Disclosed is a branched polymer resin comprising repeating units of (OCH2-CO) or (COCH2O), which is produced by ring-opening polymerization in the presence of structure regulators and optionally end-capping agents. The branched polymer resin exhibits a lower melt viscosity and a higher heat-stable temperature and suitable for melt processing.

Block copolymers include a poly -methyl--valerolactone (PMVL) block. The PMVL blocks can be formed from biosynthesized -methyl--valerolactone (MVL). The PMVL block may be formed from biosynthesized -methyl--valerolactone (MVL) with a .sup.14C/.sup.12C ratio greater than zero. The block copolymers can include hard blocks. The block copolymers can be thermoplastic elastomers. The block copolymers may include a polylactic acid (PLA) block.

The invention relates to compositions and methods for solid freeform fabrication of medical devices, components and applications in which the composition includes a thermoplastic polyurethane which is particularly suited for such processing. The useful thermoplastic polyurethanes are derived from (a) an aromatic diisocyanate component, (b) a polyol component, and (c) a chain extender component where the molar ratio of (c) to (b) is at least 4.25.

The invention relates to compositions and methods for solid freeform fabrication of medical devices, components and medical applications, in which the composition includes a thermoplastic polyurethane which is particularly suited for such processing. The useful thermoplastic polyurethanes are derived from (a) an aromatic diisocyanate component, (b) a polyol component, and (c) a chain extender component where the molar ratio of (c) to (b) is from 2.4 to 4.7.

The invention provides a bioabsorbable blend of (i) a polymer component comprising polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), a copolymer of PLA and PGA, or any combination thereof and (ii) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) tailored to a medical application, and a process for making the same. In some embodiments, the TPU comprises units derived from a diol chain extender, a diisocyanate, and a polyol formulated to provide a set biodegradation rate in combination with at least one physical property. The blend of the invention provides useful materials for medical applications that have the individual benefits of polylactic acid and TPU while moderating each material's typical limitations.

The present invention provides a co-polymer polyol which has an ABA block structure wherein each A block comprises a plurality of hydroxy-carboxylic acid residues and the B block comprises at least one dimer fatty residue selected from a dimer fatty diacid residue, a dimer fatty diol residue and a dimer fatty diamine residue, wherein the co-polymer polyol comprises at least two hydroxyl end groups. The invention also provides a method of making the co-polymer polyol and a polyurethane comprising the co-polymer polyol.

A conduit tube includes a thermoplastic polyester elastomer resin composition containing a thermoplastic polyester elastomer A and a polycarbodiimide compound B, wherein the thermoplastic polyester elastomer A is formed by bonding 20 mass % or more and 65 mass % or less of a hard segment and 35 mass % or more and 80 mass % or less of a soft segment, the hard segment is composed of a polyester constituted from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic or alicyclic diol as constituting components, the soft segment contains an aliphatic polycarbonate, and the thermoplastic polyester elastomer resin composition contains 0.1 parts by mass or more and 5 parts by mass or less of the polycarbodiimide compound B based on 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic polyester elastomer A.

The present invention relates to a polyester polyol, suitable for use in the manufacture of a polyurethane, suitable for use in the manufacture of a polyurethane, the polyester polyol having an ABA-structure, in which A represents a lactide-oligomer and in which B represents an initiator. The initiator includes a reaction product having long chain dicarboxylic acid components having 18 or more carbon atoms. The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of the polyester polyol. The invention further pertains to polyurethanes including the before-mentioned polyester polyol as well as the use of these polyurethanes as an elastomer having a high toughness. The toughness is believed to originate from the combination of the hydrophobic character of the initiator and the hydrophilic character of the lactide parts in the polyol structure. The strength of the invented polylactide-polyurethane elastomers can be further improved by incorporating a carbodiimide in the elastomer material.

The present invention provides a polyester polyol, preferably a plant-derived polyester polyol, suitable for a composition for polyurethane foam that contributes to the reduction of load on the environment and has a good balance of high resilience, moderate hardness, and high durability as a cushioning material for vehicle seat cushions. A polyester polyol having a hydroxyl value in the range of 15 to 100 mgKOH/g according to the present invention is produced by a condensation of raw materials comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of fatty acids having a hydroxy group and fatty acid esters having a hydroxy group with a polyhydric alcohol having an average number of functional groups of more than three but not more than eight. The raw materials contain 90% to 100% by mass of a fatty acid having a hydroxy group and a fatty acid ester having a hydroxy group in total.

The present invention pertains to copolymers having one or more polyisobutylene segments and one or more biodegradable polymer segments, to methods of making such copolymers, to medical articles that contain such copolymers, and to methods of making such medical articles. According to certain aspects of the invention, copolymers are provided, which comprise a plurality of polyisobutylene segments and a plurality of biodegradable polymer segments. According to certain aspects of the invention, copolymers are provided, which comprise urethane linkages, urea linkages, amide linkages, ester linkages, anhydride linkages, carbonate linkages, linkages commonly described as click chemistry linkages, and combinations of two or more types of such linkages.