The present application discloses a secondary battery, a method for preparing the same, a copolymer and an apparatus. The secondary battery includes a binder for binding a first substance and a second substance, the binder including a copolymer, wherein the copolymer comprises at least a first monomer unit represented by formula (I), a second monomer unit represented by formula (II), and a third monomer unit represented by formula (III):

##STR00001##

The secondary battery provided by the present application can effectively increase the boding force between the first substance and the second substance by including a specific binder, thereby improving the electrochemical performance of the secondary battery.

Copolymers prepared by a reaction of (1) an unactivated olefin, (2) an activated olefin, and (3) a hydroxyl functional activated olefin and/or a hydroxyl functional unactivated olefin are described. The copolymers have a backbone of polar vinyl monomers and non-polar alkene monomers, with pendant hydroxyl functional groups. The copolymers are well suited for optically clear, pressure sensitive, polyurethane and/or barrier adhesives.

Copolymers prepared by a reaction of (1) an unactivated olefin, (2) an activated olefin, and (3) a hydroxyl functional activated olefin and/or a hydroxyl functional unactivated olefin are described. The copolymers have a backbone of polar vinyl monomers and non-polar alkene monomers, with pendant hydroxyl functional groups. The copolymers are well suited for optically clear, pressure sensitive, polyurethane and/or barrier adhesives.

The present invention provides polymers and methods of preparing the same. In certain embodiments, the polymers comprise acrylate repeating units that have been derivatized (e.g., reduced and/or substituted) to form new polymeric structures. In certain embodiments, the polymers described herein self-assemble to form well-defined nanostructures. In some instances, the nanostructures exhibit relatively small d-spacing (e.g., a d-spacing value of 10 nm or less). Due to their properties, the polymers described herein are useful in a variety of applications including functional materials and biomedical applications.

A gas-barrier resin (A) having an oxygen permeability coefficient of 1.0×10.sup.−14 (cm.sup.3.Math.cm/cm.sup.2.Math.s.Math.Pa) or less; and a copolymer (B) containing monomer structural units represented by the formula (1), the formula (2), and the formula (3):

##STR00001##

where: R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R.sup.2 represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms that may be substituted with a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, or an amino group; 1, m, and n represent numerical values representing molar proportions of the respective monomer structural units, and n may represent 0; and p represents an integer of from 1 to 4, wherein a ratio of a mass of the copolymer (B) to a total mass of the gas-barrier resin (A) and the copolymer (B) is from 1 mass % to 40 mass %.

A gas-barrier resin (A) having an oxygen permeability coefficient of 1.0×10.sup.−14 (cm.sup.3.Math.cm/cm.sup.2.Math.s.Math.Pa) or less; and a copolymer (B) containing monomer structural units represented by the formula (1), the formula (2), and the formula (3):

##STR00001##

where: R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R.sup.2 represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms that may be substituted with a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, or an amino group; 1, m, and n represent numerical values representing molar proportions of the respective monomer structural units, and n may represent 0; and p represents an integer of from 1 to 4, wherein a ratio of a mass of the copolymer (B) to a total mass of the gas-barrier resin (A) and the copolymer (B) is from 1 mass % to 40 mass %.

There is provided an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer with an ethylene unit content of 1 mol % or more and less than 20 mol %, a viscosity-average polymerization degree of 200 to 5000 and a saponification degree of 80 to 99.7 mol %, wherein a block character of ethylene units in the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is 0.90 to 0.99. Such an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer has excellent high-speed coating ability and water-resistant adhesiveness, particularly when being used as an adhesive.

There is provided an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer with an ethylene unit content of 1 mol % or more and less than 20 mol %, a viscosity-average polymerization degree of 200 to 5000 and a saponification degree of 80 to 99.7 mol %, wherein a block character of ethylene units in the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is 0.90 to 0.99. Such an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer has excellent high-speed coating ability and water-resistant adhesiveness, particularly when being used as an adhesive.

A water-absorbent resin containing a vinyl alcohol-based polymer and having a crystal melting enthalpy of more than 0 J/g in a dry state.

A water-absorbent resin containing a vinyl alcohol-based polymer and having a crystal melting enthalpy of more than 0 J/g in a dry state.