Disclosed are water-absorbent resin particles having a gel outflow test force measured by the following method of 5 to 14 N. The measuring method for gel outflow test force includes: producing a swollen gel by allowing the water-absorbent resin particles to absorb 29 times as amount of physiological saline as the water-absorbent resin particles under stirring; evenly putting 20 g of the swollen gel in a cylinder with an inner diameter of 5 cm and having a hole with a diameter of 5 mm at a bottom part, compressing the swollen gel in the cylinder at a rate of 10 mm/min with a jig with a diameter of 4.9 cm, thereby recording a test force at a time point when a part of the swollen gel flows out from the hole at the bottom part of the cylinder, as the gel outflow test force.

Disclosed are water-absorbent resin particles having a gel outflow test force measured by the following method of 5 to 14 N. The measuring method for gel outflow test force includes: producing a swollen gel by allowing the water-absorbent resin particles to absorb 29 times as amount of physiological saline as the water-absorbent resin particles under stirring; evenly putting 20 g of the swollen gel in a cylinder with an inner diameter of 5 cm and having a hole with a diameter of 5 mm at a bottom part, compressing the swollen gel in the cylinder at a rate of 10 mm/min with a jig with a diameter of 4.9 cm, thereby recording a test force at a time point when a part of the swollen gel flows out from the hole at the bottom part of the cylinder, as the gel outflow test force.

A method of producing modified vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles, includes mixing vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles with a mixed medium containing unsaturated carboxylic acid, an acid catalyst, and water, wherein, by mixing the vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles with the mixed medium, the vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles are reacted with the unsaturated carboxylic acid to obtain modified vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles containing a vinyl ester unit represented by a formula (2) below, having a vinyl alcohol unit content based on the total constitutional units from 95 to 99.99 mol %, and having an average particle diameter from 50 to 2000 μm. The production method does not cause the problem of the residual sulfur content derived from a liquid medium used for reaction and is also capable of modifying the vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles while maintaining the particle shape.

A method of producing modified vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles, includes mixing vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles with a mixed medium containing unsaturated carboxylic acid, an acid catalyst, and water, wherein, by mixing the vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles with the mixed medium, the vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles are reacted with the unsaturated carboxylic acid to obtain modified vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles containing a vinyl ester unit represented by a formula (2) below, having a vinyl alcohol unit content based on the total constitutional units from 95 to 99.99 mol %, and having an average particle diameter from 50 to 2000 μm. The production method does not cause the problem of the residual sulfur content derived from a liquid medium used for reaction and is also capable of modifying the vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles while maintaining the particle shape.

A method of producing modified vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles, includes mixing vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles with a mixed medium containing unsaturated carboxylic acid, an acid catalyst, and water, wherein, by mixing the vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles with the mixed medium, the vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles are reacted with the unsaturated carboxylic acid to obtain modified vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles containing a vinyl ester unit represented by a formula (2) below, having a vinyl alcohol unit content based on the total constitutional units from 95 to 99.99 mol %, and having an average particle diameter from 50 to 2000 μm. The production method does not cause the problem of the residual sulfur content derived from a liquid medium used for reaction and is also capable of modifying the vinyl alcohol-based polymer particles while maintaining the particle shape.

In some aspects, the present disclosure pertains to multi-arm polymers that comprise a core, a plurality of polymer segments having a first end that is covalently attached to the core and a second end comprising a moiety that comprises a reactive group, wherein the polymer segments comprise one or more free-radical-polymerizable monomers. In some aspects, systems are provided that comprise a first composition comprising such a multi-arm polymer and a second composition comprising a multifunctional compound that comprises functional groups that are reactive with the reactive groups of the multi-arm polymer. In some aspects, systems are provided that comprise crosslinked reaction products of such a multi-arm polymer and such a multifunctional compound.

In some aspects, the present disclosure pertains to multi-arm polymers that comprise a core, a plurality of polymer segments having a first end that is covalently attached to the core and a second end comprising a moiety that comprises a reactive group, wherein the polymer segments comprise one or more free-radical-polymerizable monomers. In some aspects, systems are provided that comprise a first composition comprising such a multi-arm polymer and a second composition comprising a multifunctional compound that comprises functional groups that are reactive with the reactive groups of the multi-arm polymer. In some aspects, systems are provided that comprise crosslinked reaction products of such a multi-arm polymer and such a multifunctional compound.

The invention relates to aqueous composition having a continuous aqueous phase, wherein the composition comprises•a) a polymer having a polymer backbone having carboxylic acid groups covalently linked to the polymer backbone, dissolved in the continuous aqueous phase, wherein 10 to 100 mol-% of the acid groups are neutralized by a base selected from ammonia, and amines having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, •b) a polyalkylene oxide terminated at one end by a hydrocarbyl group having 8 to 30 carbon atoms, and, •c) a compound according to formula (I) (Formula I)•wherein R.sup.1 is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon with 3 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is H or CH.sub.3 and n is 1 or 2, •wherein components a), b), and c) together have an acid value in the range of 20 to 200 mg KOH/g, •and wherein the polymer has one or more pendant groups (A) connected to the polymer backbone by a covalent link, wherein the pendant group (A) comprises a polyalkylene oxide segment and a hydrocarbyl segment having 8 to 30 carbon atoms, and wherein the polyalkylene oxide segment is located between the hydrocarbyl segment and the covalent link.

##STR00001##

The invention relates to aqueous composition having a continuous aqueous phase, wherein the composition comprises•a) a polymer having a polymer backbone having carboxylic acid groups covalently linked to the polymer backbone, dissolved in the continuous aqueous phase, wherein 10 to 100 mol-% of the acid groups are neutralized by a base selected from ammonia, and amines having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, •b) a polyalkylene oxide terminated at one end by a hydrocarbyl group having 8 to 30 carbon atoms, and, •c) a compound according to formula (I) (Formula I)•wherein R.sup.1 is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon with 3 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is H or CH.sub.3 and n is 1 or 2, •wherein components a), b), and c) together have an acid value in the range of 20 to 200 mg KOH/g, •and wherein the polymer has one or more pendant groups (A) connected to the polymer backbone by a covalent link, wherein the pendant group (A) comprises a polyalkylene oxide segment and a hydrocarbyl segment having 8 to 30 carbon atoms, and wherein the polyalkylene oxide segment is located between the hydrocarbyl segment and the covalent link.

##STR00001##

A dielectric elastomeric material having a permittivity of 20-65 at 10.sup.3 Hz is provided. The dielectric elastomeric material is formed from a composition comprising: a polymer comprising at least one acrylate monomer; a cross-linker; and a photoinitiator. A conductive elastomer comprising the dielectric elastomeric material, as well as a method of forming the dielectric elastomeric material, are also provided.