Polymer foam bodies are made from phosphorus-containing thermoplastic random copolymers of a dialkyl (meth)acryloyloxyalkyl phosph(on)ate. Foam bodies made from these copolymers exhibit increased limiting oxygen indices and surprisingly have good properties. In certain embodiments, the phosphorus-containing thermoplastic copolymer is blended with one or more other polymers and formed into nanofoams.

The present disclosure relates to thermoplastic polymeric microspheres comprising a thermoplastic polymer shell surrounding a hollow core, in which the thermoplastic polymer shell comprises a copolymer of a monomer of Formula 1:

##STR00001##

wherein: each of A.sup.1 to A.sup.11 are independently selected from H and C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl, in which each C.sub.1-4 alkyl group can optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, hydroxy and C.sub.1-4 alkoxy; A.sup.12 is selected from C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl, in which the C.sub.1-4 alkyl group can optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, hydroxy and C.sub.1-4 alkoxy X is a linking group selected from —O—, —NR″—, —S—, —OC(O)—, —NR″C(O)—, —SC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —C(O)NR″—, and —C(O)S—; and
R″ is H or C.sub.1-2 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen and hydroxyl.

Methods and compositions for improving performance of flocculants in an industrial production process. Methods include pH triggered cross-linking reaction between a flocculating agent, such as dextran, and a composition comprising a boronic acid-containing polymer. The pH trigger can be provided by a fluid having a pH of 8 or more. The production process can be a Bayer Process and the fluid is caustic liquor or slurry in the fluid circuit of the Bayer, wherein the reaction time is reduced over conventional methods and the cross-linked dextran composition effectuates improved flocculation of the trihydrate particles.

A polymerizable boronic acid salt has the general structure (I): A+.X (I) in which: A represents a quaternised ammonium boronic acid cation; and X represents an anion, wherein either A or X contains a free-radical polymerizable group. Diol-sensing hydrogels comprising a crosslinked polymeric matrix formed from the polymerizable boronic acid salt monomer are also described.

A pattern article comprising a copolymer having polymerized units derived from a cleavable crosslinking monomer, to which a pattern is imparted by the release of incipient acid from a thermal acid generator or photoacid generator. The selective release of the acid provides a pattern of high crosslink density and low crosslink density as result of the incipient acid cleaving a portion of the crosslinks.

Methods and compositions for improving performance of flocculants in an industrial production process. Methods include pH triggered cross-linking reaction between a flocculating agent, such as dextran, and a composition comprising a boronic acid-containing polymer. The pH trigger can be provided by a fluid having a pH of 8 or more. The production process can be a Bayer Process and the fluid is caustic liquor or slurry in the fluid circuit of the Bayer, wherein the reaction time is reduced over conventional methods and the cross-linked dextran composition effectuates improved flocculation of the trihydrate particles.

A minimally invasive glucose-responsive colloidal crystal microneedle (GCC-MN) patch is disclosed for naked-eye glucose monitoring. The (GCC-MN) patch is designed with a resin or polymeric core to mechanically support a shell of glucose-responsive colloidal crystal material for glucose sensing and reporting of glucose concentrations or concentration changes. The GCC-MN patch could translate the glucose concentrations into naked-eye distinguishable color changes within about 5 min, and such glucose responsiveness is reversible. Demonstrated in a type 1 diabetic mouse model, the interstitial fluid extraction, glucose sensing, and resulting glucose-relevant color display procedures are simultaneously achieved with this GCC-MN patch.

Methods and compositions for improving performance of flocculants in an industrial production process. Methods include pH triggered cross-linking reaction between a flocculating agent, such as dextran, and a composition comprising a boronic acid-containing polymer. The pH trigger can be provided by a fluid having a pH of 8 or more. The production process can be a Bayer Process and the fluid is caustic liquor or slurry in the fluid circuit of the Bayer, wherein the reaction time is reduced over conventional methods and the cross-linked dextran composition effectuates improved flocculation of the trihydrate particles.

The invention provides a composition having the formula (I): xXO.sub.2.yY.sub.2O.sub.5, (wherein: 0.5<x<0.7; 0.3<y<0.5; X comprises one or more of silicon, titanium, germanium and zirconium; and Y comprises one or more of phosphorus, vanadium arsenic and antimony), or a hydrate thereof, in which the composition comprises more than 50 wt % or more of crystalline material.

A pattern article comprising a copolymer having polymerized units derived from a cleavable crosslinking monomer, to which a pattern is imparted by the release of incipient acid from a thermal acid generator or photoacid generator. The selective release of the acid provides a pattern of high crosslink density and low crosslink density as result of the incipient acid cleaving a portion of the crosslinks.