A polyolefin-polybutadiene block-copolymer and a tire tread composition comprising the polyolefin-polybutadiene block-copolymer, the composition comprising, by weight of the composition, within the range from 15 to 60 wt % of a styrenic copolymer, processing oil, filler, a curative agent, and from 4 to 20 wt % of a polyolefin-polybutadiene block-copolymer, wherein the polyolefin-polybutadiene block-copolymer is a block copolymer having the general formula PO-XL-fPB; where PO is a polyolefin block having a weight average molecular weight within the range from 1000 to 150,000 g/mole, the fPB is a functionalized polar polybutadiene block having a weight average molecular weight within the range from 500 to 30,000 g/mole, and XL is a cross-linking moiety that covalently links the PO and fPB blocks; and wherein the maximum Energy Loss (Tangent Delta) of the immiscible polyolefin domain is a temperature within the range from 30 C. to 10 C.

A directed self-assembling composition for pattern formation includes a block copolymer. The block copolymer includes a polystyrene block having a styrene unit, and a polyalkyl (meth)acrylate block having an alkyl (meth)acrylate unit. The block copolymer has a group that is bound to at least one end of a main chain of the block copolymer and that includes a hetero atom.

Compounds are attached to carbon nanotubes (CNT) by a process which comprises: subjecting surface treated CNTs which have been treated to induce negatively charged surface groups thereon, to nucleophilic substitution reaction with a compound carrying a functional group capable of reacting with the negatively charged groups on the CNT surface, whereby the compound chemically bonds to the CNT. The surface CNT treatment may be reduction. The compounds which are bonded to the CNT may be epoxy resins, bonded directly or through a spacer group. Bi-functional CNTs, grafted to both epoxy resins and other polymers such as polystyrene, are also made by this process.

Compounds are attached to carbon nanotubes (CNT) by a process which comprises: subjecting surface treated CNTs which have been treated to induce negatively charged surface groups thereon, to nucleophilic substitution reaction with a compound carrying a functional group capable of reacting with the negatively charged groups on the CNT surface, whereby the compound chemically bonds to the CNT. The surface CNT treatment may be reduction. The compounds which are bonded to the CNT may be epoxy resins, bonded directly or through a spacer group. Bi-functional CNTs, grafted to both epoxy resins and other polymers such as polystyrene, are also made by this process.

Provided are a metal nanoparticle composite which exhibits excellent stability over time and retention stability and is useful as a raw material for a metal nanoparticle-dispersed film, a method for producing the composite, a metal nanoparticle dispersion liquid, a composition for forming a metal nanoparticle-dispersed film, and a metal nanoparticle-dispersed film. Disclosed is a metal nanoparticle composite comprising (A) a star-shaped polymer having a central core and arms bonded to the central core, the arms comprising a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1) and a repeating unit represented by the following formula (2); and (B) metal nanoparticles supported thereon: wherein in the formula (1), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and in the formula (2), R.sup.2 represents a methyl group or an ethyl group; and k represents an integer from 1 to 10. ##STR00001##

Provided are a metal nanoparticle composite which exhibits excellent stability over time and retention stability and is useful as a raw material for a metal nanoparticle-dispersed film, a method for producing the composite, a metal nanoparticle dispersion liquid, a composition for forming a metal nanoparticle-dispersed film, and a metal nanoparticle-dispersed film. Disclosed is a metal nanoparticle composite comprising (A) a star-shaped polymer having a central core and arms bonded to the central core, the arms comprising a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1) and a repeating unit represented by the following formula (2); and (B) metal nanoparticles supported thereon: wherein in the formula (1), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and in the formula (2), R.sup.2 represents a methyl group or an ethyl group; and k represents an integer from 1 to 10. ##STR00001##

The present application provides the block copolymers and their application. The block copolymer has an excellent self assembling property and phase separation and various required functions can be freely applied thereto as necessary.

Provided is a resin which is excellent in terms of solubility in common solvents, crosslinking temperature, time required for crosslinking, solvent resistance (cracking resistance), breakdown voltage, leakage current, solvent wettability, and planarity in cases where the resin is formed into a thin film. A resin which comprises repeating units represented by formula (1) and formula (2), and wherein the repeating unit represented by formula (2) is contained in an amount of 20% by mole or more relative to the total amount of the repeating units represented by formula (1) and formula (2). ##STR00001##

Provided is a resin which is excellent in terms of solubility in common solvents, crosslinking temperature, time required for crosslinking, solvent resistance (cracking resistance), breakdown voltage, leakage current, solvent wettability, and planarity in cases where the resin is formed into a thin film. A resin which comprises repeating units represented by formula (1) and formula (2), and wherein the repeating unit represented by formula (2) is contained in an amount of 20% by mole or more relative to the total amount of the repeating units represented by formula (1) and formula (2). ##STR00001##

Disclosed herein are acrylic emulsion compositions with an inherent matte property and methods of synthesizing and using the emulsion compositions.