Curable compositions that undergo reaction induced phase separation of domains in cured matrix and provide beneficial physical and chemical properties and methods of use of such compositions. Curable compositions that undergo reaction induced phase separation of domains in cured matrix in response to a first set of curing conditions and the domains undergo a second reaction in response to a second set of curing conditions to improve the physical properties of the domains and the cured composition, such as improvements in glass transition temperature and thermal degradation.

Provided is a polymer particle comprising (a) a core polymer comprising (i) polymerized units of one or more Si-containing monomers; (ii) polymerized units of one or more monovinyl acrylic monomers (ii); and (iii) polymerized units of one or more graftlinkers that have no silicon atoms; (b) a shell polymer comprising polymerized units of one or more acrylic monomers.

Also provided is a composition comprising polyvinyl chloride and a plurality of the polyer particles.

Provided is a polymer particle comprising (a) a core polymer comprising (i) polymerized units of one or more Si-containing monomers; (ii) polymerized units of one or more monovinyl acrylic monomers (ii); and (iii) polymerized units of one or more graftlinkers that have no silicon atoms; (b) a shell polymer comprising polymerized units of one or more acrylic monomers.

Also provided is a composition comprising polyvinyl chloride and a plurality of the polyer particles.

A method of making a collection of polymer particles comprising (A) performing free radical polymerization (A) on an emulsion (E1) that comprises a collection of droplets dispersed in an aqueous medium, wherein the droplets comprise (i) one or more Si-containing monomers; (ii) one or more monovinyl acrylic monomers; and (iii) one or more graftlinkers that have no silicon atoms; to form a dispersion (D1) of core polymer particles in the aqueous medium; (B) in the presence of the dispersion (D1) of core polymer particles, performing aqueous emulsion polymerization (B) on one or more acrylic monomers.

A method of making a collection of polymer particles comprising (A) performing free radical polymerization (A) on an emulsion (E1) that comprises a collection of droplets dispersed in an aqueous medium, wherein the droplets comprise (i) one or more Si-containing monomers; (ii) one or more monovinyl acrylic monomers; and (iii) one or more graftlinkers that have no silicon atoms; to form a dispersion (D1) of core polymer particles in the aqueous medium; (B) in the presence of the dispersion (D1) of core polymer particles, performing aqueous emulsion polymerization (B) on one or more acrylic monomers.

The invention relates to a polymer having a) a polymer backbone and b) one or more polymeric side chains covalently linked to the polymer backbone, wherein the polymeric side chains comprise a polyether segment and a polysiloxane segment, said polysiloxane segment having a number average molecular weight in the range of 1050 to 6000, and said polyether segment being positioned between the polymer backbone and the polysiloxane segment.

The invention relates to a polymer having a) a polymer backbone and b) one or more polymeric side chains covalently linked to the polymer backbone, wherein the polymeric side chains comprise a polyether segment and a polysiloxane segment, said polysiloxane segment having a number average molecular weight in the range of 1050 to 6000, and said polyether segment being positioned between the polymer backbone and the polysiloxane segment.

Described are polymerizable high energy light absorbing compounds of formula I:

##STR00001##

Wherein Y, Pg, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are as described herein. The compounds absorb various wavelengths of ultraviolet and/or high energy visible light and are suitable for incorporation in various products, such as biomedical devices and ophthalmic devices.

Described are polymerizable high energy light absorbing compounds of formula I:

##STR00001##

Wherein Y, Pg, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are as described herein. The compounds absorb various wavelengths of ultraviolet and/or high energy visible light and are suitable for incorporation in various products, such as biomedical devices and ophthalmic devices.

Provided are polymer compositions made by a process comprising: (a) providing a first reactive composition containing: (i) a polymerization initiator that is capable, upon a first activation, of forming two or more free radical groups, at least one of which is further activatable by subsequent activation; (ii) one or more ethylenically unsaturated compounds; and (iii) a crosslinker; (b) subjecting the first reactive composition to a first activation step such that the first reactive composition polymerizes therein to form a crosslinked substrate network containing a covalently bound activatable free radical initiator, (c) combining the crosslinked substrate network with a second reactive composition containing one or more ethylenically unsaturated compounds; and (d) activating the covalently bound activatable free radical initiator of the crosslinked substrate network such that the second reactive composition polymerizes therein with the crosslinked substrate network to form a grafted polymeric network and a byproduct polymer. Also provided are precursors to the polymer compositions, processes for preparation of the polymer compositions, and methods of using the polymer compositions, for instance in medical devices.