The present invention provides novel hybrid polymers having unique physical properties. The hybrid polymers comprise a cellulose ether moiety, a linking group moiety, a spacer group moiety, and a lactam moiety. The present invention also provides compositions comprising the hybrid polymers and methods for preparing and using the hybrid polymers. In a first embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:
A-(L.sub.1-S—(B).sub.k).sub.q
wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.1 is a linking group moiety selected from the group consisting of urethanes, amides, esters, carbonates, and phosphate esters, or is derived from a moiety selected from the group consisting of anhydrides, cyclic ethers, and aziridines; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein k≥1 and q≥1. In a second embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:
A-(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y
wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.2 is an ether linking group moiety; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein y≥1; with the proviso that when the cellulose ether moiety is hydroxyethyl cellulose, -(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y is not derived from 1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone.

The present invention provides novel hybrid polymers having unique physical properties. The hybrid polymers comprise a cellulose ether moiety, a linking group moiety, a spacer group moiety, and a lactam moiety. The present invention also provides compositions comprising the hybrid polymers and methods for preparing and using the hybrid polymers. In a first embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:
A-(L.sub.1-S—(B).sub.k).sub.q
wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.1 is a linking group moiety selected from the group consisting of urethanes, amides, esters, carbonates, and phosphate esters, or is derived from a moiety selected from the group consisting of anhydrides, cyclic ethers, and aziridines; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein k≥1 and q≥1. In a second embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:
A-(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y
wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.2 is an ether linking group moiety; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein y≥1; with the proviso that when the cellulose ether moiety is hydroxyethyl cellulose, -(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y is not derived from 1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone.

A terminal-modified polyamide 4 having improved thermal stability is provided. The terminal-modified polyamide 4 consists of a polyamide 4-derived site (A) and a polyalkylenimine-derived site (B), and has a structure in which a polyalkylenimine is amide-bonded to a polymerization terminal of polyamide 4. The weight ratio between the polyamide 4-derived site (A) and the polyalkylenimine-derived site (B) is 100:0.01-100:20. The polyamide 4-derived site (A) is a site derived from polyamide 4 having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 1,000 to 2,000,000, and the polyalkylenimine-derived site (B) is a site derived from a polyalkylenimine having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 400 to 100,000.

A terminal-modified polyamide 4 having improved thermal stability is provided. The terminal-modified polyamide 4 consists of a polyamide 4-derived site (A) and a polyalkylenimine-derived site (B), and has a structure in which a polyalkylenimine is amide-bonded to a polymerization terminal of polyamide 4. The weight ratio between the polyamide 4-derived site (A) and the polyalkylenimine-derived site (B) is 100:0.01-100:20. The polyamide 4-derived site (A) is a site derived from polyamide 4 having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 1,000 to 2,000,000, and the polyalkylenimine-derived site (B) is a site derived from a polyalkylenimine having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 400 to 100,000.

The present invention provides novel hybrid polymers having unique physical properties. The hybrid polymers comprise a cellulose ether moiety, a linking group moiety, a spacer group moiety, and a lactam moiety. The present invention also provides compositions comprising the hybrid polymers and methods for preparing and using the hybrid polymers.

In a first embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:

A-(L.sub.1-S—(B).sub.k).sub.q

wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.1 is a linking group moiety selected from the group consisting of urethanes, amides, esters, carbonates, and phosphate esters, or is derived from a moiety selected from the group consisting of anhydrides, cyclic ethers, and aziridines; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein k≥1 and q≥1.

In a second embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:

A-(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y

wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.2 is an ether linking group moiety; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein y≥1; with the proviso that when the cellulose ether moiety is hydroxyethyl cellulose, -(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y is not derived from 1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone.

The present invention provides novel hybrid polymers having unique physical properties. The hybrid polymers comprise a cellulose ether moiety, a linking group moiety, a spacer group moiety, and a lactam moiety. The present invention also provides compositions comprising the hybrid polymers and methods for preparing and using the hybrid polymers.

In a first embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:

A-(L.sub.1-S—(B).sub.k).sub.q

wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.1 is a linking group moiety selected from the group consisting of urethanes, amides, esters, carbonates, and phosphate esters, or is derived from a moiety selected from the group consisting of anhydrides, cyclic ethers, and aziridines; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein k≥1 and q≥1.

In a second embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:

A-(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y

wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.2 is an ether linking group moiety; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein y≥1; with the proviso that when the cellulose ether moiety is hydroxyethyl cellulose, -(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y is not derived from 1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone.

The present invention is to provide a spherical polyamide fine particle having smooth sliding properties and causing a low degree of environmental pollution. The polyamide fine particle according to the present invention includes: a polyamide including a repetition of a structural unit having at least one alkylene group and at least one amide bond, each of the at least one alkylene group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, wherein the polyamide fine particle has a sphericity of 80 or greater.

The present invention is to provide a spherical polyamide fine particle having smooth sliding properties and causing a low degree of environmental pollution. The polyamide fine particle according to the present invention includes: a polyamide including a repetition of a structural unit having at least one alkylene group and at least one amide bond, each of the at least one alkylene group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, wherein the polyamide fine particle has a sphericity of 80 or greater.

Provided are non-spherical polyamide particles having small variations in particle shape. The polyamide particles include a polyamide including repeating structural units having at least one alkylene group and at least one amide bond, wherein each of the at least one alkylene group has 1 to 3 carbon atoms. The main shape of the particles is a non-spherical shape with a circularity of less than 0.98, and a coefficient of variation (CV) of the circularity distribution is 30% or less.

Provided are non-spherical polyamide particles having small variations in particle shape. The polyamide particles include a polyamide including repeating structural units having at least one alkylene group and at least one amide bond, wherein each of the at least one alkylene group has 1 to 3 carbon atoms. The main shape of the particles is a non-spherical shape with a circularity of less than 0.98, and a coefficient of variation (CV) of the circularity distribution is 30% or less.