The present invention provides a polymerizable composition containing a specific polymerizable compound and a fluorosurfactant having a specific polyoxyalkylene skeleton and having specific molecular weight. The invention also provides an optically anisotropic body, a retardation film, an antireflective film, and a liquid crystal display device that are produced using the polymerizable composition of the present invention. The present invention is useful because, when an optically anisotropic body is produced by photo-polymerization of the polymerizable composition, three features including the leveling properties of the surface of the optically anisotropic body, offset onto the substrate, and liquid crystal alignment can be improved simultaneously.

The present invention provides a polymerizable composition containing a specific polymerizable compound and a fluorosurfactant having a specific polyoxyalkylene skeleton and having specific molecular weight. The invention also provides an optically anisotropic body, a retardation film, an antireflective film, and a liquid crystal display device that are produced using the polymerizable composition of the present invention. The present invention is useful because, when an optically anisotropic body is produced by photo-polymerization of the polymerizable composition, three features including the leveling properties of the surface of the optically anisotropic body, offset onto the substrate, and liquid crystal alignment can be improved simultaneously.

The present invention relates to a method for making a direct emulsion of a copolymer in water, characterized in that it comprises the polymerization of at least, expressed as a percentage by weight of each of the monomers based upon the total weight of the monomers: a) 10 to 80% by weight of methacrylic acid and, optionally, of acrylic acid; b) 15 to 80% by weight of at least one non-ionic vinyl monomer; c) 0.05 to 9.5% by weight of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid or a salt thereof; d) 0.5 to 30% by weight of at least one monomer containing at least one hydrophobic group; and e) 0.01 to 5% by weight of at least one crosslinking monomer; said polymerization being carried out in the presence of at least one surfactant.

It also relates to the corresponding new copolymer emulsion in water, a method for thickening an aqueous composition comprising such an emulsion of copolymer and to an aqueous composition comprising such a copolymer emulsion.

The present invention relates to a method for making a direct emulsion of a copolymer in water, characterized in that it comprises the polymerization of at least, expressed as a percentage by weight of each of the monomers based upon the total weight of the monomers: a) 10 to 80% by weight of methacrylic acid and, optionally, of acrylic acid; b) 15 to 80% by weight of at least one non-ionic vinyl monomer; c) 0.05 to 9.5% by weight of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid or a salt thereof; d) 0.5 to 30% by weight of at least one monomer containing at least one hydrophobic group; and e) 0.01 to 5% by weight of at least one crosslinking monomer; said polymerization being carried out in the presence of at least one surfactant.

It also relates to the corresponding new copolymer emulsion in water, a method for thickening an aqueous composition comprising such an emulsion of copolymer and to an aqueous composition comprising such a copolymer emulsion.

The first aspect of the present invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising: (i) a copolymer comprising: (A) from 0.1 mol-% to 99.9 mol-% of one or more cationic structural units (A); and (B) from 0.1 mol-% to 99.9 mol-% of one or more macromonomeric structural units (B); and (ii) a cosmetically acceptable component; wherein the one or more cationic structural units (A) are represented by the general formulae (I) and/or (II) and the one or more macromonomeric structural units (B) are represented by the general formula (III). Preferably the composition is a shampoo for cleansing keratin fibres, more preferably is a hair cleansing composition. The invention also relates to a method of using a cosmetic composition comprising applying the composition according to first aspect to keratinous material. The invention also relates to Use of a cosmetic composition for volumising keratinous fibres, wherein the cosmetic composition is according to the first aspect. The invention also relates to a process for formulating a cosmetic composition comprising providing a copolymer and a cosmetically acceptable component and mixing the copolymer and a cosmetically acceptable component together to form a cosmetic composition.

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The invention relates to a copolymer obtained by polymerisation reaction of at least three comonomers: a first anionic monomer, a second monomer comprising an olefin unsaturation, and a third monomer comprising a hydrophobic group. The invention likewise relates to the use of said copolymer as a thickening agent, in particular in aqueous suspensions of mineral particles with high solids content. The copolymer according to the invention makes it possible to improve the compromise between viscosity with high shear gradient and viscosity with low shear gradient, while also improving water retention inside the suspension.

The invention relates to a copolymer obtained by polymerisation reaction of at least three comonomers: a first anionic monomer, a second monomer comprising an olefin unsaturation, and a third monomer comprising a hydrophobic group. The invention likewise relates to the use of said copolymer as a thickening agent, in particular in aqueous suspensions of mineral particles with high solids content. The copolymer according to the invention makes it possible to improve the compromise between viscosity with high shear gradient and viscosity with low shear gradient, while also improving water retention inside the suspension.

The present invention has an object to provide an anti-biofouling coating material which is capable of forming a coating film excellent in anti-biofouling properties and adhesiveness. Further, the present invention has another object to provide a ship, etc. and an article to be used in a humid or wetted environment, having, on its surface, a coating film formed by using the above anti-biofouling coating material. Further, the present invention has other objects to provide a method for preventing adhesion of organisms to a ship, etc. and to provide a method for preventing adhesion of fungi or algae to the surface of an article to be used in a humid or wetted environment, by using the above anti-biofouling coating material. The anti-biofouling coating material of the present invention is an anti-biofouling coating material to be applied to the surface of an article in order to prevent adhesion of organisms, which comprises a polymer F being a fluorinated polymer containing units based on a fluoroolefin, and a polymer G being a polymer containing units based on a (meth)acrylate having a polyoxyalkylene chain.

The present invention has an object to provide an anti-biofouling coating material which is capable of forming a coating film excellent in anti-biofouling properties and adhesiveness. Further, the present invention has another object to provide a ship, etc. and an article to be used in a humid or wetted environment, having, on its surface, a coating film formed by using the above anti-biofouling coating material. Further, the present invention has other objects to provide a method for preventing adhesion of organisms to a ship, etc. and to provide a method for preventing adhesion of fungi or algae to the surface of an article to be used in a humid or wetted environment, by using the above anti-biofouling coating material. The anti-biofouling coating material of the present invention is an anti-biofouling coating material to be applied to the surface of an article in order to prevent adhesion of organisms, which comprises a polymer F being a fluorinated polymer containing units based on a fluoroolefin, and a polymer G being a polymer containing units based on a (meth)acrylate having a polyoxyalkylene chain.

There is provided a carbon material dispersion which has excellent dispersibility and in which the dispersibility is retained stably over a long period of time even when the carbon material dispersion contains a carbon material at a high concentration. The carbon material dispersion is a carbon material dispersion containing a carbon material, water, and a polymeric dispersant, wherein the polymeric dispersant is a polymer including 5 to 40% by mass of a constituent unit (1) derived from a monomer 1, such as 2-vinylpyridine, 50 to 80% by mass of a constituent unit (2) derived from a monomer 2 represented by formula (1) (wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, A represents O or NH, X represents an ethylene group or a propylene group, Y represents O, NHCOO, or NHCONH, each of R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, n represents 20 to 100, and R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or the like), and 0.5 to 40% by mass of a constituent unit (3) derived from a monomer 3 copolymerizable with above-described monomers.

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