To provide a composite semipermeable membrane having high water permeability and separability.

Provided is a composite semipermeable membrane which is for water treatment and comprises a microporous support membrane and a polymerized liquid crystal thin film, the composite semipermeable membrane being characterized in that a polymerized liquid crystal represents a smectic structure.

Provided is a sludge dehydration agent which enables the formation of stiff and coarse flocs even when added in a relatively small amount, has excellent gravity filtration properties, enables the production of a dehydrated cake having a low water content, and also enables an efficient dehydration treatment. A sludge dehydration agent comprising a polymer having a constituent unit derived from a cationic monomer, wherein the colloid equivalent value decrease rate of the polymer, which is calculated from mathematical formula 1, is 10% or more. (In mathematical formula 1, the colloid equivalent value (I) is a colloid equivalent value at pH 4 which is measured in deionized water by a colloid titration method, and the colloid equivalent value (II) is a colloid equivalent value at pH 4 which is measured in salt water having a concentration of 0.01 mol/L by a colloid titration method.)

Provided is a sludge dehydration agent which enables the formation of stiff and coarse flocs even when added in a relatively small amount, has excellent gravity filtration properties, enables the production of a dehydrated cake having a low water content, and also enables an efficient dehydration treatment. A sludge dehydration agent comprising a polymer having a constituent unit derived from a cationic monomer, wherein the colloid equivalent value decrease rate of the polymer, which is calculated from mathematical formula 1, is 10% or more. (In mathematical formula 1, the colloid equivalent value (I) is a colloid equivalent value at pH 4 which is measured in deionized water by a colloid titration method, and the colloid equivalent value (II) is a colloid equivalent value at pH 4 which is measured in salt water having a concentration of 0.01 mol/L by a colloid titration method.)

A self-healing adhesive composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of: (i) a self-healing polymer containing hydrogen bonding groups or long-chain alkyl groups, wherein said hydrogen bonding groups comprise hydrogen bond donating groups and hydrogen bond accepting groups, and wherein said long-chain alkyl groups contain at least four carbon atoms; and (ii) an extrudable adhesive polymer base having a curable property and no self-healable property; wherein component (i) is present in the self-healing adhesive composition in an amount of at least 10 wt % and up to 70 wt % of the total of components (i) and (ii). Also described herein is a method of sealing a space (e.g., crack, gap, or pores) in a substrate material by at least partially filling the space with the self-healing adhesive composition described above and permitting the self-healing adhesive composition to harden over time without applying an external stimulus to induce hardening.

The present invention's purpose is to provide: a molecular-weight controlling agent for radical polymerization which enables controlled radical polymerization of a water-soluble monomer in an aqueous medium; a method for producing a polymer of a water-soluble vinyl monomer using the same; and a water-soluble vinyl monomer polymer. The present invention provides a molecular-weight controlling agent for radical polymerization characterized in that the agent comprises, as its active ingredient, an iodine compound represented by formula (1) and in that the solubility of the active ingredient in water is 0.5 weight % or more at 20 C.

##STR00001##

In the formula, R.sup.1 is COOX, CONR.sup.4R.sup.5, an aromatic group or a cyano group, X is a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, an organic ammonium or an ammonium, and R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an aromatic group or an aliphatic group.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of changing the glass transition temperature of a polymer. In some embodiments, the polymer includes at least one hydrazone-containing compound. In general, the methods of the present disclosure include one or more of the following steps of: (1) applying light to the polymer; and (2) thereby changing the glass transition temperature of the polymer. In another embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a polymer having a light-adjustable glass transition temperature. In some embodiments, the polymer includes at least one hydrazone-containing compound.

The invention provides a method for preparation of homopolymers and non-homopolymers comprising polymerizing in an aqueous medium a monomer comprising at least one acryloyl moiety and at least one functionalized or unfunctionalized lactam moiety, and optionally at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic comonomer, in the presence of at least one chain transfer agent and at least one non-radiation initiator. Exemplary diblock polymers prepared by the method have the structure: ##STR00001## ##STR00002##
where subscripts x, y, and z and variables R, R.sub.8, R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 are described herein.

The invention provides a method for preparation of homopolymers and non-homopolymers comprising polymerizing in an aqueous medium a monomer comprising at least one acryloyl moiety and at least one functionalized or unfunctionalized lactam moiety, and optionally at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic comonomer, in the presence of at least one chain transfer agent and at least one non-radiation initiator. Exemplary diblock polymers prepared by the method have the structure: ##STR00001## ##STR00002##
where subscripts x, y, and z and variables R, R.sub.8, R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 are described herein.

The invention provides a method for preparation of homopolymers and non-homopolymers comprising polymerizing in an aqueous medium a monomer comprising at least one acryloyl moiety and at least one functionalized or unfunctionalized lactam moiety, and optionally at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic comonomer, in the presence of at least one chain transfer agent and at least one non-radiation initiator. Exemplerary diblock polymers prepared by the method have the structure:

##STR00001## ##STR00002##

where subscripts x, y, and z and variables R, R.sub.8, R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 are described herein.

The invention provides a method for preparation of homopolymers and non-homopolymers comprising polymerizing in an aqueous medium a monomer comprising at least one acryloyl moiety and at least one functionalized or unfunctionalized lactam moiety, and optionally at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic comonomer, in the presence of at least one chain transfer agent and at least one non-radiation initiator. Exemplerary diblock polymers prepared by the method have the structure:

##STR00001## ##STR00002##

where subscripts x, y, and z and variables R, R.sub.8, R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 are described herein.