The invention provides amphiphilic biocompatible copolymers which have a hydrophilic backbone and pendant hydrophobic groups. The polymers form nanoscale molecular aggregates in aqueous environments, which have hydrophobic interiors within which anticancer drugs may be solubilized. The polymers optionally feature attached antibodies, receptor ligands, and other targeting moieties which mediate adherence of the drug-carrying aggregates to targeted cancer cells.

A method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced composite by means of a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding, comprising the steps of placing a fiber material in a mold, placing a flow distribution medium onto the fiber material, and covering the fiber material (1) and the flow distribution medium with a vacuum foil for forming a closed mold cavity between the mold and the vacuum foil is described. It is characterized in using a flow distribution medium with a thickness depending on a pressure gradient over the vacuum foil.

A method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced composite by means of a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding, comprising the steps of placing a fiber material in a mold, placing a flow distribution medium onto the fiber material, and covering the fiber material (1) and the flow distribution medium with a vacuum foil for forming a closed mold cavity between the mold and the vacuum foil is described. It is characterized in using a flow distribution medium with a thickness depending on a pressure gradient over the vacuum foil.

At least a selected microporous membrane is made by a dry-stretch process and has substantially round shaped pores and a ratio of machine direction tensile strength to transverse direction tensile strength in the range of 0.5 to 6.0. The method of making the foregoing microporous membrane may include the steps of: extruding a polymer into a nonporous precursor, and biaxially stretching the nonporous precursor, the biaxial stretching including a machine direction stretching and a transverse direction stretching, the transverse direction including a simultaneous controlled machine direction relax. At least selected embodiments of the invention may be directed to biaxially oriented porous membranes, composites including biaxially oriented porous membranes, biaxially oriented microporous membranes, biaxially oriented macroporous membranes, battery separators, filtration media, humidity control media, flat sheet membranes, liquid retention media, and the like, related methods, methods of manufacture, methods of use, and the like.

Stimuli-switchable moieties, monomers incorporating stimuli-switchable moieties, and polymers incorporating such stimuli-switchable moieties are provided. The stimuli-switchable moiety can be a pyrano aryl chromenone-derivative. The stimuli-switchable monomer can be a lactone monomer. The stimuli-switchable monomer can be an amino acid, which can be incorporated into a specific peptide sequence by peptide synthesis.

Stimuli-switchable moieties, monomers incorporating stimuli-switchable moieties, and polymers incorporating such stimuli-switchable moieties are provided. The stimuli-switchable moiety can be a pyrano aryl chromenone-derivative. The stimuli-switchable monomer can be a lactone monomer. The stimuli-switchable monomer can be an amino acid, which can be incorporated into a specific peptide sequence by peptide synthesis.

This invention relates to polymers made from low molecular weight polyamide oligomers and telechelic polyamides (including copolymers) containing N-alkylated amide groups in the backbone structure. The described telechelic polyamides are used as the soft segment in the described TPU. These telechelic polyamides are unique in that they have an unexpectedly low glass-transition (desirably 30 degrees C. or lower) which makes them suitable for further reaction and polymerization, allowing for the formation of the described TPU. The resulting TPU can provide improved hydrolytic, oxidative and/or thermal stability as well as improved adhesion to other materials, especially polar materials.

The present invention relates to a polyimide precursor comprising a repeating unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein A is a tetravalent group having at least one aliphatic six membered ring and no aromatic ring in the chemical structure, and B is a divalent group having at least one amide bond and an aromatic ring in the chemical structure; or A is an aliphatic tetravalent group and B is a divalent group having at least one chemical structure represented by the following chemical formula (2) in the chemical structure: ##STR00002##
and X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are each independently hydrogen, a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or a C.sub.3-9 alkylsilyl group.

The present invention relates to a polyimide precursor comprising a repeating unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein A is a tetravalent group having at least one aliphatic six membered ring and no aromatic ring in the chemical structure, and B is a divalent group having at least one amide bond and an aromatic ring in the chemical structure; or A is an aliphatic tetravalent group and B is a divalent group having at least one chemical structure represented by the following chemical formula (2) in the chemical structure: ##STR00002##
and X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are each independently hydrogen, a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or a C.sub.3-9 alkylsilyl group.

A heat insulation material is provided that is produced by drying a fibrous matrix impregnated with a solution of pseudo-peptides of formula (I), wherein: R is a side-chain of a natural or synthetic amino acid , R1 is either a linear or branched (C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl group, or a linear or branched (C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alcoxy group, or an aryl group, or an aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl group, or an aryloxy group, or a saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, n=1 or 2, and A is an aromatic or heteroaromatic group with at least one cycle.