The present invention relates to a thermoplastic copolymer resin having excellent heat resistance and transparency and a process for producing the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a thermoplastic copolymer resin which is obtained by copolymerizing an ester oligomer having a specific structure with a polycarbonate oligomer, exhibits remarkably excellent heat resistance, and has excellent physical property balance such as transparency, impact strength, fluidity, etc.; a method for producing the same; and a molded article comprising the same.

A method for hydrogenating tyrosine derived polyarylates includes dissolving a second polyarylate with DMF in a flask to produce a first solution. A catalyst is added to the first solution to produce a polymer solution. The polymer solution is filtered through a Celite bed to produce a filtrate. The filtrate is added to water and stirred to precipitate the polyarylate.

Various embodiments relate to biorenewable and water-degradable co-polymers and methods of producing co-polymers that include a plurality of first monomeric units and a plurality of second monomeric units joined by a plurality of hydrolytically-sensitive ester linkages. Each of the plurality of first monomeric units may be derived from a first monomer. The first monomer may be the product of a reaction between itaconic acid and a first amino acid. Each of the plurality of second monomeric units may be derived from a second monomer. The second monomer may be the product of a reaction between itaconic acid and a second amino acid. The co-polymers may be a product of the reaction of the first monomer and the second monomer in the presence of a diol. The co-polymers may have a glass transition temperature of about 50 C. or greater.

An electrophotographic photosensitive member (1) includes a conductive substrate (2) and a photosensitive layer (3). The photosensitive layer (3) is a single-layer photosensitive layer (3c) and contains a charge generating material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material, and a binder resin. The binder resin includes a polyarylate resin represented by general formula (1). ##STR00001##
In general formula (1), Q.sup.1, Q.sup.2, Q.sup.3, and Q.sup.4 each represent a methyl group or a hydrogen atom. r, s, t, and u each represent a number greater than or equal to 15 and less than or equal to 35. X and Y each represent a divalent group represented by chemical formula (2A), chemical formula (2B), chemical formula (2C), or chemical formula (2D), and X and Y are different from each other ##STR00002##

The present invention relates to novel polymer compositions, to a process for their manufacturing, to the use of said polymer compositions for modifying the viscosity of aqueous compositions, and to water-borne coating compositions containing the novel polymer compositions as thickeners. The polymer compositions comprise a polymer material which is obtainable by reacting: a) a polymer P1 having at least one functional group of the formula (I), where k is an integer from 0 to 4; n is 0 or 1 p is an integer from 1 to 10, the number average of p being from 1.5 to 10; Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of O and NH; P is a p-valent hydrophilic neutral polymer radical; and R.sup.1 is as defined in the claims; with b) a succinic anhydride of the formula (II) where R is C.sub.4-C.sub.24-alkyl or C.sub.4-C.sub.24-alkenyl. ##STR00001##

Disclosed are polymer compounds wherein the main polymer chain is a polyester and the pendants are polyalkylpiperidine. The compounds of the invention, either alone or mixed with other known agents, are useful as stabilisers of polymers, especially polyolefins.

A process for preparing a thermoplastic copolyester which comprises repeating units derived from an aliphatic glycol, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, and the monomer of formula (I):

##STR00001## wherein n=2, 3 or 4, and wherein comonomer (I) constitutes a proportion of the glycol fraction of the copolyester, wherein the process comprises the steps of: (i) reacting said aliphatic glycol with said aromatic dicarboxylic acid to form a bis(hydroxyalkyl)-ester of said aromatic dicarboxylic acid; and (ii) reacting said bis(hydroxyalkyl)-ester of said aromatic dicarboxylic acid with the monomer (I) under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the monomer (I) is present in a range of from 5% to about 20 mol % of the glycol fraction of the copolyester, wherein the aromatic dicarboxylic acid is selected from naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and terephthalic acid, and wherein the aliphatic glycol is ethylene glycol.

There is provided a polymer comprising: (i) a repeat unit derived from a compound of formula (I) (Formula (I)) wherein, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from OH, OR, SH, SR, NH.sub.2, NHR and NR.sub.2; R is C.sub.1-20 hydrocarbyl; each n is independently 0 or an integer between 1 and 6; each m is independently 0 or an integer between 1 and 4, and preferably at least one m is 1; and q is an integer between 1 and 8; and; (ii) a biologically active molecule, wherein said biologically active molecule is covalently bonded to said repeat unit; as well as methods for preparing such polymers, particles comprising said polymers and uses of said polymers and particles including use in the treatment of disease. ##STR00001##

A coating composition includes: a polymer prepared from a reaction mixture including: a hydroxyl functional prepolymer comprising a reaction product of a prepolymer mixture and a non-aromatic anhydride. The polymer includes at least two functional groups selected from hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups and combinations thereof. The polymer includes 10-40 weight % of structural units derived from benzoic acid or substituted benzoic acid and greater than 15 weight % of structural units derived from a polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups based on the total weight of the polymer. A substrate at least partially coated with a coating composition and a method of preparing a coating composition are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to processes for the formation of pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA), in particular, 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,4-PDCA) and 2,5- pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,5-PDCA), and mono- and diester derivatives thereof, from 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, via a biocatalytic reaction using, for example, a protocatechuate dioxygenase such as protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase or protocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase, and a nitrogen source. The invention also relates to copolymers that comprise the pyridinedicarboxylic acid monomers and derivatives thereof, processes for the formation of the copolymers and uses for the copolymers.