Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

A hydrogenated petroleum resin, and a manufacturing method and use thereof, are provided. More specifically, a hydrogenated petroleum resin manufactured by subjecting dicyclopentadiene and an olefinic monomer to thermal polymerization and then carrying out a hydrogenation reaction, and a manufacturing method and use therefor are provided. The hydrogenated petroleum resin has the advantage of being useful in practical applications, since the petroleum resin is manufactured via thermal polymerization using inexpensive raw materials and on the contrary to conventional catalytic polymerization, a catalyst elimination process can be excluded. The hydrogenated petroleum resin produced in this way can be applied to, for example, an adhesive agent used in environmentally friendly sanitary goods, because the petroleum resin has excellent compatibility, adhesiveness and heat resistance, and has no bad odor.

A hydrogenated petroleum resin, and a manufacturing method and use thereof, are provided. More specifically, a hydrogenated petroleum resin manufactured by subjecting dicyclopentadiene and an olefinic monomer to thermal polymerization and then carrying out a hydrogenation reaction, and a manufacturing method and use therefor are provided. The hydrogenated petroleum resin has the advantage of being useful in practical applications, since the petroleum resin is manufactured via thermal polymerization using inexpensive raw materials and on the contrary to conventional catalytic polymerization, a catalyst elimination process can be excluded. The hydrogenated petroleum resin produced in this way can be applied to, for example, an adhesive agent used in environmentally friendly sanitary goods, because the petroleum resin has excellent compatibility, adhesiveness and heat resistance, and has no bad odor.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass compositions comprising a organopalladium compound, a photoacid generator, a photosensitizer, one or more olefinic monomers and a stabilizer, such as for example a hindered amine, which undergo vinyl addition polymerization when said composition is exposed to a suitable actinic radiation to form a substantially transparent film. The compositions of this invention are stable at room temperature for several days to several months and can also be stored at higher temperatures from about 40° C. to 60° C. for several days and undergo mass polymerization only when subjected to suitable actinic radiation. The monomers employed therein have a range of optical and mechanical properties, and thus these compositions can be tailored to form films having various opto-electronic properties. Accordingly, compositions of this invention are useful in various applications, including as coatings, encapsulants, fillers, leveling agents, sealants, adhesives, among others.

A series of palladium compounds as described herein are found to be superior vinyl addition polymerization catalysts. Specifically the compounds of formulae (I) and (II) as described herein surprisingly exhibit much higher reactivity than the compounds known in the art in the vinyl addition polymerization of a variety of cyclo-olefinic monomers, and thus polymers of very high molecular weight can be formed. Also disclosed are the formation of a variety of solid three dimensional objects, such as for example, solution extrusion of the polymer solutions formed from the vinyl addition polymerization of a variety of cyclic-olefinic monomers utilizing very low levels of palladium compounds of formulae (I) or (II) as described herein. The polymer films formed from the polymerization composition exhibit hitherto unattainable properties, for example superior transparent properties, higher thermal and mechanical properties, among other improved properties. Accordingly, the films thus formed are useful in a variety of opto-electronic applications.

A series of palladium compounds as described herein are found to be superior vinyl addition polymerization catalysts. Specifically the compounds of formulae (I) and (II) as described herein surprisingly exhibit much higher reactivity than the compounds known in the art in the vinyl addition polymerization of a variety of cyclo-olefinic monomers, and thus polymers of very high molecular weight can be formed. Also disclosed are the formation of a variety of solid three dimensional objects, such as for example, solution extrusion of the polymer solutions formed from the vinyl addition polymerization of a variety of cyclic-olefinic monomers utilizing very low levels of palladium compounds of formulae (I) or (II) as described herein. The polymer films formed from the polymerization composition exhibit hitherto unattainable properties, for example superior transparent properties, higher thermal and mechanical properties, among other improved properties. Accordingly, the films thus formed are useful in a variety of opto-electronic applications.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that, with photo-alignment films, can maintain a favorable voltage holding ratio for a long period of time and prevent generation of image sticking and stains on the display screen. The liquid crystal display device includes: an active-matrix liquid crystal panel; and a backlight, the liquid crystal panel including a liquid crystal layer, paired substrates holding the liquid crystal layer in between, and alignment films disposed on the liquid crystal layer side surfaces of the respective substrates, the alignment films each being a photo-alignment film formed from a material exhibiting photo-alignment performance, the liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal material and a radical scavenger.