Provided is a lactic acid-based block copolymer which is biodegradable while having excellent mechanical properties.

Provided herein are absorbent polymers produced from beta-propiolactone, and methods and systems of producing such polymers. The beta-propiolactone may be derived from ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide. The absorbent polymer may be bio-based and/or biodegradable. The absorbent polymers may be used for diapers, adult incontinence products, and feminine hygiene products, as well as for agricultural applications.

The invention relates to a film Film comprising a random graft copolymer having a polypropylene (PP) backbone and from 3 to 8 polyester segments covalently bonded to said backbone, wherein the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the polypropylene backbone ranges between 10.000 and 100.000 Dalton (as determined with HT-SEC in o-DCB at 150° C.), wherein the Mn of each polyester segment ranges between 5.000 and 25.000 Daltons, wherein the amount of PP ranges between 45 and 80 mol %, wherein the amount of polyester segments ranges between 55 and 20 mol %, wherein the film has a thickness in the range of 0.01-10 mm, wherein the polypropylene and polyester domains form independently continuous phases, and wherein the mol % is calculated relative to the total moles of monomer units present in the copolymer. The invention further relates to a nano porous PP membrane and its use.

An organic solvent-free method of producing a polyester is disclosed herein. The method may include providing a mixture comprising at least one precursor of the polyester, wherein the at least one precursor is a liquid, and contacting the mixture with a gaseous inorganic acid to produce the polyester. A polyester obtained according to such a method is also disclosed herein.

A tri-block copolymer includes a first end block consisting of a hydrophobic, nano-fiber forming polymer, wherein the first end block is present in the tri-block copolymer at a weight percentage ranging from about 10% to about 89%; a middle block attached to the first end block, the middle block consisting of a hydrophilic polymer, wherein the middle block is present in the tri-block copolymer at a weight percentage ranging from about 1% to about 89%; and a second end block attached to the middle block, the second end block consisting of a temperature-responsive polymer, wherein the second end block is present in the tri-block copolymer at a weight percentage ranging from about 1% to about 89%.

The present invention relates to the use of a composition comprising from 60-98 wt. % of polypropylene, from 2-40 wt. % of aromatic polycarbonate and from 0.1-10 wt. % of compatibiliser for the manufacture of a foamed article, wherein the compatibiliser is a BAB or AB type of block copolymer comprising a polypropylene block A and a polyester or polycarbonate block B, or wherein the compatibiliser is a graft copolymer of the type ABn having a polypropylene backbone A and polyester or polycarbonate block(s) B grafted thereon, with n being at least 1, and wherein the polyester or polycarbonate blocks B have an average M/F ratio from 2-25, wherein M is the number of backbone carbon atoms in the polyester or polycarbonate not including carbonyl carbon atoms, and F is the number of ester or carbonate groups in the polyester or polycarbonate block, and wherein the wt. % is based on the sum of the amount polypropylene, polycarbonate and compatibiliser.

The present invention relates to a dispersant derived from an alcohol terminated polymer and via an anhydride intermediate. The anhydride functionalized polyester is then reacted with a multi-amine species forming amide and salt bonds.

The present invention relates to a binder resin composition capable of giving a toner remarkably excellent in fusing property on polypropylene films, and to a toner for developing electrostatic images that contains the binder resin composition. [1] A binder resin composition for toners, containing an amorphous polyester resin which has a polyester resin-derived constituent moiety that is a constituent moiety derived from a polyester resin and a modified polypropylene polymer A-derived constituent moiety that is a constituent moiety derived from a modified polypropylene polymer A having a carboxylic acid group or a carboxylic anhydride group and in which the polyester resin-derived constituent moiety and the modified polypropylene polymer A-derived constituent moiety bond to each other via a covalent bond, wherein the polymer A is a polypropylene polymer terminally-modified with an unsaturated bond-having carboxylic acid compound or an anhydride thereof, and in the polyester resin, the amount of the polymer A-derived constituent unit is 8 parts by mass or more and 30 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the total of the alcohol component and the carboxylic acid component constituting the polyester resin-derived constituent moiety; and [2] a toner for developing electrostatic images, containing the binder resin composition of [1].

A method for controlling the encapsulation efficiency and burst release of water soluble molecules from nanoparticle and microparticle formulations produced by the inverted Flash NanoPrecipitation (iFNP) process and subsequent processing steps is presented. The processing steps and materials used can be adjusted to tune the encapsulation efficiency and burst release of the encapsulated water-soluble material. The encapsulation efficiency of the soluble agent in the particles and the burst release of the soluble agent from the particles can be controlled by: (1) the copolymers used in the assembly or coating process, (2) the degree of crosslinking of the nanoparticle core, (3) the incorporation of small molecule or polymeric additives, and/or (4) the processing and release conditions employed.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a thermoplastic moulding compound containing A) at least one aromatic polycarbonate and B) an additional polymer that is chemically different from polymer A and that contains at least one type of functional group selected from ester groups, epoxy groups, hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups and carboxylic anhydride groups, comprising the steps of a) melting and thoroughly mixing the components A and B in the presence of a catalyst according to component Cat a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 350° C. and b) solidifying the composition by cooling the composition, the component A having an average molecular weight M.sub.w of at least 3000 g/mol, characterised in that, in the method step a), at least one part of the component A is reacted with the component B to form a copolymer, and the catalyst C being a specific phosphonium salt. The invention also relates to a thermoplastic moulding compound produced by the method according to the invention, and to moulded bodies containing said moulding compound.