Abstract: The invention is to provide polyhydroxyalkanoate of a novel structure enabling application to wider fields, and a producing method therefor. The invention also provides a biodegradable charge control agent having excellent charging characteristics, excellent dispersibility in the toner resin and improved spent property. The polyhydroxyalkanoate of the present invention is featured by including, in the polymer molecule, a units represented by the general formulas (1) and (2) and at least one of the units represented by the general formulas (3) to (6).

Abstract: Biodegradable polymer blend compositions are provided which contain oligomeric esters. The oligoester compound can compatibilize blends of two or more biodegradable polymers resulting in excellent ductility and reduced tendency to embrittlement of products produced from therefrom. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blend composition comprises a PHA, polycaprolactone (PCL) and one or more oligomeric esters. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the blend composition comprises a PHA, polybutylenesuccinate-adipate (PBSUA), and one or more oligomeric esters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixture of biodegradable polyesters comprising: (A) a polyhydroxy acid of the poly-?-caprolactone type and its copolymers, (B) aliphatic polyester, and (C) a polymer of polylactic acid, in which the concentration of (A) varies with respect to (A+B) in the range between 40 and 70% by weight, and the concentration of (C) with respects to (A+B+C) lies between 2 and 30%.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the rate of a first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate having a copolymer, or a blend thereof, of at least two randomly repeating monomer units, and has a melting point Tm1, by solution blending or melt blending the first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate with a second crystallizable biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate homopolymer or copolymer, which has at least one randomly repeating monomer unit and a melting point Tm2, wherein Tm2 is at least about 20?C. greater than Tm1. Methods for forming shaped articles from the blending of the two polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Abstract: An aqueous coating composition (especially a paint or varnish for buildings, vehicles, furniture and metal or plastics containers) which can form coatings on surfaces at ambient temperatures which on drying have improved early hardness and tack-resistance. The coating composition comprises water, optionally pigment and other conventional ingredients and dispersed particles of a highly non-crystalline polyester containing repeating hydroxyalkanoate units (preferably 3-hydroxybutyrate or 3-hydroxyvalerate or their copolymers). The polyester is non-crystalline to the extent that at least 60 wt % of the particles have a density of less than 102% of Dmin where Dmin is the minimum density attainable by the polyester. The composition may also contain conventional film-forming polymers of the types used in aqueous paint or varnish.

Abstract: Compositions having improved crystallization properties and physical properties including a continuous phase of a first biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a copolymer, or a blend thereof, of at least two randomly repeating monomer units and having a melting point Tm1, and a second crystallizable biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate homopolymer or copolymer, which comprises at least one randomly repeating monomer unit and has a melting point Tm2, where Tm2 is at least about 20□C. greater than Tm1. The compositions are formed by solution or melt blending of the components and may be formed into shaped articles.

Abstract: Soft and elastic polymer products are obtained by stretching a composition comprising a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising at least two randomly repeating monomer units. The first randomly repeating monomer unit has structure (I), wherein R1 is H, or C1 or C2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2. The second randomly repeating monomer unit is different from the first randomly repeating monomer unit and has structure (II), wherein m is 2 to about 9. At least about 70 mole % of the copolymer comprises randomly repeating monomer units having the structure of the first randomly repeating monomer unit (I). The products exhibit advantageous combinations of softness and elasticity while maintaining strength.

Abstract: The invention relates to an opaque biaxially oriented film made of at least one layer that contains COC. This layer contains a cycloolefin copolymer (COC) in a concentration of 0.5 to 30 wt. % with regard to this layer and contains a polymer made from aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid units.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) containing a 3-hydroxyalkanoic unit which has at its side chain terminal a substituted phenylsulfinyl group and/or a substituted phenylsulfonyl group, and a production process thereof. The novel PHA can be produced by oxidizing with a peroxide a biosynthetic PHA containing a 3-hydroxyalkanoic unit which has at its side chain terminal a substituted phenylsufanyl group. The novel PHA has a superior function as a charge control agent, besides is biodegradable, hence is contributable to environmental conservation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing highly purified polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) with high yield, by removing cell components other than PHA from cells containing PHA. Moreover, the present invention provides a method for simply removing or reducing chlorine remained in the collected PHA particles, when a treatment with an oxidizing agent containing hypochlorite is performed in the production of PHA as described above. One of the above-described methods comprises a step of treating cells containing polyhydroxyalkanoate with an oxidizing agent containing at least hypochlorite, a step of separating the treated cells into a water-soluble fraction and a water-insoluble fraction, and a step of reducing chlorine remained in the water-insoluble fraction. The step of reducing chlorine may be a step of washing the water-insoluble fraction with a hot water, thiosulfate solution or polar solvent solution containing at least an organic polar solvent in which polyhydroxyalkanoate is insoluble.

Abstract: Environmentally degradable films comprising a blend of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer and a polylactic acid polymer or copolymer are disclosed. Laminates having a first layer comprising a PHA copolymer and a second layer comprising a PLA polymer or copolymer are also disclosed. Disposable articles comprising the environmentally degradable films or laminates are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polyhydroxyalkanoate type polyester that comprises one unit % or more of 3-hydroxy-&ohgr;-(4-vinylphenyl)alkanoic acid units. A microbial production method is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to absorbable polylactone copolymers prepared in part from about 2 to about 80 mole percent glycolide, utilizing a combination of a monofunctional polymerization initiator and a di-functional polymerization initiator, to achieve rates of crystallization of the copolymer of at least about 2 times faster than the rate of crystallization of a copolymer made by a similar process utilizing either the mono-functional or the di-functional polymerization initiator alone. Medical devices containing such copolymers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Soft and elastic polymer products arc obtained by stretching a composition comprising a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanrate copolymer comprising at least two randomly repeating monomer units. The first randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure (I), wherein R1 is H, or C1 or C2 alkyl, and n is 1 or 2. The second randomly repeating monomer unit has the structure (II), wherein R2 is a C3-C19 alkyl or C3-C19 alkenyl. At least about 70 mole % of the copolymer comprises randomly repeating monomer units having the structure of the first randomly repeating monomer unit (I). The products exhibit advantageous combinations of softness and elasticity while maintaining strength.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate characterized by having in the molecule a unit represented by Chemical Formula (1): wherein n may assume any one integral value within the range of from 1 to 8. Also disclosed are a process for producing the polyhydroxyalkanoate by the use of a microorganism having the ability to produce the polyhydroxyalkanoate and accumulate it in the bacterial body; a charge control agent, a toner binder and a toner which contain this polyhydroxyalkanoate; and an image-forming method and an image-forming apparatus which make use of the toner.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polyhydroxyalkanoate, containing in a polymer molecule thereof a monomer unit represented by the following general formula (1): 1

Abstract: A method of producing a diol derivative efficiently and to high purity is provided. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method of producing a diol derivative having, as a fundamental step, a step of obtaining an &agr;-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester by reacting (i) one or more 1,2-diols or (ii) a 1,2-diol and a primary alcohol as starting material(s) with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising metal loaded on a carrier.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for reducing waste accumulation by using an environmentally degradable disposable material. The disposable material, which includes a hydroxycarboxylic acid-containing polymer, degrades hydrolytically during operative and disposal stages in a controlled manner such that the disposal degradation rate of the material is accelerated relative to the operative degradation rate of the material.

Abstract: Polyelectrolyte complexes of cationic and anionic polymers which consist of (a) cationic condensates of (i) at least one amine and (ii) a crosslinking agent from the group consisting of epihalohydrins, bishalohydrins of diols, bishalohydrins of polyalkylene glycols, bishalohydrins of polytetrahydrofurans, alkylene dihalides, alkylene trihalides, bisepoxides, trisepoxides, tetraepoxides and/or mixtures of said compounds, and/or quaternized cationic condensates of (i) and (ii), and (b) anionic compounds containing at least three anionic groups and have a charge ratio between anionic and cationic polymers of from 0.01 to 20, and a process for the preparation of the polylectrolyte complexes by mixing the cationic condensates (a) with anionic compounds (b).

Abstract: High consistency polymers have an inherent viscosity of from about 1.30 to about 1.55, wherein the inherent viscosity is characterized by a standard deviation of about 0.05 or less.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified cationic polymers which can be obtained by reacting (a) water-soluble, polymeric compounds containing NH groups with (b) compounds which are at least bifunctional with regard to NH groups, which contain at least one alkyl radical or alkenyl radical having at least 8 C atoms, and which contain, as a functional group, a halohydrin, epoxide, carboxyl, chloroformate or isocyanate group or a halogen atom. The invention also relates to a method for producing the polymers by reacting the compounds of groups (a) and (b), and to the use of the modified cationic polymers during the production of paper as fixing agents for papermaking stock containing interfering substances.

Abstract: An object is to provide a biaxially stretched film which allows tacking, is heat-stickable, is less liable to unevenness in thickness, breakage, whitening, unevenness, etc. i.e. has stretching stability and is decomposable in the natural environment. It comprises a polylactic acid-family polymer as its major component, and has a storage elastic modulus E′ at 120° C. of 100-230 MPa as measured using a test method concerning temperature dependency of the dynamic viscous elasticity under JIS K7198.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing reabsorbable polyesters by bulk polymerisation, wherein the reaction components are melted and homogenised in a stirred reactor, the reaction mixture is then transferred into a number of smaller-volume containers, the reaction mixture is polymerised in these containers and the polyester obtained is isolated by removing it from the containers, and the use of the reabsorbable polyesters thus produced for preparing reabsorbable implants.

Abstract: Environmentally degradable molded or extruded articles comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate C4C6 copolymer composition having short annealing cycle times are provided. Such short annealing cycle times are achieved by compositions having a percentage of C6 units of 2-8%. Desirable annealing cycle times are obtained for molded or extruded articles, particularly for tampon applicators.

Abstract: Copolymers of lactide and glycolide with high glycolide content. The average glycolate block length is less then about 3, which allows the copolymer to be soluble in slightly polar solvents such as methylene chloride.

Abstract: PHA containing a novel 3-hydroxy-thioalkanoic acid unit having a highly reactive thienyl group in a side chain thereof, and a method of producing the same are provided. Specifically, 5-(2-thienyl-sulfanyl)valeric acid represented by Chemical Formula [4] below and 6-(2-thienylsulfanyl)hexanoic acid represented by Chemical Formula [5] below are provided. Further, a method of producing PHA, comprising the step of collecting PHA from cells of a microorganism cultured in a medium containing the valeric acid or hexanoic acid, and a novel PHA represented by Chemical Formula [1] below are provided.

Abstract: Porous microcomposites have been prepared from perfluorinated ion-exchange polymer and metal oxides such as silica using the sol-gel process. Such microcomposites possess high surface area and exhibit extremely high catalytic activity.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition (C) containing a photosensitive resin (B) which is a reaction product produced by modifying an epoxy acrylate (a) with a cyanate ester compound (b) to obtain a modification product (A) and reacting the modification product (A) with a polybasic acid anhydride (c), and a compound (d) of the formula, in which each of n and m is an integer of at least 1, and a cured product of the photosensitive resin composition (C).

Abstract: Crosslinked compositions formed from water-insoluble copolymers are disclosed. These compositions are copolymers having a bioresorbable region, a hydrophilic region and at least two cross-linkable functional groups per polymer chain. Crosslinking of these polymers can be effected in solution in organic solvents or in solvent-free systems. If crosslinking occurs in a humid environment, a hydrogel will form. If crosslinking occurs in a non-humid environment, a xerogel will form which will form a hydrogel when exposed to a humid environment and the resulting crosslinked materials form hydrogels when exposed to humid environments. These hydrogels are useful as components in medical devices such as implantable prostheses. In addition, such hydrogels are useful as delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents and as scaffolding for tissue engineering applications.

Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing homo- and copolyesters of lactic acid by ring scission polymerization of its cyclic monomers in the presence of an initiator. Polymerization is carried out in the molten phase in the presence of an initiator system containing a compound of tin and at least one additional initiator chosen from the compounds of metal of the fourth subgroup.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing an aromatic liquid crystalline polyester comprising the steps of: charging 80 20 mol % of a compound represented by the following formula (I) and 20 to 80 mol % of a compound represented by the following formula (II) into a reaction vessel; conducting polycondensation reaction at a temperature from 270 to 350° C. to produce a aromatic liquid crystalline polyester; discharging the aromatic liquid crystalline polyester in a molten state from the reaction vessel and solidifying; then, pulverizing the solidified polyester into particles; and heat-treating at a temperature from 200 to 310° C., The aromatic liquid crystalline polyester has improved low temperature molding processability, and the film thereof has sufficient heat-resistance and excellent gas barrier properties.

Abstract: A production process of high molecular weight polysuccinimide having a weight average molecular weight of 40,000 or higher is disclosed, which comprises the following steps: 1) mixing and heating aspartic acid and an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, low molecular weight polymer mixture, 2) separating the acidic catalyst to appropriate extent from the liquid, low molecular weight polymer mixture, thereby directly changing a polymer-containing phase from a liquid phase into a solid phase to produce a solid, low molecular weight polymer mixture, and 3) conducting solid-state polymerization on the thus-obtained solid, low molecular weight polymer mixture. This process can be practiced in a simple apparatus, and is free of problems such as formation of a highly viscous phase, excessive formation of foam, and formation of a reaction mixture into coherent mass.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate having a monomer unit composition represented by General Formula (1): AmB(1−m)  (1)  wherein A is represented by General Formula (2), B is at least one selected from the group consisting of monomer units represented by General Formula (3) or (4), and m has a value of 0.

Abstract: A film of the present invention includes, as its main component, an aliphatic polyester whose primary repeating unit is represented by a general formula —O—CHR—CO— (where R denotes H or an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1-3). A three-dimensional surface roughness SRa of at least one side of the film is about 0.01 &mgr;m to about 0.1 &mgr;m. PCC value denoting the number of projections on the film per a unit of area along a mean roughness plane and the three-dimensional surface roughness SRa satisfy the following relationship: PCC value≦7000-45000×SRa.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the molecular weight of a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing at least one of a unit: —[OCH((CH2)mR1)CH2C(O)]— (m=1-8; R1 is a residue having a ring structure of any of phenyl and thienyl structure), and a unit: —[OCH((CH2)kC6H1)R2)CH2C(O)]— (k=0-8; R2 denotes a substituent on the cyclohexyl group including H, CN, NO2, halogen atom, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5 or C3F7), wherein a microorganism is cultivated in the presence of a hydroxyl group-containing compound, which is capable of producing the polyhydroxyalkanoate from R3(CH2)qCH2CH2COOH (q=1-8; R3 contains a residue having a ring structure of phenyl or thienyl) or R4C6H10(CH2)rCH2CH2COOH (r=0-8; R4 denotes a substituent on the cyclohexyl group including H, CN, NO2, halogen, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5, or C3F7).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide melt-extrusion conditions and drawing process which enable to carry out stable and smooth fiber spinning of polyester produced by microorganisms, particularly P(3HB-CO-3HH) which conventionally had problems in spinning stability, as well as P(3HB) and P(3HB-CO-3HV). Another object of the present invention is to obtain filament having particular properties according to the process. The process comprises extruding a thermoplastic polymer from a melt-extruder, then rapidly cooling the same to at most the glass transition point of the polymer immediately after the extrusion to prevent the filament from blocking, and carrying out partial crystallization of the same rapidly at not less than the glass transition point.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for obtaining oxacarbonyl polymers comprising steps which consist in: providing at least monomers comprising at least a cyclic oxacarbonyl function, an initiator, and in polymerising or copolymerising said monomers, in bulk or in solution, the initiator being selected among bicyclic guanidine compounds of formula (I) or (II) wherein one and/or the other of the cycles can be substituted, in at least any one of positions 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10 of formula (I) or in at least any one of positions 2, 3, 7 and 8 of formula (II), by at least a radical selected among the alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, the cycloalkyl groups with 5 to 7 carbon atoms, polystyrene hydrocarbon chains.

Abstract: The invention provides fragrance-emitting shaped articles such as slide fasteners which retain the various characteristics inherent to polyacetal resins. Shaped articles such as the row of engaging teeth, top end stop and bottom end stop or separable end stop assembly for a slide fastener are manufactured from a resin composition comprising a polyacetal resin and a fragrance material having an aldehyde group-free chemical structure and a boiling point which is at least as high as the polyacetal resin processing temperature.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) having a desired configuration is produced using a raw material containing &ohgr;-(4-vinylphenyl)-alkanoic acid and (&ohgr;-substituted alkanoic acid in which a group having a ring structure selected from phenyl, thienyl, and cyclohexyl structures substitutes therefor on the end thereof by producing a PHA copolymer containing the corresponding 3-hydroxy-&ohgr;-(4-vinylphenyl)-alkanoate unit and the corresponding 3-hydroxy-&ohgr;-substituted alkanoate unit by making use of a microorganism capable of producing the PHA or by oxidizing a predetermined portion of the corresponding PHA.

Abstract: PHA pellet compositions are provided which are processible into blown and cast free-standing films. The Mw of the PHA in the pellets used to produce the films is at least 470,000, at least 435,000 if PHA thermal stabilizers of the invention are used. In order to achieve a stable, unsupported film having desirable elongational and tensile properties, the Mw of PHA in the film is greater than about 420,000.

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: Syndiotactic poly(lactic acid) is formed by polymerization involving a cleavage of the same oxygen-acyl bond in a series of meso-lactide molecules to form polymer containing a series of units with stereocenters wherein adjacent stereocenters are of the opposite stereochemistry. The mechanism is catalyzed by chiral metal alkoxides that afford stereocontrol such as those formed by reacting or the opposite enantiomer with Al(OR)3 where R is straight chain or branched alkyl containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, e.g., methyl or isopropyl, in solvent, with subsequent evaporation of solvent in vacuo.

Abstract: An antistatic molded resin article based on polyesteramide has a low resistivity even when a substantive amount of electrically conductive additive is not used. The molded article is prepared by copolymerizing (a) a cyclic amide and (b1) cyclic ester or a mixture of cyclic ester (b1) and at least one linear ester (b2) selected from polyesterpolyol, polyesteretherpolyol or polycabonatepolyol. The surface resistivity is less than 1013&OHgr;.

Abstract: Hydrogels of polymerized and crosslinked macromers comprising hydrophilic oligomers having biodegradable monomeric or oligomeric extensions, which biodegradable extensions are terminated on free ends with end cap monomers or oligomers capable of polymerization and cross linking are described. The hydrophilic core itself may be degradable, thus combining the core and extension functions. Macromers are polymerized using free radical initiators under the influence of long wavelength ultraviolet light, visible light excitation or thermal energy. Biodegradation occurs at the linkages within the extension oligomers and results in fragments which are non-toxic and easily removed from the body. Preferred applications for the hydrogels include prevention of adhesion formation after surgical procedures, controlled release of drugs and other bioactive species, temporary protection or separation of tissue surfaces, adhering of sealing tissues together, and preventing the attachment of cells to tissue surfaces.

Abstract: The invention describes polyesters containing (meth)acrylate end groups, of the general formula (I) CH2═CRCOO—PE—OCOCR═CH2 where R=CH3 or H, where PE=[—A—OCO—B—COO—]m—A—, [—CHR′—COO—]n—A—[—OCOCHR′—]n, or combinations thereof, in which A is an alkylidene radical having 2-20 carbon atoms or an alkoxylidene radical having 2-1000, preferably 2-500, alkoxylidene units, B is a saturated alkylidene radical having 2-10 carbon atoms, R′ is H or CH3, m is 1-100, n is 1-100, and, if both m and n are present, the sum m+n is 2-200, where the polyesters containing (meth)acrylate end groups are characterized in that a) the content of short-chain di(meth)acrylates (II) CH2═CRCOO—A—OCOCR═CH2 is <5% by weight, b) the content of hydroxyl groups is <0.25 mol/mol of (meth)acrylate, and c) the APHA color number is <200.

Abstract: A film of the present invention includes, as its main component, an aliphatic polyester whose primary repeating unit is represented by a general formula —O—CHR—CO— (where R denotes H or an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1-3). A three-dimensional surface roughness SRa of at least one side of the film is about 0.01 &mgr;m to about 0.1 &mgr;m. PCC value denoting the number of projections on the film per a unit of area along a mean roughness plane and the three-dimensional surface roughness SRa satisfy the following relationship: PCC value≦7000-45000×SRa.

Abstract: A film of the present invention includes, as its main component, an aliphatic polyester whose primary repeating unit is represented by a general formula —O—CHR—CO— (where R denotes H or an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1-3). A three-dimensional surface roughness SRa of at least one side of the film is about 0.01 &mgr;m to about 0.1 &mgr;m. PCC value denoting the number of projections on the film per a unit of area along a mean roughness plane and the three-dimensional surface roughness SRa satisfy the following relationship: PCC value≦7000-45000×SRa.

Abstract: Precursor polyhydric alcohol esters where acyl moieties originate from aliphatic homopolymer or copolymer polyesters and contain free hydroxyl at their terminal ends, are reacted to provide 2-carboxy ethenyl groups. The resulting products can be used in formation of hydrogels for drug delivery or can be reacted to attach aminoxyl radical or drug molecule residue or other biologically active agent for delivery of these, for example, from vascular stents.

Abstract: Bioerodible polyorthoesters useful as orthopedic implants or vehicles for the sustained delivery of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and agricultural agents contain hydrogen bonding groups and &agr;-hydroxy acid-containing groups.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate having a monomer unit composition represented by General Formula (1): AmB(1−m)  (1) wherein A is represented by General Formula (2), B is at least one selected from the group consisting of monomer units represented by General Formula (3) or (4), and m has a value of 0.