Polymers are described having repeat units of Formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.3 is H or alkyl group; x and t are positive integers; Q is C(O)O, C(O)NH, or direct bond; D is alkylene, arylene, or
(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.m; E is O, S, NR.sup.5, or direct bond; R.sup.5 is H or alkyl; G is the residue of a polyisocyanate; V is a urethane, urea, or thiourea that bonds to other parts of the polymer compound or to a monovalent blocking group; s is 1 to 5; Y is O or a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group; A is an alkylene group; w, v, and y are 0 or 1;
X is the residue of a cyclic or acyclic sugar alcohol which is substituted with R.sup.1, C(O)R.sup.1, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.mR.sup.2, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.mC(O)R.sup.1, or mixtures thereof; n and m are independently 0 to 20; R.sup.1 is independently an alkyl group; and R.sup.2 is independently H or alkyl group.

Polymers are described having repeat units of Formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.3 is H or alkyl group; x and t are positive integers; Q is C(O)O, C(O)NH, or direct bond; D is alkylene, arylene, or
(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.m; E is O, S, NR.sup.5, or direct bond; R.sup.5 is H or alkyl; G is the residue of a polyisocyanate; V is a urethane, urea, or thiourea that bonds to other parts of the polymer compound or to a monovalent blocking group; s is 1 to 5; Y is O or a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group; A is an alkylene group; w, v, and y are 0 or 1;
X is the residue of a cyclic or acyclic sugar alcohol which is substituted with R.sup.1, C(O)R.sup.1, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.mR.sup.2, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.mC(O)R.sup.1, or mixtures thereof; n and m are independently 0 to 20; R.sup.1 is independently an alkyl group; and R.sup.2 is independently H or alkyl group.

A functionalized carbon fiber having covalently bound on its surface a sizing agent containing epoxy groups, at least some of which are engaged in covalent bonds with crosslinking molecules, wherein each of said crosslinking molecules possesses at least two epoxy-reactive groups and at least one free functional group reactive with functional groups of a polymer matrix in which the carbon fiber is to be incorporated, wherein at least a portion of said cros slinking molecules are engaged, via at least two of their epoxy-reactive groups, in crosslinking bonds between at least two epoxy groups of the sizing agent. Composites comprised of these functionalized carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix are also described. Methods for producing the functionalized carbon fibers and composites thereof are also described.

Composition, comprising a first component (I) comprising a polyacrylate (A1) and a wax (B), and a second component (II) comprising a polyacrylate (A2), wherein

polyacrylate (A1) comprises moieties derived from (meth)acrylic acid ester monomers (M1) and (M2), and optionally (M3),

CH.sub.2CR.sup.3COOR.sup.1(M1)

CH.sub.2CR.sup.3COOR.sup.2(M2)

CH.sub.2CR.sup.3XR.sup.4;(M3)

wherein R.sup.1 is the alcohol moiety in monomer (M1) containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms;
R.sup.2 is the alcohol moiety in monomer (M2) containing from 9 to 40 carbon atoms;
R.sup.3 is H, CH.sub.3, or C.sub.2H.sub.5;
X is COO or CONH;
R.sup.4 is glycidyl or CH.sub.2(CH.sub.2).sub.nOR.sup.5, wherein n is an integer in the range of from 1-10 and
R.sup.5 is H or a residue containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
and
polyacrylate (A2) is a fluorine-containing polyacrylate;
wherein the composition is based on water and/or an organic solvent.

In accordance with one aspect, a material for energy management and peak energy reduction in a building structure, comprises an insulative base material, a first phase change material, and a functional polymeric phase change material that dynamically absorbs and releases heat to adjust heat transfer at or within a temperature stabilizing range. The functional polymeric phase change material has at least one phase change temperature in the range between 10 C. and 100 C. and a phase change enthalpy of at least 5 Joules per gram, the functional polymeric phase change material including a plurality of polymer chains that include a backbone chain and a plurality of side chains, wherein a first portion of the plurality of polymer chains are crosslinked to each other, wherein a second portion of the plurality of polymer chains are crosslinked with the first phase change material and a third portion of the plurality of side chains are mechanically entangled with the inorganic insulative base material.

In accordance with one aspect, a material for energy management and peak energy reduction in a building structure, comprises an insulative base material, a first phase change material, and a functional polymeric phase change material that dynamically absorbs and releases heat to adjust heat transfer at or within a temperature stabilizing range. The functional polymeric phase change material has at least one phase change temperature in the range between 10 C. and 100 C. and a phase change enthalpy of at least 5 Joules per gram, the functional polymeric phase change material including a plurality of polymer chains that include a backbone chain and a plurality of side chains, wherein a first portion of the plurality of polymer chains are crosslinked to each other, wherein a second portion of the plurality of polymer chains are crosslinked with the first phase change material and a third portion of the plurality of side chains are mechanically entangled with the inorganic insulative base material.

Composition, comprising at least components (A) and (B) and optionally at least one of components (C) to (E): (A) a polyacrylate obtained in the polymerisation of monomers (M1) CH.sub.2CR.sup.3COOR.sup.1 with (M2) CH.sub.2CR.sup.3COOR.sup.2 and optionally (M3) CH.sub.2CR.sup.6COOYRF (M4) CH.sub.2CR.sup.3XR.sup.4; (B) a wax; (C) a blocked isocyanate; (D) an organic polysiloxane; (E) a melamine resin.

A functionalized carbon fiber having covalently bound on its surface a sizing agent containing epoxy groups, at least some of which are engaged in covalent bonds with crosslinking molecules, wherein each of said crosslinking molecules possesses at least two epoxy-reactive groups and at least one free functional group reactive with functional groups of a polymer matrix in which the carbon fiber is to be incorporated, wherein at least a portion of said crosslinking molecules are engaged, via at least two of their epoxy-reactive groups, in crosslinking bonds between at least two epoxy groups of the sizing agent. Composites comprised of these functionalized carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix are also described. Methods for producing the functionalized carbon fibers and composites thereof are also described.

Aqueous polymer dispersions and their use for producing shaped articles having improved heat resistance are described.

To provide a fiber bundling agent containing: a vinyl ester resin (A) having an alkoxy polyoxyalkylene structure, a urethane bond, a (meth)acryloyl group, and an epoxy group; and an aqueous medium, in which the vinyl ester resin (A) has an epoxy equivalent of 3,500 g/eq to 11,000 g/eq. Since the fiber bundling agent is excellent in bundling properties and in interfacial shear strength between fiber resins, the fiber bundling agent is suitably used for production of a fiber material capable of imparting excellent strength to a molded product.