The present technology relates to alkali-swellable emulsion polymers that are useful as rheology modifiers. More specifically the present technology relates to alkali-swellable emulsion polymers containing residues of a polyunsaturated amphiphilic macromonomer. In one aspect the disclosed polymers are useful for thickening aqueous surfactant containing compositions, while providing the compositions in which they are included excellent rheology properties, clarity, and the ability to stably suspend insoluble and particulate materials over long periods of time, as well as improved thickening efficiencies.

Provided are: a method for producing a polymer composition containing a modified chlorinated polyolefin, which exhibits excellent production stability; and a coating material which contains a polymer composition containing a modified chlorinated polyolefin. According to the present invention, a polymer composition containing a modified chlorinated polyolefin is obtained by copolymerizing polymerizable monomers including (b) a chlorinated polyolefin having an allyloxy group and (c) one or more compounds selected from among (meth)acrylic acid esters, (meth)acrylic acids and styrene in the coexistence of (a) a compound having an allyloxy group and a hydroxyl group.

A copolymer, in particular a dispersant for hydraulically setting binder compositions, including a specific dicarboxylic acid based subunit and a specific polyalkylene glycol based subunit wherein the molar ratio of the dicarboxylic acid based subunit to the polyalkylene glycol based subunit is from 1.5-4.

The invention relates to the use of branched copolymers as dispersants of mineral binders, wherein the copolymers are formed from (1) at least one olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer (2) at least one olefinically unsaturated macromonomer of the general structure (I)

##STR00001## where R.sup.1 is an olefinically unsaturated radical which has 2-10 carbon atoms and may optionally be substituted by oxygen and/or nitrogen, preferably vinyl, allyl, methallyl, vinyloxybutyl, isoprenyl, acryloyl and/or methacryloyl, X=O or NH, A is in each case independently C1-C10 alkylene, preferably ethylene, propylene and/or butylene, R.sup.2=C1-C16 alkyl, B is in each case independently C1-C10 alkylene, preferably ethylene, propylene and/or butylene, m is in each case independently an integer in the range of 0-350, preferably 2-200, more preferably 5-150, especially 7-30, n is an integer in the range of 0-100, preferably 1-100, more preferably 2-75, most preferably 5-55, p is 0 or 1, preferably 0, o is an integer in the range of 1-50, preferably 3-40, more preferably 6-30, especially 8-20, and q is an integer in the range of 1-10.

The invention relates to the use of branched copolymers as dispersants of mineral binders, wherein the copolymers are formed from (1) at least one olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer (2) at least one olefinically unsaturated macromonomer of the general structure (I)

##STR00001## where R.sup.1 is an olefinically unsaturated radical which has 2-10 carbon atoms and may optionally be substituted by oxygen and/or nitrogen, preferably vinyl, allyl, methallyl, vinyloxybutyl, isoprenyl, acryloyl and/or methacryloyl, X=O or NH, A is in each case independently C1-C10 alkylene, preferably ethylene, propylene and/or butylene, R.sup.2=C1-C16 alkyl, B is in each case independently C1-C10 alkylene, preferably ethylene, propylene and/or butylene, m is in each case independently an integer in the range of 0-350, preferably 2-200, more preferably 5-150, especially 7-30, n is an integer in the range of 0-100, preferably 1-100, more preferably 2-75, most preferably 5-55, p is 0 or 1, preferably 0, o is an integer in the range of 1-50, preferably 3-40, more preferably 6-30, especially 8-20, and q is an integer in the range of 1-10.

Provided is a binder for battery electrodes which includes a polymer including: structural units (1) derived from a (meth)acrylate monomer (A) having a hydroxyl group; structural units (2) derived from a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate monomer (B); and structural units (3) derived from a reactive surfactant (C). This binder is used to prepare electrodes, and produce batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries. Provided are: an aqueous binder which has a low environmental impact, exhibits excellent binding properties, and, notably, does not cause oxidation degradation under an electrode environment; and an electrode and a battery which use said binder.

Provided is a binder for battery electrodes which includes a polymer including: structural units (1) derived from a (meth)acrylate monomer (A) having a hydroxyl group; structural units (2) derived from a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate monomer (B); and structural units (3) derived from a reactive surfactant (C). This binder is used to prepare electrodes, and produce batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries. Provided are: an aqueous binder which has a low environmental impact, exhibits excellent binding properties, and, notably, does not cause oxidation degradation under an electrode environment; and an electrode and a battery which use said binder.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization which satisfies various performance requirements for suspension polymerization of a vinyl-based compound such as vinyl chloride. The present invention relates a modified vinyl alcohol-based polymer having at least one monomer unit represented by a following general formula (I) and a modification rate of from 0.01 mol % to 10 mol %:

general formula (1):

##STR00001##

in which BO represents an oxybutylene unit; EO represents an oxyethylene unit; and each of m and n is a number of repeating unit of the respective oxyalkylene units; 1m10; and 1n60.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization which satisfies various performance requirements for suspension polymerization of a vinyl-based compound such as vinyl chloride. The present invention relates a modified vinyl alcohol-based polymer having at least one monomer unit represented by a following general formula (I) and a modification rate of from 0.01 mol % to 10 mol %:

general formula (1):

##STR00001##

in which BO represents an oxybutylene unit; EO represents an oxyethylene unit; and each of m and n is a number of repeating unit of the respective oxyalkylene units; 1m10; and 1n60.

To provide a polymer capable of forming a polymer electrolyte membrane that is resistant to breakage even when being repeatedly subjected to humidification and drying or a catalyst layer that is resistant to formation of cracks; a polymer electrolyte membrane employing said polymer; and a membrane/electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. A polymer comprising units (u1) having two ion-exchange groups and units (u2) of e.g. a perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether), wherein the molar ratio (u2)/((u1)+(u2)) is more than 0.30 and at most 0.70. A membrane/electrode assembly 10 comprising an anode 13 having a catalyst layer 11 and a gas diffusion layer 12, a cathode 14 having a catalyst layer 11 and a gas diffusion layer 12, and a polymer electrolyte membrane 15 disposed between the anode 13 and the cathode 14 in a state of being contact with the catalyst layers 11, wherein either one or each of the catalyst layers 11 and the polymer electrolyte membrane 15 contains the aforementioned polymer.