Abstract: A water soluble package comprises a polymeric film, the polymeric film comprising a polymeric backbone derived from a polymer which is water soluble, as defined herein, and one or more derivatising groups attached to the backbone, the derivatising group(s) being derived from a material having a ClogP of from 0.5 to 6 and/or being derived from a parent material comprising a C4 to C22 hydrocarbyl chain.

Abstract: Disclosed are formulations adapted to form a foamed cementitious composition, the foamed cementitious composition itself, a method of forming a hydraulic binder foam, and a method of conveying and applying the resulting foam to a substrate. A pumpable cementitious slurry is formed, the slurry is mixed with a gas such as air, and is subjected to mechanically created turbulence to generate gas bubbles and create a foam, which preferably is stabilized by a foam stabilizing agent such as polyvinyl alcohol present in the slurry. The foam is then conveyed to a nozzle or other suitable dispense point from which it is applied, for example sprayed, preferably uniformly, onto a substrate to be coated. Prior to dispensing, a set accelerator is preferably injected, which causes the foam to gel, which in turn improves the hangability of the product on a substrate. The spray material adheres to the substrate and hardens to form an insulative coating on the substrate.

Abstract: A coating for a prosthesis, for example a stent, and a composition for forming the coating is disclosed. The coating can serve as a primer, allowing substances, such as polymers, to be effectively secured by the prosthesis. Alternatively, the coating can serve as a reservoir, allowing for the local and sustained release of a therapeutic substance to biological tissues. The composition can be formed from an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer and a dimethylsulfoxide solvent, with or without a therapeutic substance. Alternatively, the composition can be formed from an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a dimethylsulfoxide solvent, and a wetting fluid, with or without a therapeutic substance. The composition is applied to a surface of the prosthesis and essentially all of the dimethylsulfoxide solvent or dimethylsulfoxide solvent/wetting fluid is removed or allowed to evaporate to form the coating.

Abstract: Cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol fibers prepared from a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol, which satisfy the following requirements:

Abstract: An activated, substantially water soluble poly(ethylene glycol) is provided having of a linear or branched poly(ethylene glycol) backbone and at least one terminus linked to the backbone through a hydrolytically stable linkage, wherein the terminus is branched and has proximal reactive groups. The free reactive groups are capable of reacting with active moieties in a biologically active agent such as a protein or peptide thus forming conjugates between the activated poly(ethylene glycol) and the biologically active agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester of a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer by reacting a terminal hydroxyl group of a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer with di(1-benzotriazolyl)carbonate in the presence of an amine base and an organic solvent. The polymer backbone can be poly(ethylene glycol). The 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester can then be reacted directly with a biologically active agent to form a biologically active polymer conjugate or reacted with an amino acid, such as lysine, to form an amino acid derivative.

Abstract: A film with excellent oxygen barrier properties is disclosed. A barrier coating used thereon is also disclosed, including polyvinyl alcohol and a copolymer of maleic acid and acrylic acid, and wherein the copolymer of maleic acid and acrylic acid has a weight average molecular weight of about 3500 to about 5000. The barrier coating is typically less than about 1 micrometer in thickness and provides an oxygen barrier of less than about 0.3 cc.mil/100 in2/day/atm when tested at 23 degrees Celsius and 0 percent relative humidity according to ASTM D3985. A method of stripping low molecular eight fractions from the copolymer is also disclosed. Metallized coated film according to the present invention shows surprising barrier properties.

Abstract: Biodegradable biocompatible hydrogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and methods for their preparation. The methods for preparation of the hydrogels involve the use of prepolymers. The prepolymers have a PVA backbone and pendant chains that include a polymerizable group. In one embodiment, the pendant chains also include a biodegradable region. In another embodiment, biodegradable regions are incorporated into the hydrogel during its formation.

Abstract: An anisotropically electroconductive film, which has a high reliability in its capacity for conducting electricity and also a good adhesion under such an adhesive condition that the film is heated at a temperature of 130° C. or less for a short period of time, has a layer of an adhesive within which electroconductive particles are distributed. The adhesive is composed of a thermosetting resin composition including a base resin, a reactive compound, an organic peroxide and a reaction accelerating compound, and also the electroconductive particles incorporated into the thermosetting resin composition. The base resin is a polyacetalized resin which is obtained by acetalizing a polyvinyl alcohol. The reactive compound is at least one selected from a group consisting of acryloxy group-bearing compounds, methacryloxy group-bearing compounds and epoxy group-bearing compounds. The reaction accelerating compound is a compound which has a radically reactive group and alkali-reactive group as its end groups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water swellable, water insoluble superabsorbent materials having controlled variable gel-bed friction angles. Controlling the gel-bed friction angle of the superabsorbent materials may allow control of the swelling of the material, the absorbency of the material, and/or the absorbency, resiliency, and porosity of the absorbent composite containing the superabsorbent material. The present invention relates to treatments for superabsorbent materials to manipulate friction angle and new superabsorbent materials having the desired friction angle characteristics. The present invention also relates to absorbent composites employing superabsorbent materials having the desired friction angle characteristics.

Abstract: There is provided a treating agent for a sheet surface comprising a graft copolymer composed of a back bone polymer and branch polymer, either of which is a polymer having vinyl alcohol units, and the other of which is a polymer having cationic groups, the treating agent is applied onto a pulp sheet or plastic sheet, and the coated sheet is used in ink jet printing. Cationic groups are introduced by graft copolymerization using di(meth)allylamine-based and/or (meth)acryl-based monomer. Alternatively, the graft copolymer of the present invention is obtained by grafting N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide monomer followed by hydrolysis thereof. A formula weight ratio of vinylalcohol units and the introduced cationic groups of 1:20 to 2:1 is preferable in terms of balanced performance.

Abstract: What is described is a polymeric hydrogel of a polymeric anhydride or acid, e.g. maleic anhydride or maleic acid polymer, or copolymer thereof, crosslinked with a crosslinking agent containing at least 2 crosslinkable groups, particularly, —OH or —NH2, or both. The reaction product is a crosslinked polymeric ester or amide/imide, or both, suitably having a mole ratio of —OH, or —NH2, to —COOH, of 1:10 to 10:1, preferably 2:10 to 7:1. The hydrogel is particularly swellable in water, e.g. >100% in 1 hour in aqueous media; and forms a thin, tacky layer on a substrate, which property is useful in bioadhesive products.

Abstract: A resin composition suitable for forming ink receptive layer of recording sheets and having excellent ink receptivity, feathering prevention, gloss and weatherability, which comprises (A) an oxyalkylene group-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin and (B) a cationic group-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin, wherein a 15% by weight aqueous solution of the resin composition has a transparency according to JIS K 6726 of at least 50%.

Abstract: A hydrophilic modification method comprising a step of forming a coat having a solid coat amount of 0.02 to 3 g/m2 on a heat exchanger with a modifier for hydrophilicity after treatment for rust prevention thereof wherein said modifier for hydrophilicity comprises a modified polyvinyl alcohol (A) having, on a side chain thereof, a group represented by the formula (I): in the formula, n represents an integer of 1 to 500, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and at least one member (B) selected from the group consisting of phosphorus compound salts and boron compound salts of Ca, Al, Mg, Fe and Zn, said group represented by the formula (I) accounting for 0.01 to 20 mole percent relative to hydroxyl and acetoxy groups contained in said modified polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoplastic polyurethane composition which comprises an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and/or a polyamide, and a thermoplastic polyurethane, in which the retention of melt tension thereof, when kept in a molten state at 220° C. for 1 hour, determined by the following equation (1), is not less than 10%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a film for packaging chemical agents, which contains an oxyalkylene unit-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin (A) and a carboxyl-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin (B), and preferably further containing a sulfo-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin (C). This film shows fine solubility in water even after a long-term packaging of an acidic chemical agent or alkaline chemical agent, and is superior in mechanical strength. Thus, the film for packaging chemical agents of the present invention is suitably used for packaging a chemical agent, such as powdered soap, synthetic detergent, agricultural chemical, antibacterial, deodorant, insecticide and the like, which is cast into water when in use.

Abstract: A dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization of a vinyl compound containing a vinyl alcohol polymer (A) having a content of an ethylene unit of 0.5 to 10 mol %, a degree of saponification of 60 mol % or more and a degree of polymerization of 600 or more and a vinyl alcohol polymer (B) selected from the group consisting of a vinyl alcohol polymer (B1) having a content of an ethylene unit of 0.5 to 10 mol %, a degree of saponification of 20 to 80 mol % and a degree of polymerization of 100 to 600, a vinyl alcohol polymer (B2) having a degree of saponification of 20 to 60 mol % and a degree of polymerization of 100 to 600 and a vinyl alcohol polymer (B3) having a content of an ethylene unit of 0.5 to 10 mol %, a degree of saponification of 90 mol % or more and a degree of polymerization of 1,000 or more.

Abstract: A process for preparing copolymers based on vinyl esters and ethylene and, if desired, further comonomers in the form of their aqueous dispersions, having a solids content of greater than 65% and a Brookfield viscosity (20 s−1) of less than 10,000 mPa·s, by means of free-radically initiated polymerization of one or more monomers selected from vinyl esters and ethylene and, if desired, further monomers copolymerizable therewith, in the presence of one or more protective colloids, polymerization being conducted in the presence of from 2 to 15% by weight of seed latex, based on the amount of vinyl ester, said process comprising a) polymerizing without adding emulsifier, and in the presence of one or more polyvinyl alcohols protective colloids having a degree of hydrolysis of from 80 to 95 mol % and a Höppler viscosity in 4% strength aqueous solution of from 3 to 30 mPa·s, and b) introducing the seed latex in a fraction of from 30 to 75% by weight before beginning the polymerization and

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester of a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer by reacting a terminal hydroxyl group of a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer with di(1-benzotriazolyl)carbonate in the presence of an amine base and an organic solvent. The polymer backbone can be poly(ethylene glycol). The 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester can then be reacted directly with a biologically active agent to form a biologically active polymer conjugate or reacted with an amino acid, such as lysine, to form an amino acid derivative.

Abstract: The invention is directed to self-assembling, polymer-based delivery systems for proteins. The delivery systems comprises an active agent and a polyol ester of the invention, having a linear polyol containing six or more hydroxyl groups as a central backbone and biodegradable hydroxy carboxylic ester groups attached to the central backbone.

Abstract: Synthetic polymer complements (SPCs) are provided, as well as methods for their synthesis and use. The SPCs may have surfaces that include functional groups that are complementary to surface sites of targets such as nanostructures or macromolecular targets, and may be capable of specifically interacting with such targets. The positions of the functional groups in one embodiment are stabilized by a polymer network. The SPCs are formed by contacting the target with a set of monomers which self-assemble on the target, and then are polymerized into a network to form the synthetic polymer complement. At least a portion of the surface of the resulting SPC thus may include an imprint of the target. The complex of the SPC and the target may be the desired product. Alternatively, the target is released, for example, by controllably expanding and contracting the crosslinked network. The SPC is isolated and used in many applications.

Abstract: The invention discloses materials that adsorb readily to the surfaces of body tissues in situ and provide a steric barrier between such tissues, so that tissue adhesions, which typically form following surgical procedures, are minimized. These materials contain a polymer of hydrophilic molecules such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) bound to a polymer that spontaneously adsorbs to biological tissue such as phenylboronic acid (PBA). The PEG-PBA co-polymer can be formed in a variety of geometries. The materials can also be used to coat prosthetics and other implants.

Abstract: Copolymers containing the units A, B, C, D and optionally E are used to prepare radiation sensitive compositions and lithographic printing plates. The copolymer contains about 25 to 55 mol % of unit A which has the formula The copolymer contains about 0.5 to 25 mol % of unit B which has the formula wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and aralkyl. The copolymer contains about 0.5 to 40 mol % of unit C which has the formula wherein X is an aliphatic or aromatic spacer group, and Ac is an acidic group selected from the group consisting of —COOH, —SO3H, —SO2NR9R10 with R9 and R10 independently being selected from hydrogen and alkyl; and when X is phenylene, Ac can also be OH.

Abstract: A binder resin containing a mixture of carboxyl group containing chlorinated polyolefins and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The binder resin is incorporated in primer formulations for application on substrates including polyolefinic materials.

Abstract: A dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization of a vinyl compound contains a modified vinyl alcohol polymer (A) having an ethylene content of 1 to 20 mol %, a degree of saponification of 90 mol % or more and a degree of polymerization of 100 to 3,000, a vinyl alcohol polymer (B) having a degree of saponification of 60 to 90 mol % and a degree of polymerization of 600 to 4,000, and a vinyl alcohol polymer (C) having a degree of saponification of 30 to 60 mol % and a degree of polymerization of 100 to 600, and in which a component (A)/{component (B)+component (C)} weight ratio is 5/95 to 40/60. The dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization of the vinyl compound exhibits quite excellent suspension polymerization stability. Further, the suspension polymerization of a vinyl compound using this dispersion stabilizer can produce a resin having a high bulk density minimizes the formation of milky turbid waste water.

Abstract: The present invention provides golf balls having a cover, a core, and optionally one or more intermediate layers between the cover and the core, wherein at least one of the cover, the core and, if present, the intermediate layer or layers, includes an anionic polymer. The anionic polymer has at least one of a neutralizable hydroxyl or dealkylable ether group, at least a portion of which are neutralized or dealkylated by a metal ion to provide anionic moieties. The anionic polymer compositions of the present invention can be used to provide improved characteristics to golf balls made therefrom.

Abstract: A water-soluble resin composition comprising (1) a water-soluble resin, (2) a water-soluble crosslinking agent, (3) at least one of surface active agents selected from acetylene alcohols, acetylene glycols, polyethoxylates of acetylene alcohols and polyethoxylates of acetylene glycols, and (4) a solvent consisting of water or a mixture of water and a water-soluble solvent. This water-soluble resin composition is applied onto a resist pattern, then heated to crosslink by an acid supplied from the resist, followed by development to remove the non-crosslinked water-soluble resin coating layer. This water-soluble resin composition is excellent in coating characteristics on steps of resist patterns and in dimensional regulation upon fining of patterns so that resist patterns such as trench patterns and hole patterns can effectively be fined.

Abstract: Provided are melt-spun fibers comprising, as at least one component, a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol, and a method for producing fibrous structures comprising the fibers. The thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol fibers comprise, as at least one component, a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol containing from 0.1 to 25 mol % of C1-4 &agr;-olefin units and/or vinyl ether units, having a molar fraction, based on vinyl alcohol units, of a hydroxyl group of vinyl alcohol unit located at the center of 3 successive vinyl alcohol unit chain in terms of triad expression of being from 70 to 99.9 mol %, having a carboxylic acid and lactone ring content of from 0.02 to 0.15 mol %, and having a melting point falling between 160° C. and 230° C., and contain from 0.0003 to 1 part by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the polyvinyl alcohol therein and in terms of sodium ion, of an alkali metal ion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent articles such as diapers and sanitary napkins which are provided with adhesives for attachment of the article to the skin. In particular the present invention relates to adhesives which provide secure attachment and are pleasing to the skin upon application, yet cause no discomfort upon removal. In particular the present invention relates to an adhesive which provide secure attachment to oily and greasy skin. Preferably the adhesive also provides secure attachment under moist and wet skin conditions and which maintains adhesive peel strength even under exposure to excess water.

Abstract: To provide a coating composition for forming an ink-receiving layer which is satisfactory in the fixability and water resistance of inks in ink-jet printing and is excellent in transparency and clearness of recorded images.

Abstract: An activated, substantially water soluble poly(ethylene glycol) is provided having of a linear or branched poly(ethylene glycol) backbone and at least one terminus linked to the backbone through a hydrolytically stable linkage, wherein the terminus is branched and has proximal reactive groups. The free reactive groups are capable of reacting with active moieties in a biologically active agent such as a protein or peptide thus forming conjugates between the activated poly(ethylene glycol) and the biologically active agent.

Abstract: This invention relates, in general, to blend compositions of an unmodified poly vinyl alcohol and a thermoplastic elastomer and thermoplastic film and fiber structures comprising these blend compositions. More specifically, this invention relates to substantially water-free films and fibers comprising unmodified polyvinyl alcohol and a thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: A resin composition suitable for forming ink receptive layer of recording sheets and having excellent ink receptivity, feathering prevention, gloss and weatherability, which comprises (A) an oxyalkylene group-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin and (B) a cationic group-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin, wherein a 15% by weight aqueous solution of the resin composition has a transparency according to JIS K 6726 of at least 50%.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a hybrid polymer material or system that combines naturally occurring building blocks with synthetic building blocks. The sets of naturally occurring and synthetic building blocks are mixed and joined on a molecular or nanoscopic level to give homogeneous or microphase-separated morphologies to the resulting mixed polymer system. These hybrid polymers combine the comfort attributes of natural materials with the robustness and design properties of synthetic materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber binding powder composition for consolidating fiber materials, comprising a) a polymer powder based on a polyvinyl alcohol stabilized polymer of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of the vinyl esters of branched or unbranched carboxylic acids having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, the esters of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid with branched or unbranched alcohols having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, aromatic vinyl compounds, vinyl halides, olefins and dienes, and b) an inorganic compound which is solid at room temperature and which enters a chemical bond with the OH groups of the polyvinyl alcohol on introduction of said powder into water.

Abstract: A method of improving ink stability. A block co-polymer is added to either an under-/overprinting vehicle or an ink vehicle. The polymer increases chemical interactions between the ink the print media. The under-/overprinting vehicle and the ink vehicle interact through electrostatic interactions while the polymer increases smearfastness by interacting with the print media through non-covalent interactions.

Abstract: A composition comprising (A) polyvinyl alcohol having an amino group connected to a phenyl group and (B) at least one water resistance-imparting agent selected from polyepoxy compound, aldehyde compound, polyisocyanate compound, and water-soluble oxidizing agent; the composition exhibits outstanding water resistance even when used at room temperature; the composition finds use as a woodworking adhesive, plywood adhesive, and two-part instantaneously curing adhesive which does not require heating for curing.

Abstract: A polyvinyl alcohol having at least 1.9 mol % of 1,2-glycol bonds is used as a dispersant for emulsion polymerization or a dispersant for suspension polymerization, and this ensures good polymerization stability even when its amount used is reduced. The aqueous emulsion comprising the polyvinyl alcohol is resistant to water and the viscosity of the aqueous emulsion depends little on ambient temperatures. The vinylic polymers obtained through suspension polymerization in the presence of the polyvinyl alcohol are yellowed little, and the waste water in the suspension polymerization pollutes little the environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides water-soluble polymer conjugates of triazine derivatives using water soluble and non-peptidic polymer backbones, such as poly(ethylene glycol). The invention includes conjugates made using mPEG, bifunctional PEG, branched or multi-arm PEG, and forked PEG. The invention further includes a method of forming such conjugates and a method of treating conditions responsive to triazine derivatives using the conjugates.

Abstract: A differential physical chemical cleaning system including a plurality of charged cleaning devices for engaging a surface to be cleaned and a fluid delivery system for delivering precipitating agents to the surface to be cleaned and the plurality of cleaning devices.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating of a substrate by contacting the substrate with a fluorochemical composition that comprises a condensation product of a di- or tri-isocyanate and at least one polyether, the polyether being obtained as the reaction product of a fluorochemical substituted epoxide. Substrates treated in accordance with the invention have good stain release properties, particularly to oil stains or tea stains, so stains can be more easily removed from the treated substrate in a laundering procedure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermoplastic composition comprising: a matrix-forming thermoplastic polymer (M), rigid nodules obtained by radical polymerization, and optionally an impact modifier (S). It also relates to a process comprising, in a first stage, forming a homogeneous solution of precursor of the nodules in the thermoplastic (M) in the molten state, in a second stage, introducing the initiator while remaining at a temperature below which the initiator becomes active, and, in a third stage, heating to a temperature sufficient to cause crosslinking of the precursor and to form rigid nodules while kneading the composition, the impact modifier being introduced during the first or the second stage.

Abstract: The present invention is a hydrolytically modified, biodegradable polymer and a method of making a hydrolytically modifiable a biodegradable polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of grafting polar groups onto biodegradable polymers and modified biodegradable polymer compositions produced by the method. The polymer compositions are useful as components in flushable and degradable articles. Water-sensitive polymer blends and method of making those polymer blends are also disclosed.

Abstract: Production of a paper coating composition having improved low shear viscosity at a high solids level of fine particle size calcium carbonate. The improvement in low shear viscosity is achieved by dissolving a fine particle size, partially hydrolyzed, low molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) powder in an aqueous slurry of pigment particles containing predominantly fine particle size calcium carbonate. Dissolution of the poly(vinyl alcohol) is achieved without external heating or adding water to the slurry. The slurry can then be formulated with other components to produce the ink jet paper coating composition which, when applied to a paper substrate, provides excellent ink jet printability.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers including functionalization from the group of amino groups, carboxylic acid groups, phosphonic acid groups, phosphonic ester groups, acylpyrazolone groups, hydroxamic acid groups, aza crown ether groups, oxy crown ethers groups, guanidinium groups, amide groups, ester groups, aminodicarboxylic groups, permethylated polvinylpyridine groups, permethylated amine groups, mercaptosuccinic acid groups, alkyl thiol groups, and N-alkylthiourea groups are disclosed.

Abstract: An activated, substantially water soluble poly(ethylene glycol) is provided having of a linear or branched poly(ethylene glycol) backbone and at least one terminus linked to the backbone through a hydrolytically stable linkage, wherein the terminus is branched and has proximal reactive groups. The free reactive groups are capable of reacting with active moieties in a biologically active agent such as a protein or peptide thus forming conjugates between the activated poly(ethylene glycol) and the biologically active agent.

Abstract: Water-dilutable polyvinylbutyral dispersions obtainable by a two-stage reaction in the first stage of which at least one tertiary alkanolamine A and at least one diisocyanate B are reacted to the theoretically calculated NCO content and the amounts of components A and B are chosen such that the amount of substance of the diisocyanates B is from 0.8 to 1.3 times the amount of substance of the reactive hydroxyl groups in A and thereafter in the second stage a polyvinylbutyral C dissolved in a solvent which is inert towards isocyanates is reacted with the adduct AB from the first step to form the product ABC until all of the isocyanate groups have undergone complete reaction, the number of hydroxyl groups in C being at least ten times the number of isocyanate groups in the reaction product AB.

Abstract: The invention concerns composite polyester films with good barrier properties relative to gases. More precisely, it concerns a biaxially drawn film, based on polyester and having improved barrier properties relative to gases, characterised in that it comprises a base polyester film of 5 to 50 &mgr;m, coated on one of its two surfaces with a deposit containing polyvinyl alcohol and a water dispersible copolyester with sulphonyloxy units, said composite film having permeability to oxygen measured at 23° C. under 50% relative humidity, not more than 5 cm3/m2/24 h. Said composite films have, besides being transparent and having barrier properties, excellent resistance to mechanical stresses, such as in particular crumpling.

Abstract: Phase change (hot melt) ink compositions for use in a phase change (hot melt) ink jet recording device in which recording is conducted by thermally melting the ink at a temperature above ambient temperature (20° C.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, high molecular weight nonionic polyurethane, characterized by solubility in water and by a specific viscosity of at least 0.4 (1% by weight solution at 20° C.) is provided. Examples of such polyurethanes are those characterized by the following structural units: a) —O(—CH2—CH2—O)n—, where n=8 to 500, and b) —CO—NH—X—NH—CO—, where X is an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic radical. Also provided are methods of using the polyurethane as an adhesive, more particularly a hotmelt adhesive or a solvent-based adhesive, for example a wallpaper adhesive and labelling adhesive, of using polyurethane as a stabilizer in the emulsion polymerization of, in particular, vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride and in the copolymerization of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and of using the polyurethane as a thickener for aqueous systems, more particularly together with nonionic surfactants.