The polymerization of cycloalkenamer is stopped by adding an alkyl vinyl derivative. Subsequently compound A is added, wherein compound A has at least one of the features i) or ii): i) at least one functional group or ii) at least one saturated or unsaturated aliphatic or aromatic heterocyclic ring having 3 to 14 ring atoms, wherein the ring atoms contain at least one carbon atom and at least one atom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur. A membrane filtration is subsequently carried out. This type of production produces polyalkenamers which are temperature-stable at 180 C.

The present invention relates to a process for producing cycloalkenamer-containing compositions. The polymerization of cycloalkenamer is stopped by addition of alkyl vinyl ethers. This is followed by a membrane filtration. This type of production affords polyalkenamers that are thermally stable at 180 C.

An object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide an industrially useful adhesive sheet that can be used to bond various adherends and has excellent peel adhesion, excellent push strength, and excellent holding power under static load. The object of the present invention can be achieved by an adhesive sheet having, on one side or both side of a substrate, an adhesive layer (A) having a tensile strength of 6 N/cm.sup.2 or more as determined from a stress-strain curve (a so-called S-S curve) at a strain of 100%.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a novel class of polymers with superior mechanical properties and chemical stability, as compared to known polymers. These polymers are particularly well suited for use in anion exchange membranes (AEMs), including those employed in fuel cells. Novel methods for the manufacture of these polymers are also described.

A polymer hydrogel having a polymer formed by the crosslinking reaction of a polymeric unit A according to formula (I),

##STR00001##

with a crosslinking unit B according to formula (II)

##STR00002##

and water, wherein n=100-10,000, preferable 250-2500, more preferable 500-1500; m=independently 2-10, preferably 3 or 4; FG is a functional moiety that can be covalently coupled to the complementary functional moiety F1 or F2 of the crosslinking unit (B); k=0.01-0.05; h=0, 1 or 2; the spacer is an organic moiety, having a main chain comprising at least two functional moieties F1 and F2, wherein the length of the crosslinker in the extended conformation as determined by molecular modeling (including spacer and functional groups F1 and F2) is between 2.5 and 12 nm, or wherein the length is between 20 and 80 atoms.

The present application provides a block copolymer and uses thereof. The block copolymer of the present application exhibits an excellent self-assembling property or phase separation property, can be provided with a variety of required functions without constraint and, especially, etching selectivity can be secured, making the block copolymer effectively applicable to such uses as pattern formation.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a novel class of polymers with superior mechanical properties and chemical stability, as compared to known polymers. These polymers are particularly well suited for use in anion exchange membranes (AEMs), including those employed in fuel cells. Novel methods for the manufacture of these polymers are also described.

The present invention relates to a process for producing cycloalkenamer-containing compositions, comprising the steps of: a) converting at least one cycloalkene by ring-opening metathetic polymerization to obtain a polyalkenamer-containing product mixture, and b) working up the product mixture to remove monomers and oligomers of the cycloalkenes to obtain the polyalkenamer-containing composition by extraction with CO.sub.2, whereby the polyalkenamers are polymers of cycloalkenes which comprise at least five cycloalkane monomer units, wherein the extraction comprises at least two stages: b0) an extraction with liquid CO.sub.2, then b1) an extraction with supercritical CO.sub.2, then b2) an extraction with gaseous CO.sub.2, then b0) an extraction with liquid CO.sub.2, then and then b3) an extraction with supercritical CO.sub.2.

A method of producing polymer fibers and/or particles by direct polymerization of monomers without use of any external high energy sources (such as heat or UV) is described. The method may be used to fabricate polymer fibers, fiber mats, 3D polymer fiber structures, and polymer nano- and microparticles. Polymer fibers may be used to create fiber mats which can be utilized in a variety of applications.

Hydroxide-exchange membranes (HEMs) and hydroxide-exchange ionomers (HEIs) are provided which include polymers with oxidation resistant groups. The attachment of the oxidation resistant groups to the polymer backbone allows fine-tuning of the mechanical properties of the membrane and incorporation of alkaline stable cations, such as imidazoliums, phosphoniums and ammoniums, and provides enhanced stability to the polymer. HEMs/HEIs formed from these polymers exhibit superior chemical stability, anion conductivity, decreased water uptake, good solubility in selected solvents, and improved mechanical properties in an ambient dry state as compared to conventional HEM/HEIs. The HEMs exhibit enhanced stability in a highly oxidative environment.