The present invention relates to polymers having dynamic urea bonds and more specifically to polymers having hindered urea bonds (HUBs). The present invention also relates to: (a) malleable, repairable, and reprogrammable shape memory polymers having HUBs, (b) reversible or degradable (e.g., via hydrolysis or aminolysis) linear, branched or network polymers having HUBs, and (c) to precursors for incorporation of HUBs into these polymers. The HUB technology can be applied to and integrated into a variety of polymers, such as polyureas, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyamines, and polysaccharides to make linear, branched, and cross-linked polymers. Polymers incorporating the HUBs can be used in a wide variety of applications including plastics, coatings, adhesives, biomedical applications, such as drug delivery systems and tissue engineering, environmentally compatible packaging materials, and 4D printing applications.

The present invention relates to shape-memory polymers, a method for providing said shape-memory polymers, uses and precursors thereof. More precisely, shape-memory polymers according to the present invention comprise end-capped urethane- and/or urea-based polymers having an amorphous backbone. Shape-memory polymers described herein provide for improved properties.

The present invention relates to shape-memory polymers, a method for providing said shape-memory polymers, uses and precursors thereof. More precisely, shape-memory polymers according to the present invention comprise end-capped urethane- and/or urea-based polymers having an amorphous backbone. Shape-memory polymers described herein provide for improved properties.

A urethane oligomer according to a) or b) has: a) at least two backbone residues R issued from a polyisocyanate without the NCO groups, linked between them with a diol residue R.sub.B (diol without the two OH groups) by two urethane bonds and each backbone residues R carrying (or linked to) at least two urethane segments each containing at least one terminal allyl group, b) at least one backbone residue R issued from a polyisocyanate without the NCO groups, the backbone residue R carrying (or linked to) at least two urethane segments each linked to R by one urethane bond with at least one urethane segment (arm) containing at least one terminal allyl group, and at least one urethane segment (arm) containing at least one terminal (meth)acrylate group. A curable composition containing the urethane oligomer reduces oxygen inhibition in coatings, adhesives, sealants or in resin matrix with good surface properties.

A urethane oligomer according to a) or b) has: a) at least two backbone residues R issued from a polyisocyanate without the NCO groups, linked between them with a diol residue R.sub.B (diol without the two OH groups) by two urethane bonds and each backbone residues R carrying (or linked to) at least two urethane segments each containing at least one terminal allyl group, b) at least one backbone residue R issued from a polyisocyanate without the NCO groups, the backbone residue R carrying (or linked to) at least two urethane segments each linked to R by one urethane bond with at least one urethane segment (arm) containing at least one terminal allyl group, and at least one urethane segment (arm) containing at least one terminal (meth)acrylate group. A curable composition containing the urethane oligomer reduces oxygen inhibition in coatings, adhesives, sealants or in resin matrix with good surface properties.

The present invention provides an active energy ray-curable composition exhibiting high curability and having excellent offset printability when used for a printing ink, an active energy ray-curable printing ink having both excellent curability and offset printability, and a printed matter using the same. An active energy ray-curable composition includes a urethane (meth)acrylate resin (A) and a polymerization initiator (B), wherein the urethane (meth)acrylate resin (A) is produced by using an aromatic polyisocyanate (a), a hydroxyl group-containing mono(meth)acrylate (b), and a polyol (c) as essential reaction raw materials so that the ratio [(b′)/(a′)] of the number of moles (b′) of hydroxyl groups contained in the hydroxyl group-containing mono(meth)acrylate (b) to the number of moles (a′) of isocyanate groups contained in the aromatic polyisocyanate (a) is within a range of 0.99 to 0.40, and the urethane (meth)acrylate resin (A) has a (meth)acryloyl group concentration within a range of 1.5 to 4.0 mmol/g.

A composition comprising microcapsules functionalized with polymerizable functional groups on the surface of said microcapsules wherein the functional groups form covalent bonds with monomers in the continuous phase to enhance the mechanical properties of the composition.

The present invention provides an adhesive composition, which can be cured through three ways: UV-radiation curing, thermal-radiation curing and moisture-curing. The adhesive composition comprises a) an oligomer having an isocyanate group and a (meth)acryloxy group; b) a (meth)acrylic monomer and/or oligomer not having an isocyanate group; c) a photoinitiator; and d) a peroxide.

Disclosed are urethane (meth)acrylates obtainable by implementation of the following steps: (r1) partially reacting an alkoxylated polyol (A) with (meth)acrylic acid (B) in the presence of at least one esterification catalyst (C) and at least one polymerization inhibitor (D) and also, optionally, of a solvent (E) that forms an azeotrope with water, (o1) optionally removing at least some of the water formed in r1) from the reaction mixture, it being possible for o1) to take place during and/or after r1), (o2) optionally neutralizing the reaction mixture, (o3) if a solvent (E) has been used, optionally removing this solvent by distillation and/or (o4) stripping with a gas which is inert under the reaction conditions, (r2) reacting the reaction mixture obtained after the last of the above reaction steps with a compound (G) containing at least two epoxy groups, optionally in the presence of a catalyst (H), and (r3) reacting the reaction mixture from (r2) with at least one polyisocyanate (J) and at least one hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate (K) and optionally with at least one further compound (M) which contains one or more isocyanate-reactive groups, in the presence of a catalyst (L), with the proviso that the catalyst (L) used in step (r3) is a bismuth-containing catalyst.

A process for creating an assembly with a pressure sensitive adhesive includes the application of a light curable composition to a first substrate of the assembly. The light curable composition is cured with a single light exposure step to form a fully polymerized pressure sensitive adhesive. The resulting pressure sensitive adhesive is brought into contact with to a second substrate with sufficient force to bond the second substrate to the first substrate to complete the assembly with the pressure sensitive adhesive.