Disclosed is a dianhydride having Formula I, and diamines having Formula IV and Formula VII

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In the formulas: Y is alkyl, silyl, ester, siloxane, oligosiloxane, polysiloxane, O, S, SO.sub.2, BR.sup.3, NR.sup.3, P(O)R.sup.3, unsubstituted or substituted carbocyclic aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl and deuterated analogs thereof; Ar.sup.2-Ar.sup.4 are the same or different and are carbocyclic aryl, heteroaryl, or substituted derivatives thereof; Q.sup.1 is a single bond, alkyl, silyl, ester, siloxane, oligosiloxane, polysiloxane, O, S, SO.sub.2, BR.sup.3, NR.sup.3, P(O)R.sup.3, unsubstituted or substituted carbocyclic aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl and deuterated analogs thereof; R.sup.1-R.sup.2 are the same or different at each occurrence and are F, CN, deuterium, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted carbocyclic aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, fluoroalkoxy, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxy, silyl, siloxy and deuterated analogs thereof; R.sup.3 is alkyl or unsubstituted or substituted carbocyclic aryl; a and b are the same or different and are an integer from 0-5; and c is 0 or 1.

A functional polymer including at least two different types of side chains, having the general formula (1),

##STR00001##

wherein A is an at least monosubstituted alkylene or arylene group; B is an amide, ester or ether group and n is 0 or 1; F is selected from: an ester, secondary amine, amide, ether, thio ether, thio ester, and may be the same or different for the different side chains; D is a side chain intended to reversible bind to a substrate or has a coating function; E is a side chain intended to irreversible bind to a substrate, the side chain E and polymer includes 1 to 10 different side chains D and 1 to 10 different side chains E, but at least one of each, and includes a plurality of each type, whereby the different types of side chains are randomly or regularly distributed in the polymer.

A functional polymer including at least two different types of side chains, having the general formula (1),

##STR00001##

wherein A is an at least monosubstituted alkylene or arylene group; B is an amide, ester or ether group and n is 0 or 1; F is selected from: an ester, secondary amine, amide, ether, thio ether, thio ester, and may be the same or different for the different side chains; D is a side chain intended to reversible bind to a substrate or has a coating function; E is a side chain intended to irreversible bind to a substrate, the side chain E and polymer includes 1 to 10 different side chains D and 1 to 10 different side chains E, but at least one of each, and includes a plurality of each type, whereby the different types of side chains are randomly or regularly distributed in the polymer.

A process and reactive prepolymer composition for producing a part made of a thermoplastic composite material by molding in a closed mold, where the material includes reinforcing fibers and a polyamide thermoplastic matrix impregnating the fibers having the steps of preparing the reactive prepolymer precursor, injecting the reactive prepolymer precursor in the molten state into the closed mold containing the fibers, thereby impregnating the fibers with the reactive precursor mixture, bulk polymerizing the reactive prepolymer precursor in situ, and demolding the molded part produced.

A process and reactive prepolymer composition for producing a part made of a thermoplastic composite material by molding in a closed mold, where the material includes reinforcing fibers and a polyamide thermoplastic matrix impregnating the fibers having the steps of preparing the reactive prepolymer precursor, injecting the reactive prepolymer precursor in the molten state into the closed mold containing the fibers, thereby impregnating the fibers with the reactive precursor mixture, bulk polymerizing the reactive prepolymer precursor in situ, and demolding the molded part produced.

A bending actuator and methods for making and using the same. A beam of anisotropic polymer material, such as nylon, characterized by a greater degree of molecular orientation along a longitudinal axis than transverse to the longitudinal axis, has a heating element in thermal contact with at least one of a pair of opposing faces parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam. The heating element in certain embodiments provides for photothermal activation of the bending actuator.

A bending actuator and methods for making and using the same. A beam of anisotropic polymer material, such as nylon, characterized by a greater degree of molecular orientation along a longitudinal axis than transverse to the longitudinal axis, has a heating element in thermal contact with at least one of a pair of opposing faces parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam. The heating element in certain embodiments provides for photothermal activation of the bending actuator.

The disclosure discloses an amphiphilic polymer nano micelle containing poly-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine chelated ferric ions, in which ferric ions are chelated with a catechol structure on a side chain of a biodegradable poly-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine block. The disclosure also provides a method for preparing the above micelle, comprising: complexing an amphiphilic polymer containing poly-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine with a ferric ion compound, and obtaining the amphiphilic polymer nano micelle containing poly-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine chelated ferric ions through a solvent replacement method. The micelle prepared by the disclosure is used as a Fe.sup.3+ magnetic resonance Ti imaging contrast agent, which can avoid toxic or side effects caused by a traditional gadolinium reagent, has a longitudinal relaxation rate of 5.6 mM.sup.1.Math.s.sup.1, can cycle for 150 min in a mice body, and has an obvious imaging effect and a far higher comprehensive performance than that of a commercial gadolinium contrast agent, and as well as a promising application prospect.

This invention relates to polymerization of muconic acid and its derivatives. Muconic acid useful for the invention can be in any of its isomeric forms including cis, cis-muconic acid (ccMA), cis, trans-muconic acid (ctMA), and trans, trans-muconic acid (ttMA). Muconic acid used in the invention can be derived either from renewable carbon resources through biological fermentation or from non-renewable petrochemical resources through biological fermentation or chemical conversion.

This invention relates to polymerization of muconic acid and its derivatives. Muconic acid useful for the invention can be in any of its isomeric forms including cis, cis-muconic acid (ccMA), cis, trans-muconic acid (ctMA), and trans, trans-muconic acid (ttMA). Muconic acid used in the invention can be derived either from renewable carbon resources through biological fermentation or from non-renewable petrochemical resources through biological fermentation or chemical conversion.