Abstract: An electrode and a method of making an electrode includes treating polymers that contain functional groups, which by surface functionalization, such as hydrolysis, ozone treatment or carbon-carbon double-bond oxidation to produce hydroxyl functional groups on the surface. Reacting methacryloyl chloride with the resulting hydroxyl functional groups thereby providing a reactive surface. Photopolymerizing or thermal polymerization of crosslinked acrylate or methacrylate polymers on the reactive surface to produce a membrane covalently bonded to the underlying substrate. In addition such an electrode can also be produced on a polystyrene substrate by reacting methacryloyl chloride with the polystyrene substrate and photopolymerizing or thermally polymerizing to produce crosslinked acrylate or methacrylate polymers on the reactive surface to produce a membrane covalently bonded to the underlying polystyrene substrate.

Abstract: Gem-dialkyl cyclooctene monomers, telechelic prepolymers prepared by ring opening metathesis polymerization of the monomers, and polymers such as polyurethanes comprising the reaction product of the prepolymer and a co-monomer such as a polyisocyanate.

Abstract: A composition comprising a block copolymer that includes at least one polyester block and at least one linear polyolefin block, wherein the composition is in the form of a nano-structured, bicontinuous composite that includes a continuous matrix phase and a second continuous phase. The continuous matrix phase comprises the linear polyolefin block of the block copolymer, and the second continuous phase comprises the polyester block of the block copolymer. The composite may be treated to remove the polyester block, thereby forming a plurality of nano-pores.

Abstract: A composition comprising a block copolymer that includes at least one polyester block and at least one linear polyolefin block, wherein the composition is in the form of a nano-structured, bicontinuous composite that includes a continuous matrix phase and a second continuous phase. The continuous matrix phase comprises the linear polyolefin block of the block copolymer, and the second continuous phase comprises the polyester block of the block copolymer. The composite may be treated to remove the polyester block, thereby forming a plurality of nano-pores.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polymer composite that includes reacting (a) a multi-functional monomer and (b) a block copolymer comprising (i) a first block and (ii) a second block that includes a functional group capable of reacting with the multi-functional monomer, to form a crosslinked, nano-structured, bi-continuous composite. The composite includes a continuous matrix phase and a second continuous phase comprising the first block of the block copolymer.

Abstract: A composition comprising a block copolymer that includes at least one polyester block and at least one linear polyolefin block, wherein the composition is in the form of a nano-structured, bicontinuous composite that includes a continuous matrix phase and a second continuous phase. The continuous matrix phase comprises the linear polyolefin block of the block copolymer, and the second continuous phase comprises the polyester block of the block copolymer. The composite may be treated to remove the polyester block, thereby forming a plurality of nano-pores.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides a novel lactide monomer derivative and process for preparing the lactide monomer derivative. The monomer derivative of the invention is bifunctional in nature, and can be employed a variety of efficient synthesis processes to prepare various polymers. Further, the bifunctional monomer derivative can be used to prepare various intermediate-stage compounds and polymers, which in turn can be used to synthesize other compounds, polymers, copolymers and composites. The lactide monomer derivative has a bifunctional norbornene spiro lactide structure, spiro[6-methyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione-3,2?-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept[5]ene], and structure as follows: and stereoisomers thereof. The lactide monomer derivative is bifunctional in that either 1) the norbornene ring, 2) lactide ring, or 3) both, can be opened and used in polymer synthesis for the backbone or the reactive branch for other polymeric syntheses.

Abstract: A process for producing a dilatation balloon by extruding a multiblock copolymer composition to form an extrudate comprising phase-separated glassy, rubber, and semicrystalline microdomains that are macroscopically ordered in a perpendicular alignment. The balloon formed by the process demonstrates, during inflation, a true stress vs. nominal strain response curve comprising a first zone representative of a low modulus balloon, a second zone representative of a high strength balloon, and a sharp transition from the first zone to the second zone.

Abstract: A process for producing a dilatation balloon by extruding a multiblock copolymer composition to form an extrudate comprising phase-separated glassy, rubber, and semicrystalline microdomains that are macroscopically ordered in a perpendicular alignment. The balloon formed by the process demonstrates, during inflation, a true stress vs. nominal strain response curve comprising a first zone representative of a low modulus balloon, a second zone representative of a high strength balloon, and a sharp transition from the first zone to the second zone.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polymer composite that includes reacting (a) a multi-functional monomer and (b) a block copolymer comprising (i) a first block and (ii) a second block that includes a functional group capable of reacting with the multi-functional monomer, to form a crosslinked, nano-structured, bi-continuous composite. The composite includes a continuous matrix phase and a second continuous phase comprising the first block of the block copolymer.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides a novel lactide monomer derivative and process for preparing the lactide monomer derivative. The monomer derivative of the invention is bifunctional in nature, and can be employed a variety of efficient synthesis processes to prepare various polymers. Further, the bifunctional monomer derivative can be used to prepare various intermediate-stage compounds and polymers, which in turn can be used to synthesize other compounds, polymers, copolymers and composites. The lactide monomer derivative has a bifunctional norbornene spiro lactide structure, spiro[6-methyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione-3,2?-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept[5]ene], and structure as follows: and stereoisomers thereof. The lactide monomer derivative is bifunctional in that either 1) the norbornene ring, 2) lactide ring, or 3) both, can be opened and used in polymer synthesis for the backbone or the reactive branch for other polymeric syntheses.

Abstract: A self-wrapping dilatation balloon comprising a multiblock copolymer having high elasticity and elastic recovery from nominal strains greater than about 30% is described. Also described herein, is a polymeric extrudate for making a dilatation balloon comprising a multiblock copolymer having tensile strength in the range of about 50 MPa to about 450 MPa, strain at break in the range of about 50% to about 600% and substantially complete elastic recovery from nominal strains of at least about 30%. The extrudate has phase-separated microdomains that are macroscopically aligned in parallel, perpendicular, transverse or a combination thereof. Also described herein is a process for producing a polymeric extrudate for use as a dilatation balloon. The process comprises extruding a multiblock copolymer mixture or composition to form an extrudate.

Abstract: A synthetic route is provided to prepare poly(?-hydroxycarboxylic acid) polymers via the ring-opening polymerization of ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid cyclic oligomers. The cyclic oligomers can be prepared directly from biorenewable sources, such as 3-hydroxypropionic acid. The method can be used to prepare high molecular weight polymers from the cyclic oligomers. Good molecular weight control can be obtained for both solution state and melt polymerizations.

Abstract: A self-wrapping dilatation balloon comprising a multiblock copolymer having high elasticity and elastic recovery from nominal strains greater than about 30% is described. Also described herein, is a polymeric extrudate for making a dilatation balloon comprising a multiblock copolymer having tensile strength in the range of about 50 MPa to about 450 MPa, strain at break in the range of about 50% to about 600% and substantially complete elastic recovery from nominal strains of at least about 30%. The extrudate has phase-separated microdomains that are macroscopically aligned in parallel, perpendicular, transverse or a combination thereof. Also described herein is a process for producing a polymeric extrudate for use as a dilatation balloon. The process comprises extruding a multiblock copolymer mixture or composition to form an extrudate.