The present invention provides: a novel production technique that enables production of a polymer whose molecular weight and molecular weight distribution are controlled and production of a polymer having a complicated structure in a desirably controlled manner using commercially available materials without using a radical polymerization initiator or a special material for use in living radical polymerization and without the need for strict polymerization conditions; and a radical polymerization initiating group-containing compound for use in the technique. The present invention relates to: a method for producing a polymer, the method including a polymerization step of mixing and warming (1) a radically polymerizable monomer, (2) an organic compound wherein at least one group that functions as a group for initiating polymerization of the monomer and that has a structure represented by formula 1 or formula 2 (X in the formula represents Cl or Br) is introduced in a molecule of the organic compound, and (3) an iodine-containing compound, thereby initiating, from the group having the structure, radical polymerization accompanied by a termination reaction; and the organic compound of (2) for use in the method. ##STR00001##

Polar silane linkers are provided that attach to resins to form silane-functionalized resins. The functionalized resins can be bound to hydroxyl groups on the surface of silica particles to improve the dispersibility of the silica particles in rubber mixtures. Further disclosed are synthetic routes to provide the silane-functionalized resins, as well as various uses and end products that benefit from the unexpected properties of the silane-functionalized resins. Silane-functionalized resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the silane-functionalized resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, and wet braking performance.

Polar silane linkers are provided that attach to resins to form silane-functionalized resins. The functionalized resins can be bound to hydroxyl groups on the surface of silica particles to improve the dispersibility of the silica particles in rubber mixtures. Further disclosed are synthetic routes to provide the silane-functionalized resins, as well as various uses and end products that benefit from the unexpected properties of the silane-functionalized resins. Silane-functionalized resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the silane-functionalized resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, and wet braking performance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal composition used for formation of an optically anisotropic film having excellent moisture-heat resistance and an excellent surface condition, an optically anisotropic film, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition of an embodiment of the present invention is a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a compound represented by Formula (1): L.sup.1-SP.sup.1-(E.sup.3-A.sup.1).sub.m-E.sup.1-G.sup.1-C(═O)—O—C(═O)-G.sup.2-E.sup.2-(A.sup.2-E.sup.4).sub.n-SP.sup.2-L.sup.2, in which a content of the compound represented by Formula (1) is 0.01 to 5 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound.

A binder composition for nonaqueous battery electrodes essentially contains (A) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and (B) a surfactant, and further satisfies any two or more conditions of the following (I) to (III): (I) (A) the ethylenically unsaturated monomer includes (a) a phosphoric acid group-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer; (II) (B) the surfactant comprises (b) a phosphoric acid group-containing surfactant; and (III) the composition including (C) a neutralizing agent containing an alkali metal compound and/or an alkali earth metal compound.

A binder composition for nonaqueous battery electrodes essentially contains (A) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and (B) a surfactant, and further satisfies any two or more conditions of the following (I) to (III): (I) (A) the ethylenically unsaturated monomer includes (a) a phosphoric acid group-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer; (II) (B) the surfactant comprises (b) a phosphoric acid group-containing surfactant; and (III) the composition including (C) a neutralizing agent containing an alkali metal compound and/or an alkali earth metal compound.

Polar silane linkers are provided that attach to resins to form silane-functionalized resins. The functionalized resins can be bound to hydroxyl groups on the surface of silica particles to improve the dispersibility of the silica particles in rubber mixtures. Further disclosed are synthetic routes to provide the silane-functionalized resins, as well as various uses and end products that benefit from the unexpected properties of the silane-functionalized resins. Silane-functionalized resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the silane-functionalized resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, and wet braking performance.

Polar silane linkers are provided that attach to resins to form silane-functionalized resins. The functionalized resins can be bound to hydroxyl groups on the surface of silica particles to improve the dispersibility of the silica particles in rubber mixtures. Further disclosed are synthetic routes to provide the silane-functionalized resins, as well as various uses and end products that benefit from the unexpected properties of the silane-functionalized resins. Silane-functionalized resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the silane-functionalized resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, and wet braking performance.

An active energy ray-curable composition is disclosed including: an anionically polymerizable compound represented by (1):

##STR00001##

wherein EWG represents an electron-withdrawing group, X represents a single bond or an oxygen atom (O), R represents an n-valent organic group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 6; when n is an integer of 2 to 6, the respective EWG and the respective X may be the same or different; and when n is 1, EWG and R may be bonded; and a compound (photobase generator) represented by (2):

##STR00002##

wherein ring A represents an aromatic ring that may be substituted or a heteroaromatic ring that may be substituted; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with an adjacent nitrogen atom; and the ring may be substituted.

An active energy ray-curable composition is disclosed including: an anionically polymerizable compound represented by (1):

##STR00001##

wherein EWG represents an electron-withdrawing group, X represents a single bond or an oxygen atom (O), R represents an n-valent organic group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 6; when n is an integer of 2 to 6, the respective EWG and the respective X may be the same or different; and when n is 1, EWG and R may be bonded; and a compound (photobase generator) represented by (2):

##STR00002##

wherein ring A represents an aromatic ring that may be substituted or a heteroaromatic ring that may be substituted; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with an adjacent nitrogen atom; and the ring may be substituted.