A modified diene elastomer having a good flow resistance, and imparting to a rubber composition containing the same a good compromise of hysteresis and abrasion properties and a satisfactory processing with a view to a tire application is provided. This modified elastomer comprises: a) at least 70% by weight of a linear diene elastomer predominantly functionalized in the middle of the chain by an alkoxysilane group, optionally partly or completely hydrolyzed to silanol, the alkoxysilane group optionally bearing another function capable of interacting with a reinforcing filler, the silicon atom of the alkoxysilane group lying in the main chain of the diene elastomer; b) more than 0 and up to 30% by weight of a star-branched diene elastomer, the Mooney viscosity of said modified diene elastomer varying from 50 to 80 and the glass transition temperature (Tg) thereof varying from 100 C. to 80 C.

A method for fabricating a polymeric material for use in an energy storage apparatus, a polymeric material, and an energy storage apparatus including the polymeric material, where the polymeric material includes a polymer arranged to combine with a plurality of chemical ions so as to form an ion-conducting material, wherein the ion-conducting material is in solid-state.

Method for producing surface-modified biofibers includes: obtaining a hydrophilic block (A) made of a first polymer and arranged on surfaces of biofibers by conducting a living radical polymerization of a first monomer in a solution containing the biofibers, the first monomer, and a solvent, and allowing the first polymer to be attached to the surfaces of the biofibers; and obtaining a hydrophobic block (B) made of a second polymer and stacked outside of the hydrophilic block (A) by adding a second monomer to the solution after obtaining the hydrophilic block, conducting a living radical polymerization of the second monomer, and polymerizing the second polymer onto growing ends of the first polymer. The biofibers, polymers, and solvent have surface free energies satisfying:

E.sub.BF>E.sub.A>E.sub.B>E.sub.S(1)

[E.sub.BF represents the surface free energy of the biofibers, E.sub.A that of the first polymer, E.sub.B that of the second polymer, and E.sub.S that of the solvent].

Provided is a block copolymer with an acid group that, when used as a dispersant, can provide a dispersion composition having excellent dispersion stability, a dispersant containing the block copolymer, and a pigment dispersion composition using the dispersant. The block copolymer is an ABA block copolymer including an A block and a B block and has the feature that its acid value is 30 to 250 mgKOH/g and the B block contains a structural unit derived from a vinyl monomer with an acid group.

Provided is an ABA block copolymer that can offer a pigment dispersion composition having excellent dispersion stability when used as a pigment dispersant in an aqueous medium. An ABA block copolymer including: an A block containing a structural unit represented by a general formula (1) below and a structural unit derived from a vinyl monomer with an acid group; and a B block containing a structural unit derived from a vinyl monomer with an aromatic ring group or an alicyclic alkyl group, the ABA block copolymer having an acid value of 30 to 250 mgKOH/g.

##STR00001##

In the general formula (1), R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms.

The wet adhesion of a coating composition may be improved through the use of voided latex particles as opacifying agents which contain a hollow interior as well as an outer shell of a polymer containing functional groups such as amino, 1,3-diketo, urea or ureido. Other types of functional groups may be introduced to the outer shell polymer in order to vary other desired characteristics of the coating. The voided latex particles are non-film-forming.

The present invention provides: a novel production technique that enables production of a polymer whose molecular weight and molecular weight distribution are controlled and production of a polymer having a complicated structure in a desirably controlled manner using commercially available materials without using a radical polymerization initiator or a special material for use in living radical polymerization and without the need for strict polymerization conditions; and a radical polymerization initiating group-containing compound for use in the technique. The present invention relates to: a method for producing a polymer, the method including a polymerization step of mixing and warming (1) a radically polymerizable monomer, (2) an organic compound wherein at least one group that functions as a group for initiating polymerization of the monomer and that has a structure represented by formula 1 or formula 2 (X in the formula represents Cl or Br) is introduced in a molecule of the organic compound, and (3) an iodine-containing compound, thereby initiating, from the group having the structure, radical polymerization accompanied by a termination reaction; and the organic compound of (2) for use in the method.

##STR00001##

An inkjet aqueous pigment dispersion which achieves high pigment concentration, exhibits favorable redispersion properties after drying, and does not exhibit changes in ink properties even when stored for a long time; and an ink composition using the aqueous pigment dispersion. The inkjet aqueous pigment dispersion contains a pigment, a liquid medium, and a polymer dispersion agent which is an A-B block polymer obtained by copolymerization using a mixture of an organic tellurium compound represented by formula (1) and an organic ditellurium compound represented by formula (2) as a polymerization initiator. The monomer for configuring the A block is at least one type of monomer represented by formula (3), and the monomer for configuring the B block is benzyl methacrylate and/or benzyl acrylate. ##STR00001##

The present invention pertains to an aqueous dispersion of a vinylidene fluoride polymer having a high molecular weight and possessing a substantially linear structure, leading to reduced amount of gels/insoluble fractions, to a method for its preparation and to its use for the manufacture of electrochemical cell components, such as electrodes and/or composite separators or for the manufacture of membranes.

The present invention pertains to an aqueous dispersion of a vinylidene fluoride polymer having a high molecular weight and possessing a substantially linear structure, leading to reduced amount of gels/insoluble fractions, to a method for its preparation and to its use for the manufacture of electrochemical cell components, such as electrodes and/or composite separators or for the manufacture of membranes.