An oligoamide-modified elastomer includes an elastomer having oligoamide units grafted to the elastomer and forming a plurality of sheet-like structures through hydrogen bonding, the sheet-like structures interacting through non-covalent interactions to form crystalized domains within the elastomer.

The present invention relates to elastomeric thermoplastic polymers (ETP) and especially technical polymers with high added value used in varied sectors, such as electronics, motor vehicles or sport. The present invention more particularly relates to copolymers containing polyether blocks and polyamide blocks, abbreviated as PEBA, which have good antistatic properties. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a copolymer containing at least one polyamide (PA) block, at least one polyethylene glycol (PEG) block and at least one block that is more hydrophobic than the PEG block. A subject of the invention is also a process for synthesizing such thermoplastic elastomers which have good antistatic properties and the use thereof in any type of thermoplastic polymer matrix in order to afford this matrix antistatic properties.

The invention is directed to biocompatible composite materials for medical applications such as tissue regeneration. In particular, the present invention is directed to biocompatible composite materials that may be used for the treatment of lost bone or bone defects. According to the invention there is provided an anhydrous biocompatible composite material comprising a biodegradable polymeric material and a granular synthetic material, wherein the polymeric material essentially consists of at least one block copolymer that comprises at least one hydrophilic block and at least one hydrophobic block.

A binder includes a third polymer including a cross-linked product of a first polymer and a second polymer, wherein the first polymer includes a first functional group and is at least one selected from a polyamic acid and a polyimide, wherein the second polymer includes a second functional group and is water-soluble, and wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are cross-linked by an ester bond formed by a reaction of the first functional group and the second functional.

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 process for forming a polyamide-polyolefin copolymer comprising combining a vinyl or vinylidene terminated polyolefin with a linker to form a polyolefin-linker composition; combining the polyolefin-linker composition with a polyamide to form a polyamide-polyolefin copolymer. The linker can be a glycidyl-siloxane compound or a poly(arylene ether) copolymer.

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 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.

A foam molded body having a rebound resilience coefficient equivalent to that of a petroleum-derived polyamide-based elastomer foam molded body, and excellent moldability during in-mold foaming; foam particles; and a method for producing the foam molded body. A polyamide-based elastomer foam molded body comprising 50 to 100 mass % of a block copolymer resin containing a polyamide block as a hard segment and a polyether block as a soft segment, wherein the copolymer resin has a biobased product content as measured by ASTM D6866 of 30% or more.

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.

An oligoamide-modified elastomer includes an elastomer having oligoamide units grafted to the elastomer and forming a plurality of sheet-like structures through hydrogen bonding, the sheet-like structures interacting through non-covalent interactions to form crystalized domains within the elastomer.