An overlay film-forming composition used to cause phase separation to a block copolymer-containing layer formed on a substrate, the composition including: (A) a copolymer that includes (a) a unit structure derived from maleimide structure and a unit structure derived from styrene structure; and (B) an ether compound having 8-16 carbon atoms as a solvent. The overlay film-forming composition exhibits good solubility with respect to a hydrophobic solvent, and is able to induce vertical alignment of a block copolymer without causing dissolution, swelling, and the like of the block copolymer-containing layer formed on the substrate.

Disclosed herein is a polymer comprising a first repeat unit and a second repeat unit, where the first repeat unit contains an acid labile group and where the second repeat unit has the structure of formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each independently hydrogen, a halogen, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl group or C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 cycloalkyl group optionally containing an ether group, a carbonyl group, an ester group, a carbonate group, an amine group, an amide group, a urea group, a sulfate group, a sulfone group, a sulfoxide group, an N-oxide group, a sulfonate group, a sulfonamide group, or a combination thereof, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.6 to C.sub.14 aryl group, or C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 heteroaryl group, wherein the substitution is halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, nitro, C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl group, C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 haloalkyl group, C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkoxy group, C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 cycloalkyl group, amino, C.sub.2-C.sub.6 alkanoyl, carboxamido, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.6 to C.sub.14 aryl group, or C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 heteroaryl group; wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together optionally form a ring; and wherein n=1-3.

The invention relates to the use of PMMI copolymers for reducing the molecular weight degradation of the polymer induced by oxides such as titanium dioxide or silicon dioxide in compositions based on aromatic polycarbonate. The mechanical, optical and rheological properties of the thermoplastic composition remain good and are in some cases even improved despite the addition of the PMMI copolymer.

The invention relates to the use of PMMI copolymers for reducing the molecular weight degradation of the polymer induced by oxides such as titanium dioxide or silicon dioxide in compositions based on aromatic polycarbonate. The mechanical, optical and rheological properties of the thermoplastic composition remain good and are in some cases even improved despite the addition of the PMMI copolymer.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a methacrylic resin composition having excellent surface processability and displaying excellent preservability of formed surface processing. A method for manufacturing a methacrylic resin composition, wherein the methacrylic resion composition comprises two or more types of methacrylic resins that each have a structural unit (X) having the same type of cyclic structure-containing main chain, the methacrylic resin composition has a Vicat softening temperature of 120 C. to 160 C., methanol-soluble content is contained in an amount of 5 mass % or less relative to 100 mass %, in total, of the methanol-soluble content and methanol-insoluble content, comprising mixing a low molecular weight component and a high molecular weight component.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a methacrylic resin composition having excellent surface processability and displaying excellent preservability of formed surface processing. A method for manufacturing a methacrylic resin composition, wherein the methacrylic resion composition comprises two or more types of methacrylic resins that each have a structural unit (X) having the same type of cyclic structure-containing main chain, the methacrylic resin composition has a Vicat softening temperature of 120 C. to 160 C., methanol-soluble content is contained in an amount of 5 mass % or less relative to 100 mass %, in total, of the methanol-soluble content and methanol-insoluble content, comprising mixing a low molecular weight component and a high molecular weight component.

Provided are a methacrylic resin having high heat resistance, highly controlled birefringence, and excellent color tone and transparency, and a production method, a molded article, and an optical or automotive component of the methacrylic resin. The methacrylic resin includes N-substituted maleimide monomer-derived structural units (B) in a main chain thereof in a proportion of 5 mass % to 40 mass %. The N-substituted maleimide monomer-derived structural units (B) include a structural unit represented by formula (1). The methacrylic resin has a glass transition temperature of higher than 120 C. and not higher than 160 C. The content of components that exhibit light absorption at a wavelength of 400 nm in methanol-soluble content of the methacrylic resin is more than 0 mass % and not more than 2 mass % as calculated in terms of N-phenylmaleimide.

Provided are a methacrylic resin having high heat resistance, highly controlled birefringence, and excellent color tone and transparency, and a production method, a molded article, and an optical or automotive component of the methacrylic resin. The methacrylic resin includes N-substituted maleimide monomer-derived structural units (B) in a main chain thereof in a proportion of 5 mass % to 40 mass %. The N-substituted maleimide monomer-derived structural units (B) include a structural unit represented by formula (1). The methacrylic resin has a glass transition temperature of higher than 120 C. and not higher than 160 C. The content of components that exhibit light absorption at a wavelength of 400 nm in methanol-soluble content of the methacrylic resin is more than 0 mass % and not more than 2 mass % as calculated in terms of N-phenylmaleimide.

A compound for improving the primary detergent power of detergents and cleaning products, in particular with respect to soiling containing oil and/or grease. This is achieved essentially by the incorporation of polymers obtainable by polymerization of compounds of the general formula (I), in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, independently of one another, represent H or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 C atoms, with ,-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid esters, carboxylic anhydrides, carboxamides, carboxylic acid imides, nitriles and their mixtures.

A compound for improving the primary detergent power of detergents and cleaning products, in particular with respect to soiling containing oil and/or grease. This is achieved essentially by the incorporation of polymers obtainable by polymerization of compounds of the general formula (I), in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, independently of one another, represent H or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 C atoms, with ,-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid esters, carboxylic anhydrides, carboxamides, carboxylic acid imides, nitriles and their mixtures.