The invention provides a hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinker which comprises (1) a polydiorganosiloxane polymer chain comprising dimethylsiloxane units and hydrophilized siloxane units each having one methyl substituent and one monovalent C.sub.4-C.sub.40 organic radical substituent having two to six hydroxyl groups, wherein the molar ratio of the hydrophilized siloxane units to the dimethylsiloxane units is from about 0.035 to about 0.15, and (2) two terminal (meth)acryloyl groups. The hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinker has a number average molecular weight of from about 3000 Daltons to about 80,000 Daltons. The present invention is also related to a silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises repeating units derived from a hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinker of the invention.

The present application relates to a composition for an encapsulant and an encapsulant formed using the same. The composition for an encapsulant according to one embodiment of the present application includes 1) a silicone resin; 2) one or more types of moisture absorbents; and 3) one or more types of photoinitiators.

The invention concerns a method for producing a three-dimensional object, in particular an artificial tooth, by stereolithography wherein a liquid photocurable resin composition is cured by light. Said photocurable resin composition contains, based on the total weight of the photocurable resin composition, (i) from 90 to 99.9% by weight of a radical polymerizable organic compound (A) selected from radical polymerizable monomers, oligomers, pre-polymers and mixtures thereof; and (ii) from 0.1 to 10% by weight of a photosensitive radical polymerization initiator (B). Said radical polymerizable organic compound (A) comprises, based on the weight of the radical polymerizable organic compound (A), from 0.5 to 20% by weight of a polyrotaxane compound comprising a polymer chain selected from polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG), polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol (PEG-PPG) block copolymer or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), onto which the cyclodextrin ring(s) is/are slipped and wherein the cyclodextrin is derivatized with at least a radical polymerizable group. The invention also concerns a relative liquid photocurable resin composition and articles produced thereby.

Provided are a surface treatment agent for powder capable of being used to produce a dispersion superior in dispersibility, fluidity and temporal stability; and a dispersion containing a powder treated with such surface treatment agent for powder. The agent is a diblock copolymer whose main chain is comprised of a silicone graft copolymer block represented by a formula [I] and a polar copolymer block represented by a formula [II], wherein one end structure of the main chain is represented by a formula [III], and the other end structure of the main chain is represented by a formula [IV], the formulae [I] to [IV] being expressed as

##STR00001##

wherein A represents an organopolysiloxane-containing group; B represents a polar group-containing monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an amino group or a hydroxyl group.

Provided are a surface treatment agent for powder capable of being used to produce a dispersion superior in dispersibility, fluidity and temporal stability; and a dispersion containing a powder treated with such surface treatment agent for powder. The agent is a diblock copolymer whose main chain is comprised of a silicone graft copolymer block represented by a formula [I] and a polar copolymer block represented by a formula [II], wherein one end structure of the main chain is represented by a formula [III], and the other end structure of the main chain is represented by a formula [IV], the formulae [I] to [IV] being expressed as

##STR00001##

wherein A represents an organopolysiloxane-containing group; B represents a polar group-containing monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an amino group or a hydroxyl group.

In one aspect, novel robust electroactive polymers (EAPs) is described, which contract and expand at low voltages to provide for a shape-morphing system, e.g., a prosthetic liner, and potentially entire prosthetic socket, to contract and expand in strategic areas as needed to maintain a comfortable and good fit throughout the day. In some embodiments, as the residual limb changes, these novel robust EAPs can change dynamically as needed to maintain a comfortable, snug fit of the prosthetic liner or socket with the hard shell of the prosthetic socket device. In some embodiments, the EAPs used in prosthetic liners or sockets can also be used to detect pressure as the device is being used, and automatically adjust to maintain fit through a control unit, so that the patient does not even have to stop and adjust his or her device as he or she goes about an active day.

A radiation curable system to form a radiation curable article includes a container including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the container including an ultraviolet curable silicone composition including an unsaturated, carbon functional group-containing siloxane component, a hydride-containing siloxane component, and a photoactive catalyst; a second portion of the container including a cure inhibitor; and a source of radiation. Further included is a method of forming a radiation curable article includes providing an ultraviolet curable silicone composition in a first portion of a container, wherein the ultraviolet curable silicone composition includes an unsaturated, carbon functional group-containing siloxane component, a hydride-containing siloxane component, and a photoactive catalyst; providing a cure inhibitor in a second portion of the container; and irradiating the silicone composition with a radiation source to form the radiation curable article.

A hydrophilic silicone macromer composition suitable for use in producing hydrogel polymer films from which biomedical devices such as contact lenses can be made. The hydrophilic silicone macromer comprises a polyether backbone comprising a silicone-containing pendant group. In one aspect, a hydrophilic silicone macromer is of the Formula 1: ##STR00001##
The hydrophilic silicone macromer can be used to form a polymer and a hydrogel film suitable for forming contact lenses.

A hydrophilic silicone macromer composition suitable for use in producing hydrogel polymer films from which biomedical devices such as contact lenses can be made. The hydrophilic silicone macromer comprises a polyether backbone comprising a silicone-containing pendant group. In one aspect, a hydrophilic silicone macromer is of the Formula 1: ##STR00001##
The hydrophilic silicone macromer can be used to form a polymer and a hydrogel film suitable for forming contact lenses.

There is provided a method of manufacturing an electrophoretic particle, in which the electrophoretic particle includes a mother particle and a block copolymer, including: a step of polymerizing a monomer M having a site contributing to dispersibility into a dispersion medium, a monomer M including a second functional group having reactivity with the first functional group, a charged monomer M by living polymerization without random copolymerizing the monomer M1 and the monomer M2 so as to obtain the block copolymer; and a step of reacting the first functional group and the second functional group to a bonding section to a mother particle so as to connect the block copolymer to the mother particle.