing, in its molecule, recurring units represented by the following formula (1), and having biodegradability and high water-absorbency: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a pendant group having at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of acidic groups and salts thereof, a glycino group and salts thereof, cationic groups and betaine groups; X.sub.1 is NH, NR.sub.1 ', R.sub.1 ' being an alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group, O or S; and n.sub.1 is 1 or 2.

Abstract: Disclosed are polymers (polyaspartic acid Zwitterionic derivatives) containing, in the molecule, 1 mol % or more of at least one repeating unit selected from the group consisting of repeating units represented by the following formulas (1) and (2). ##STR1## These polymers are useful in the preparation of hair-treating compositions and cosmetic compositions having excellent hairdressing properties and good biocompatibility.

Abstract: A polymer containing the following monomer unit (I) and/or (II): ##STR1## and a process for preparing the polymer which comprises, in ring opening reaction of the polysuccinimide, opening the ring of polysuccinimide by using an amino acid ester having an extremely high reactivity in place of an .alpha.-amino acid having an extremely low reactivity. The polymer is characterized by having no irritation to organisms (e.g., eyes and skin), and for example, the polymer is useful in the industrial fields of fields of medical supplies, health, beauty and sanitary aids, quasi-pharmaceuticals, and the like.

Abstract: A process for preparing a novel superabsorbent polymer which is readily hydrolyzed and conform to environment by reacting a polysuccinimide with a diamine in an aqueous solution or an organic solvent to partially crosslink the polysuccinimide, and subsequently or concurrently hydrolyzing the remaining imide ring with an alkali while controlling the pH; and the superabsorbent polymer thus obtained.

Abstract: In the process for preparing polysuccinimide by dehydration condensation of aspartic acid in an organic solvent, polysuccinimide can be obtained simply and suitably in industry by removing a portion or more of the organic solvent from the reaction mixture while charging to the reaction mixture an additional organic solvent containing less amount of water than that of the removed organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for preparing a novel superabsorbent polymer which is readily hydrolyzed and conform to environment by reacting a polysuccinimide with a diamine in an aqueous solution or an organic solvent to partially crosslink the polysuccinimide, and subsequently or concurrently hydrolyzing the remaining imide ring with an alkali while controlling the pH; and the superabsorbent polymer thus obtained.

Abstract: An additive for stock feeds containing decomposition products of chicory roots in which the total content of polysaccharides and inulooligosaccharides of tri- and higher saccharides obtained by decomposing the chicory roots is 40% by weight or more of the total solids content and is 80% by weight or more of the total saccharides. The stock feed preferably contains 0.1 to 10% by weight of the additive. The additive is prepared by a process which comprises the steps of chopping and then heating/drying chicory roots in order to form chicory flakes, and grinding the chicory flakes, or by a process which comprises the step of enzymatically decomposing the chicory roots without an extraction step.

Abstract: An additive for stock feeds containing decomposition products of chicory roots in which the total content of polysaccharides and inulooligosaccharides of tri- and higher saccharides obtained by decomposing the chicory roots is 40% by weight or more of the total solids content and is 80% by weight or more of the total saccharides. The stock feed preferably contains 0.1 to 10% by weight of the additive. The additive is prepared by a process which comprises the steps of chopping and then heating/drying chicory roots in order to form chicory flakes, and grinding the chicory flakes, or by a process which comprises the step of enzymatically decomposing the chicory roots without an extraction step.