The present invention provides: a binder for inorganic fibers, the binder being characterized by containing (B) an ammonia-modified maleic anhydride-containing copolymer at a quantity of 3 parts by mass or more relative to 100 parts by mass of (A) a cellulose ether having a viscosity at 20° C. of 500 mPa.Math.s or less when in the form of a 2 mass % aqueous solution: and an inorganic fiber mat comprising inorganic fibers treated with the binder for inorganic fibers. By using this binder for inorganic fibers, it is possible to produce an inorganic fiber mat having a high recoverability similar to that of a phenol resin, and the amount of volatile organic compounds released from the inorganic fiber mat is extremely low.

An optical polymer material includes an alternating copolymer made of a monomer of a styrene derivative and a monomer of a maleimide derivative, and has a nonlinear property in which the photoelastic coefficient of the optical polymer material decreases to a predetermined value with increase in composition ratio of the styrene derivative, and rises above the predetermined value with further increase in composition ratio of the styrene derivative. A composition ratio of the styrene derivative is within a predetermined range. An absolute value of the photoelastic coefficient is equal to or smaller than a first absolute value within the predetermined range of the composition ratio, and an absolute value of the intrinsic birefringence is equal to or smaller than a second absolute value of the optical polymer material within the predetermined range of the composition ratio.

An optical polymer material includes an alternating copolymer made of a monomer of a styrene derivative and a monomer of a maleimide derivative, and has a nonlinear property in which the photoelastic coefficient of the optical polymer material decreases to a predetermined value with increase in composition ratio of the styrene derivative, and rises above the predetermined value with further increase in composition ratio of the styrene derivative. A composition ratio of the styrene derivative is within a predetermined range. An absolute value of the photoelastic coefficient is equal to or smaller than a first absolute value within the predetermined range of the composition ratio, and an absolute value of the intrinsic birefringence is equal to or smaller than a second absolute value of the optical polymer material within the predetermined range of the composition ratio.

A resin sheet is made using a resin composition containing a thermosetting component (A). The thermosetting component (A) contains a maleimide resin. A thermal diffusion rate of the thermally cured resin sheet is 1.0 × 10.sup.-6 m.sup.2/s or more. The resin sheet has a thickness in a range from 5 .Math.m to 120 .Math.m .

A composition of: 75 to 98% by weight, relative to the weight of the composition, of at least one copolymer A containing polyamide blocks and polyether blocks; 2 to 15% by weight, relative to the weight of the composition, of at least one copolymer B including units derived from ethylene, from an alkyl (meth)acrylate and from a comonomer including at least one acid, anhydride or epoxide function; and 0 to 10% by weight, relative to the weight of the composition, of at least one additive. The polyether blocks of copolymer A include polyethylene glycol blocks. Further, a process for manufacturing a film and to said film.

A composition of: 75 to 98% by weight, relative to the weight of the composition, of at least one copolymer A containing polyamide blocks and polyether blocks; 2 to 15% by weight, relative to the weight of the composition, of at least one copolymer B including units derived from ethylene, from an alkyl (meth)acrylate and from a comonomer including at least one acid, anhydride or epoxide function; and 0 to 10% by weight, relative to the weight of the composition, of at least one additive. The polyether blocks of copolymer A include polyethylene glycol blocks. Further, a process for manufacturing a film and to said film.

A process for producing polymer-supported metal nanoparticles involves confinement of metal nanoparticles in polymeric nanotubes or nanosheets in an aqueous environment using hydrophobic reactants. Metal nanoparticles supported in the polymeric nanotubes or nanosheets are substantially monodisperse and have an average particle size of 4 nm or less. The polymer-supported metal nanoparticles are useful in fuel cells, sensors, bioanalysis, biological labeling or semi-conductors, especially as catalysts.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to nitrogen-stabilizing compositions containing nitrogen stabilizers condensed with organic acid anhydrides. The resulting condensation products exhibit numerous beneficial properties such as increased thermal stability and the ability to provide a controlled and continuous release of nitrogen stabilizer, thereby promoting increased nutrient availability to plants and crops.

A resin composition of the present invention is a resin composition containing a bismaleimide compound (A) containing a constituent unit represented by the following formula (1), and maleimide groups at both ends of the molecular chain, at least one resin or compound (B) selected from the group consisting of a maleimide compound other than the bismaleimide compound (A), a cyanate compound, a benzoxazine compound, an epoxy resin, a carbodiimide compound, and a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group, and a photo initiator (C): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sub.1 represents a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkenylene group having 2 to 16 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkenylene group having 2 to 16 carbon atoms; each R.sub.3 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkenyl group having 2 to 16 carbon atoms; and each n independently represents an integer of 1 to 10.

A resist composition including a polymer; and a compound represented by Formula 1, ##STR00001## in Formula 1, R.sub.1 is hydrogen, a halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an ester group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an acetal group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an ether group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, or a group represented by Formula R, and R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are hydrogen, a halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an ester group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an acetal group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, or an ether group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, ##STR00002##