A pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising a polymer (X1) containing 48% by mass or more of a constituent unit derived from at least one monomer (Y) selected from the group consisting of a monomer (A1) represented by the following general formula (1) and a monomer (B1) represented by the following general formula (2), in which a tan δ (23° C.) determined as G″ (23° C.)/G′ (23° C.) is 0.8 to 1.3, wherein a storage elastic modulus and a loss coefficient at 23° C. are respectively represented by G′ (23° C.) and G″ (23° C.). In the formula (1), R.sup.1 represents H or CH.sub.3, R.sup.2 represents —C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1 and n represents an integer of 7 to 14. In the formula (2), R.sup.3 represents —C(═O)C.sub.mH.sub.2m+1 and m represents an integer of 7 to 13. Thus, retention force under high temperature, low-temperature attachability, and adhesiveness to a low-polar adherend are favorable along with a high bio rate.

Provided is a polymerizable liquid crystal composition capable of suppressing the generation of precipitates; and an optically anisotropic layer, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a forward wavelength dispersion liquid crystal compound A having an aromatic ring having 10 or more π electrons and a forward wavelength dispersion liquid crystal compound B having an aromatic ring having 6 or more and less than 10 π electrons.

A water-based acrylic resin and a method for producing the same are provided. The water-based acrylic resin includes a polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition includes deionized water, a reactive emulsifier, a first acrylic monomer, a second acrylic monomer, a third acrylic monomer, a fourth acrylic monomer, and an acrylic polyol. The reactive emulsifier is a nonylphenyl-free reactive emulsifier. The first acrylic monomer is an alkyl-containing (meth)acrylate. The second acrylic monomer is a hydroxyl-containing (meth)acrylate. The third acrylic monomer is a carboxyl-containing (meth)acrylate. The fourth acrylic monomer is an ethylenically-unsaturated-functional-groups-containing (meth)acrylate. The acrylic polyol is one or both of a hydroxyl-containing polyester acrylic polyol and a hydroxyl-containing polyether acrylic polyol.

A water-based acrylic resin and a method for producing the same are provided. The water-based acrylic resin includes a polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition includes deionized water, a reactive emulsifier, a first acrylic monomer, a second acrylic monomer, a third acrylic monomer, a fourth acrylic monomer, and an acrylic polyol. The reactive emulsifier is a nonylphenyl-free reactive emulsifier. The first acrylic monomer is an alkyl-containing (meth)acrylate. The second acrylic monomer is a hydroxyl-containing (meth)acrylate. The third acrylic monomer is a carboxyl-containing (meth)acrylate. The fourth acrylic monomer is an ethylenically-unsaturated-functional-groups-containing (meth)acrylate. The acrylic polyol is one or both of a hydroxyl-containing polyester acrylic polyol and a hydroxyl-containing polyether acrylic polyol.

The present invention provides multilayer coated substrates, prepared using primer and/or sealer compositions comprising waterborne curable film-forming compositions, in turn comprising: a) an aqueous dispersion of a pigment and i) polymeric urethane-shell particles having a care-shell morphology and having hydroxyl functional groups, wherein the core is prepared from a monomer mixture comprising hydrophobic, ethylenically unsaturated monomers and the shell comprises a polyurethane or polyurethane-urea polymer; or ii) polymeric acrylic-shell particles having a core-shell morphology and having hydroxyl functional groups, wherein the core is prepared from a monomer mixture comprising hydrophobic, ethylenically unsaturated monomers and the shell is prepared from a monomer mixture comprising hydrophilic, ethylenically unsaturated monomers; b) a polyisocyanate crosslinking agent; and optionally c) a hydroxyl functional, water dispersible acrylic polymer.

The present invention provides multilayer coated substrates, prepared using primer and/or sealer compositions comprising waterborne curable film-forming compositions, in turn comprising: a) an aqueous dispersion of a pigment and i) polymeric urethane-shell particles having a care-shell morphology and having hydroxyl functional groups, wherein the core is prepared from a monomer mixture comprising hydrophobic, ethylenically unsaturated monomers and the shell comprises a polyurethane or polyurethane-urea polymer; or ii) polymeric acrylic-shell particles having a core-shell morphology and having hydroxyl functional groups, wherein the core is prepared from a monomer mixture comprising hydrophobic, ethylenically unsaturated monomers and the shell is prepared from a monomer mixture comprising hydrophilic, ethylenically unsaturated monomers; b) a polyisocyanate crosslinking agent; and optionally c) a hydroxyl functional, water dispersible acrylic polymer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coating composition capable of forming a coating film which can maintain its appearance and gloss over a long period and which has high film hardness and high flexibility and exhibits excellent adhesion with respect to an epoxy resin anticorrosive coating film. An acrylic polysiloxane resin coating composition of the invention includes (A) a silicone resin, (B) a compound having one or more functional groups capable of undergoing Michael addition reaction with an unsaturated double bond in an acryloyloxy group, and having one or more alkoxy groups bonded to silicon, (C) a trifunctional or polyfunctional aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer having a cyclic structure, and (D) a bifunctional acrylate monomer having no ether structures (except an ether structure in an acryloyloxy group) and no aromatic rings, the mass ratio of the total amount of (A) and (B) to the total amount of any acrylate oligomer(s) and any acrylate monomer(s) being 40:60 to 70:30.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coating composition capable of forming a coating film which can maintain its appearance and gloss over a long period and which has high film hardness and high flexibility and exhibits excellent adhesion with respect to an epoxy resin anticorrosive coating film. An acrylic polysiloxane resin coating composition of the invention includes (A) a silicone resin, (B) a compound having one or more functional groups capable of undergoing Michael addition reaction with an unsaturated double bond in an acryloyloxy group, and having one or more alkoxy groups bonded to silicon, (C) a trifunctional or polyfunctional aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer having a cyclic structure, and (D) a bifunctional acrylate monomer having no ether structures (except an ether structure in an acryloyloxy group) and no aromatic rings, the mass ratio of the total amount of (A) and (B) to the total amount of any acrylate oligomer(s) and any acrylate monomer(s) being 40:60 to 70:30.

Hygroscopic hydrogels including a cross-linked polymer, the polymer being prepared by polymerization of one or more monomers, wherein at least one of the monomers is a compound of formula I, are provided. Related monomers and polymers, as well as methods for the production and use thereof, are also provided. Hygroscopic hydrogels as described herein may be used for water harvesting, for example. (I) (formula I)

##STR00001##

Hygroscopic hydrogels including a cross-linked polymer, the polymer being prepared by polymerization of one or more monomers, wherein at least one of the monomers is a compound of formula I, are provided. Related monomers and polymers, as well as methods for the production and use thereof, are also provided. Hygroscopic hydrogels as described herein may be used for water harvesting, for example. (I) (formula I)

##STR00001##