Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a high-performance polymer dispersant that can be applied to cellulose being a hydrophilic substance, and another object of the present invention is to provide a technology for practical application of obtaining a cellulose-dispersed resin composition that realizes stable dispersion of cellulose in a simpler manner and in an environmentally conscious manner that never uses a large amount of organic solvents when the polymer dispersant for cellulose is applied to cellulose and disperses the cellulose in a thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technology of dispersing cellulose readily in a hydrophobic substance such as a resin by treating cellulose being a hydrophilic substance in a system that contains water as a main medium with a polymer dispersant, which has been developed for dispersing a fine and hydrophobic substance such as a pigment, in a simple and efficient manner without conducting surface modification of nanocellulose or other treatments.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous particles made of an organic polymer, uniform in shape, and having through holes that are not closed. The porous particles according to the present invention are porous particles having a substantially spherical shape. The porous particles are made of an organic polymer. Each of the porous particles has an interconnected pore structure in which through holes provided inside the porous particle communicate with each other, and ends of the through holes are open toward an outside of the porous particle.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous particles uniform in shape and having through holes that are not closed. The porous particles according to the present invention are porous particles having a substantially spherical shape. Each of the porous particles has an interconnected pore structure in which through holes provided inside the porous particle communicate with each other, and ends of the through holes are open toward an outside of the porous particle.

Abstract: An electrolyte solution comprising: a non-aqueous solvent; a lithium salt; at least one fluorine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of a fluorine-containing ether compound represented by formula (1) and a fluorine-containing carbonate compound represented by formula (2); and at least one of an ionic liquid represented by formula (3) and an ionic liquid represented by formula (4).

Abstract: Provided is a low-cost, highly active, environmentally friendly living radical polymerization catalyst which does not require a radical initiator. An organic compound having an oxidation-reduction capability is used as a catalyst. Even if a radical initiator is not used, a monomer can be subjected to a radical polymerization to obtain a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution. The cost of the living radical polymerization can be remarkably reduced. It is made possible to prevent adverse effects of using a radical initiator. The present invention is significantly more environmentally friendly and economically excellent than conventional living radical polymerization methods, due to advantages of the catalyst such as low toxicity of the catalyst, low amount of the catalyst necessary, high solubility of the catalyst, mild reaction conditions, and no coloration/no odor (which do not require a post-treatment for a molded article), etc.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a high-performance polymer dispersant that can be applied to cellulose being a hydrophilic substance, and another object of the present invention is to provide a technology for practical application of obtaining a cellulose-dispersed resin composition that realizes stable dispersion of cellulose in a simpler manner and in an environmentally conscious manner that never uses a large amount of organic solvents when the polymer dispersant for cellulose is applied to cellulose and disperses the cellulose in a thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technology of dispersing cellulose readily in a hydrophobic substance such as a resin by treating cellulose being a hydrophilic substance in a system that contains water as a main medium with a polymer dispersant, which has been developed for dispersing a fine and hydrophobic substance such as a pigment, in a simple and efficient manner without conducting surface modification of nanocellulose or other treatments.

Abstract: Disclosed are an alkoxysilyl-containing A-B block copolymer formed from (meth)acrylate monomers as constituent monomers, characterized in that a polymer block of A chain has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of from 1,000 to 50,000 and a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of not greater than 1.6, a polymer block of B chain comprises alkoxysilyl-containing (meth)acrylate units as constituent monomer units, and the A-B block copolymer as a whole has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.6, a process for the production of the block copolymer, a resin-treated pigment, and a pigment dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising cellulose and a dispersant, the composition being capable of improving the dispersibility of cellulose in resin. More specifically, the present invention provides a composition comprising cellulose and a dispersant, the dispersant comprising a resin affinity segment A and a cellulose affinity segment B and having a block copolymer structure or gradient copolymer structure.

Abstract: A highly active and environment-friendly catalyst for use in a living radical polymerization is provided. A catalyst for use in a living radical polymerization method is provided. The catalyst comprises a central element, which is selected from nitrogen and phosphorus, and at least one halogen atom, which is bound to the central element. A monomer having a radical reactive unsaturated bond is subjected to a radical polymerization reaction in the presence of the catalyst, thereby it is possible to obtain a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution. The present invention has the merits such as low toxicity of the catalyst, a small amount of the catalyst being required, high solubility of the catalyst in the polymerization media, mild reaction conditions, no coloration, no odor (unnecessary post-treatment of molded products). The method of the present invention is more environment-friendly and economical than other living radical polymerization methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are an aqueous pigment dispersion containing at least a pigment, water, a high-molecular dispersant, and an alkali. The high-molecular dispersant is a diblock polymer having a formula (1) of A-B or a triblock polymer having a formula (2) of A-B-C. The diblock or triblock polymer is a diblock or triblock polymer obtained by polymerizing addition-polymerizable monomers with a radical generator while using an organic iodide as a polymerization initiating compound and an organic phosphorus compound, organic nitrogen compound or organic oxygen compound as a catalyst. Also disclosed are a production method and use of the aqueous pigment dispersion. With the high-molecular dispersant obtained by a simple living radical polymerization process free of the problems of conventional living radical polymerization and having a precisely-controlled molecular structure, the aqueous pigment dispersion can be obtained with the pigment dispersed in it.

Abstract: Disclosed are a resin-treated pigment characterized in that the resin-treated pigment comprises a pigment and a polymer of an unsaturated bond-containing monomer, a weight ratio of the pigment to the polymer (pigment:polymer) is from 50 to 95 to from 5 to 50, and the polymer is a block copolymer comprising from 5 to 70 mass % of an addition-polymerizable monomer having a UV-absorbing group; a production process of the resin-treated pigment; and a pigment dispersion using the resin-treated pigment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pigment dispersion containing at least a pigment, a liquid medium and a high-molecular dispersant. The high-molecular dispersant is a block polymer represented by A-B or A-B-C, in which A, B and C each represent a polymer block and the A and C blocks may be the same or different. The block polymer and its production process are also disclosed. The high-molecular dispersant is free of problems of a smell, coloration, a heavy metal and cost, and its use can provide a pigment dispersion excellent in the dispersion stability of a pigment.

Abstract: Provided is a method of living radical polymerization which does not necessitate complicated and intricate synthesis of a dormant species and which is highly efficient. A halogenated derivative compound is used as a dormant species for initiating living radical polymerization. The derivative compound is obtained by halogenating an alcohol compound having a non-conjugated structure or an amine compound having a non-conjugated structure with a halogenating agent capable of halogenating an alcohol or amine. A radical produced by elimination of halogen from the halogenated derivative compound is allowed to react with the unsaturated bond of the monomer. Thus, the monomer, which has a radical-reactive unsaturated bond, is polymerized by living radical polymerization. Preferably, the halogenating agent is a compound (NIS or the like) which also has a function as a catalyst.

Abstract: Provided is a low-cost, highly active, environmentally friendly living radical polymerization method which does not require a radical initiator. Even if a catalyst is not used, a living radical polymerization method can be conducted by controlling the amount of the oxygen in the gaseous phase in the reaction vessel within a suitable range. A monomer having a radical-reactive unsaturated bond can be subjected to a radical polymerization reaction to obtain a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution. The cost of the living radical polymerization can be remarkably reduced. The present invention eliminates the disadvantages of the conventional catalysts such as toxicity, low solubility, coloring/odor and the like, and is significantly more environmentally friendly and economically efficient than conventional living radical polymerization methods.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst used for a living radical polymerization method, which contains a central element consisting of carbon and at least one halogen atom binding to the central element. Further, a hydrocarbon compound can be used as a catalyst precursor. A monomer having a radical-reactive unsaturated bond is subjected to a radical polymerization reaction in the presence of the catalyst, consequently a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution can be obtained, and thus the cost of the living radical polymerization can be remarkably reduced. The present invention is significantly more environmentally friendly and economically excellent than conventional living radical polymerization methods, due to advantages such as low toxicity of the catalyst, low amount of the catalyst used, high solubility of the catalyst, mild reaction conditions, and no coloration/no odor (no need of any post-treatments for a molded article), and the like.

Abstract: Provided is a low-cost, highly active, environmentally friendly living radical polymerization method which does not require a radical initiator. Even if a catalyst is not used, a living radical polymerization method can be conducted by controlling the amount of the oxygen in the gaseous phase in the reaction vessel within a suitable range. A monomer having a radical-reactive unsaturated bond can be subjected to a radical polymerization reaction to obtain a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution. The cost of the living radical polymerization can be remarkably reduced. The present invention eliminates the disadvantages of the conventional catalysts such as toxicity, low solubility, coloring/odor and the like, and is significantly more environmentally friendly and economically efficient than conventional living radical polymerization methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are a production process of a dye polymer having a dye content of from 1 to 50 wt %, and the dye polymer and its use. The production process includes subjecting an addition-polymerizable monomer to living radical polymerization by using, as a polymerization initiator, a dye having a polymerization initiating group enabling the living radical polymerization. The dye polymer and a composition of the dye polymer and a pigment are useful as good coloring agents for various products or articles. The colored products or articles are high in transparency, and are provided with high added value. The dye polymer can also be used as a dispersant for pigments, thereby making it possible to afford pigment dispersions excellent in dispersion properties and dispersion stability.

Abstract: Intended is to provide an MRI contrast agent that tends not to be phagocytized by reticuloendothelial cells and that has improved dispersion stability. The present invention is an MRI contrast agent containing composite particles, wherein the composite particles are those with polymer graft chains bound to surfaces of microparticles at a very high density sufficient to allow steric repulsion to occur between the graft chains, the micoparticles are inorganic microparticles that exhibit superparamagnetism, and the polymer graft chains have a number average molecular weight (Mn) of at least 30,000. Preferably, the MRI contrast agent is for tumor diagnosis.