Abstract: New polyelectrolyte copolymer, composite material, multilayer film and substrate carrying such polyelectrolyte copolymer, composite and multilayer film wherein the polyelectrolyte copolymer comprises a) a first type of identical or different units (A) each comprising one or more dihydroxyphenyl groups such that sidechains are present along the backbone of the polyelectrolyte copolymer which contain at least one dihydroxyphenyl group each; and (b1) a second type of identical or different units (B1) each comprising a cationic moiety, or (b2) a second type of identical or different units (B2) each comprising an anionic moiety.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer composite material structure comprising at least one layer of a foamed polymer composite material comprising a foamed polymer matrix and 0.1 wt % to 6 wt % carbon based conductive loads, such as e.g. carbon nanotubes, dispersed in the foamed polymer matrix. The polymer composite material structure according to embodiments of the present invention shows good shielding and absorbing properties notwithstanding the low amount of carbon based conductive loads. The present invention furthermore provides a method for forming a polymer composite material structure comprising carbon based conductive loads.

Abstract: Electrografting method for forming and regulating a strongly adherent nanostructured polymer coating onto an electro-conductive surface profile characterized in that the surface profile is regulated by electrodeposition of nanometre- and/or micrometre-scale nuclei onto the surface profile prior to or simultaneously to the formation of the polymer coating.

Abstract: Active substance delivery system, comprising a biocompatible and biostable hydrogel matrix, and biodegradable microcarriers which are homogenously embedded within the hydrogel matrix, and contain at least two active substances.

Abstract: A process for modifying an unmodified clay, in particular a montmorillonite type clay, is characterized in that the clay is intimately mixed with an organomodifier selected from quaternary ammonium salts, siliconated ammonium compounds, highly fluorinated ammonium compounds, phosphonium salts, sulphonium salts, precursors of said salts and mixtures of at least two of said compounds, in the presence of carbon dioxide under pressure.

Abstract: Process for depositing by electrografting a strong adherent polymer coating onto an electrically conductive surface comprising the step of electrochemical grafting of an active monomer for forming a primer coating P onto the surface and having as general formula: X0 (meth)acrylate wherein X is either part of a preformed polymer or is an intermediate agent for polyaddition reaction or is an anchoring group for attachment of a molecule having at least one complementary reactive group. Such process allows formation of new primer by one-step electro-grafting of a macromonomer. Such process also allows further modification of an initial electrografted polymer to increase the coating thickness by the grafting-from technique. Such process also allows to graft onto the primer coating compounds like functional polymer, peptide, protein, oligonucleotide, dyes, drugs, anti-bacterian compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing nanocomposite aliphatic polyester consisting of the mixing of a nanofiller in at least one monomer that can form an aliphatic polyester and the intercalative polymerisation of the mixture obtained in the presence of a supercritical fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elastomer/reinforcing filler composite in which said elastomer contains a dispersion therein of said reinforcing filler wherein said composite is prepared by forming said filler reinforcement in situ within the elastomer host. Such in-situ formation of reinforcement filler is created by a condensation reaction of a filler precursor within a solvent solution of a diene hydrocarbon based elastomer and with the aid of a phase transfer agent and a condensation reaction promoter. The invention further relates to a tire having at least one component comprised of the resulting elastomer/filler composite. The invention includes a rubber composition of at least two elastomers wherein one of said elastomers is a said pre-formed composite of said elastomer/filler reinforcement. A tire having a component of such rubber composition, particularly a tire tread, is specifically contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an initiation system composed of the reaction product of at least one cyclic siloxane and at least one organometalic compound of sufficient reactivity to open the siloxane ring. Application of the present invention is to the preparation of homopolymers of (meth)acrylic, vinylaromatic or diene monomers, random or block copolymers of these monomers and, in particular, application to poly(methylmethacrylate) with a high content of isotactic triads.

Abstract: A process for the production of polymers by means of pseudo-living free-radical polymerization is disclosed. The process entails (i) reacting a polymerizable vinyl monomer with nitrogen monoxide and at least one initiator to prepare a free-radical intermediate product, and (ii) polymerizing the intermediate product optionally together with one or more additional monomers and/or with a free-radical initiator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for forming a coating on conductive particles by grafting a polymer and/or a copolymer of the particles from a bath containing at least a monomer from which the polymer and/or copolymer is formed. The method consists of producing the grafting by electrochemical reduction of the monomer in an electrolytic solution, where at least a cathode and an anode are provided, and containing an aprotic solvent, a support electrolyte and the monomer(s) required for polymerizing or copolymerizing the coating, by suspending the particles and moving the solution so as to produce an intermittent contact between the particles and the cathode, and to form, by polymerization or copolymerization, the coating on the particles by applying an electric potential.

Abstract: Unsubstituted oxepane-diones useful as monomers for the production of polymers, process for the synthesis thereof by oxidation of unsubstituted cyclohexanediones, process for the preparation of polyesterketone polymers by polymerization of cyclic esterketones and polyesterketone polymers so obtained.

Abstract: A method for making composites uses electrochemical polymer or copolymer coating of a carbon-based support by using a reaction system including (a) at least a monomer capable of forming a polymer on said support, (b) an aprotic solvent and (c) an electrolyte providing the resulting organic medium with an electrical conductivity for conducting therein electrolysis. The carbon support permanently forms the cathode, by applying either a potential or an electric current bringing the reaction system into the passivation zone corresponding to the first inhibition peak. The method forms a polymer grafted on the support.

Abstract: The initiation system comprises (1) at least one silylated initiator and (2) at least one alkaline metal alcoholate as ligand. The silylated initiator may be monofunctional and selected in particular from among the compounds of Formula (I) or difunctional and selected in particular from among the compounds of Formula (II): wherein R1, R2, R3 each independently represent a C1-C8alkyl radical, linear or branched; R4 is a linear or branched C1-C8alkylene radical; M is an alkaline metal or alkaline earth metal (valence q of 1 or 2); R5 and R6 each independently represent an alkyl radical, linear or branched, at C1-C8; R7, R8 each independently represent a C1-C8alkylene radical, linear or branched; M′ is an alkaline metal. Application is to the preparation of (meth)acrylic (co)polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an initiation system composed of the reaction product of at least one cyclic siloxane and at least one organometalic compound of sufficient reactivity to open the siloxane ring.

Abstract: An aliphatic polyester and/or copolyester, obtained from a polyreaction of at least one monomer from the group comprising lactides, lactones, cyclic carbonates and cyclic anhydrides. To be able to prepare the aliphatic polyester and/or copolyester a reaction mixture is used which contains at least one catalyst of the general formula (M) (X.sub.1, X.sub.2 . . . X), M being a metal selected from the group 3 to 12 of the periodic system (X.sub.1, X.sub.2 . . . X.sub.m) being a substituent selected from one of the families of alkyls, aryls, oxides, carboxylates, halogenides, alkoxides and compounds with elements from group 15 and/or 16 of the periodic system, m being an integer in the range of from 1 to 6, and n being an integer in the range of from 0 to 6, and which also contains a co-catalyst of the general formula (Y) (R.sub.1, R.sub.2 . . . R.sub.q).sub.p, Y being an element selected from the group 15 or 16 of the periodic system. (R.sub.1, R.sub.2 . . . R.sub.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention comprises a biopolymer nanoparticle for drug delivery wherein the nanoparticle comprises a homogeneous blend of an aliphatic polyester polymer blended with a polyether, a lipophilic or polypeptide drug and a biocompatible cholesterol interacting agent for preserving the activity of the drug administered to the patient while at the same time controlling the release of the drug. Methods for making the homogeneous drug delivery nanoparticles are also disclosed.

Abstract: The process for the controlled radical (co)polymerization of (meth)acrylic and/or vinyl monomers is characterized in that the bulk, solution, emulsion or suspension polymerization or copolymerization is carried out, at a temperature at which can fall to 0.degree. C., of at least one of the said monomers in the presence of an initiating system comprising a radical-generating compound and at least one catalyst composed of a metal complex containing a ligand of the type?4-R.sup.3 -2,6-(CH.sub.2 NR.sup.1 R.sup.2).sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.2 !--(I)in which: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which are identical or different, represent a branched or unbranched C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group or a phenyl group or alternatively R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 form, with the nitrogen atom to which they are connected, a cyclic amine or alternatively the two R.sup.2 groups, taken together, form a polymethylene bridge and R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or benzyl group or an electron-donating or electron-withdrawing functional group.

Abstract: This process is characterized in that at least one of the said monomers is polymerized or copolymerized in bulk, solution, emulsion or suspension, at a temperature which may be as low as 0.degree. C., in the presence of an initiator system comprising at least one non-peroxy radical-generator compound and at least one catalyst consisting of a metal complex represented by formula Ma.sub.a (L).sub.n in which M represents Rh, Co or Ir; A represents, a halogen or a pseudohalogen; the groups L, which may be identical or different, each represent a ligand which may be a chiral ligand, which is chosen from cyclooctadiene, PRR'R", P(OR) (OR') (OR"), NRR'R", ORR', SRR', SeRR', AsRR'R", SbRR'R", each radical R, R' and R" independently representing an optionally substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.14 alkyl group or an optionally substituted aromatic group, it being possible for at least two of these ligands to be joined together by one or more divalent radicals; a is an integer such that 1.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.

Abstract: This process is characterized by the fact that at least one of the said monomers is polymerized or copolymerized in bulk, solution, emulsion or suspension, at a temperature that can be as low as 0.degree. C., in the presence of an initiation system including: at least one compound generating radicals, other than bromofluorene, and at least one catalyst consisting of a complex of palladium in the 0 oxidation state, denoted by the following formula (I): Pd(0)L.sup.1 L.sup.2 L.sup.3 L.sup.4 in which each of L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3 and L.sup.4, which are identical or different, denotes a ligand which may be a chiral ligand, which is chosen from PRR'R", P(OR)(OR')(OR"), NRR'R", ORR', SRR', SeRR', AsRR'R", SbRR'R", where each of R, R' and R" independently denotes a C.sub.1 -C.sub.14 alkyl group, optionally substituted, or an optionally substituted aromatic group, it being possible for at least two of these ligands to be joined to one another by one or more divalent radicals.