Described herein is a pigmented aqueous basecoat material including a polyether-based reaction product which is preparable by reaction of (a) at least one cyclic tetracarboxylic dianhydride having an aliphatic, aromatic, or araliphatic radical X bridging the two anhydride groups with (b) at least one polyether of the general structural formula (II)

##STR00001## in which R is a C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 alkylene radical and n is selected accordingly such that the polyether (b) possesses a number-average molecular weight of 500 to 5000 g/mol, the components (a) and (b) being used in the reaction in a molar ratio of 0.7/2.3 to 1.6/1.7 and the resulting reaction product possessing an acid number of 5 to 80 mg KOH/g. Also described herein is a reaction product of specific dianhydrides and a polyether, and the use of the pigmented aqueous basecoat material or the reaction product.

A method of preparing a polymer comprises the use of free radical vinyl polymerisation to form carbon-carbon backbone segments of the polymer, wherein the longest chains in the polymer comprise vinyl polymer chains interspersed with other chemical groups and/or chains. The product has the characteristics of a step-growth polymer comprising a mixture of polyfunctional step-growth monomer residues formed by vinyl polymerization.

Provided are: a semipermeable composite membrane having high fouling resistance against membrane; and a method for producing the semipermeable composite membrane. This semipermeable composite membrane comprises a substrate, a porous support layer disposed on the substrate, and a separation functional layer disposed on the porous support layer, wherein the separation functional layer contains: from the porous support layer side, a first layer containing a crosslinked aromatic polyamide which is a polymer of a polyfunctional aromatic amine and a polyfunctional aromatic acid chloride; and an aliphatic polyamide which is present on the first layer and which is a polymer of a polyfunctional aliphatic carboxylic acid and a polyfunctional aliphatic amine.

The present invention provides an amic acid ester oligomer having a structure of Formula (1) or (1): ##STR00001## wherein G, P, R, R.sub.x, D, E and m are as defined in the specification. The present invention also provides a polyimide precursor composition comprising the amic acid ester oligomer, as well as a polyimide prepared from the composition.

A nanofiltration membrane comprising a selective layer comprising or consisting of poly(amide-imide) cross-linked with polyallylamine is provided. A method of manufacturing a nanofiltration membrane and use of a nanofiltration membrane in a water softening process that is carried out at a low pressure of less than about 2 bar are also provided.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a copolymer comprising at least one segment of a polyolefin and at least one segment of a polyamide, said composition additionally comprising piperazine pyrophosphate and, if appropriate, a coloring additive. The present invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of these compositions and to the use of the latter in the manufacture of jacket for metal cables, of electrical parts, such as electrical connectors or electrical engineering housings, of thermal protection jackets or sleeves, of injection-molded parts for electronic equipment, such as computers and telephones, of monolayer or multilayer tubes or of bellow tubes, preferably in the manufacture of jacket for metal cables. Finally, it also relates to the electronic, electrical or thermal protection components comprising said composition.

A polyamide-grafted polyolefin composition in which the grafting rate of the composition is between 41% and 70% by weight. Also, a thermoplastic composition including a polyolefin backbone comprising a residue of at least one unsaturated monomer (X) and a plurality of polyamide grafts, in which: the polyamide grafts are attached to the polyolefin backbone by the residue of the unsaturated monomer (X) comprising a functional group capable of reacting by a condensation reaction with a polyamide having at least one amine end and/or at least one carboxylic acid end, the residue of the unsaturated monomer (X) is attached to the backbone by grafting or copolymerization, wherein the polyamide grafts represent from 41% to 70%, preferably from 45% to 70%, by mass of said polyamide-grafted polymer. Also, a thermoplastic film for encapsulating and/or protecting the back (backsheet) of a photovoltaic module that includes said polyamide-grafted polyolefin composition.

The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded to polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

The present invention relates to a polymer comprising a repeating group having the structure of formula (I) ##STR00001##
wherein R, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, X, and s are as described herein and salt thereof. Also disclosed is a process of synthesizing such polymers.

A polymer processing aid (PPA) reduces melt defects in extruded polyolefins in the absence of fluoropolymers. The polymer processing aid comprises a block copolymer having polyamide blocks and polyether blocks and reduces melt defects well in a thermoplastic polyolefin such as a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).