Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer composition for use at least in surface coating applications and in fabrication of rigid foams with load bearing capacity comprising a base molecule, a linker molecule and at least one initiator compound, said base molecule having at least two differing functionalities, and said linker molecule having a functionality reactive with at least one functionality of said base molecule, the first of said at least two functionalities of said base molecule enabling a first curing stage of said polymer composition by reaction with said linker molecule, and the second and any further functionality of said base molecule enabling second and further curing stages of said polymer composition, said first, second and any further curing stages being capable of activation simultaneously or independently of each other as required.

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) as dispersing agent a polymer based on a long chain alkyl meth(acryte).

Abstract: The invention provides in one aspect a process for preparing a microgel by RAFT polymerizing in the presence of a RAFT chain transfer agent, one or more solvophobic monomers and one or more solvophilic monomers to form one or more block copolymers comprising one or more solvophobic blocks and one or more solvophilic blocks wherein the solvophobic block is insoluble in a dispersing medium and the solvophilic block is soluble in the dispersing medium. The block copolymer is dispersed in the dispersing medium to form micelles, which is then stabilized to form the microgel. The dispersing medium can be aqueous or lipophilic. The method of the present invention also permits one to encapsulate a wide variety of materials, such as pigments, dye molecules, and aluminum flakes used in metallized paints.

Abstract: The invention provides in one aspect a process for preparing a microgel by RAFT polymerizing in the presence of a RAFT chain transfer agent, one or more solvophobic monomers and one or more solvophilic monomers to form one or more block copolymers comprising one or more solvophobic blocks and one or more solvophilic blocks wherein the solvophobic block is insoluble in a dispersing medium and the solvophilic block is soluble in the dispersing medium. The block copolymer is dispersed in the dispersing medium to form micelles, which is then stabilized to form the microgel. The dispersing medium can be aqueous or lipophilic. The method of the present invention also permits one to encapsulate a wide variety of materials, such as pigments, dye molecules, and aluminum flakes used in metallized paints.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biocompatible polymer composition for use in biomedical applications comprising a base molecule, a linker molecule and at least one initiator compound, said base molecule having at least two differing functionalities, and said linker molecule having a functionality reactive with at least one functionality of said base molecule, the first of said at least two functionalities of said base molecule enabling a first curing stage of said polymer composition by reaction with said linker molecule, and the second and any further functionality of said base molecule enabling second and further curing stages of said polymer composition, said first, second and any further curing stages being capable of activation simultaneously or independently of each other as required.