The copolymer includes divalent units represented by formula —[CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2]—, divalent units represented by formula; and one or more divalent units independently represented by formula: The copolymer has an —SO.sub.2X equivalent weight in a range from 300 to 2000. A polymer electrolyte membrane that includes the copolymer and a membrane electrode assembly that includes such a polymer electrolyte membrane are also provided.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel production method of ethylene-based ionomer having excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance which exhibits remarkably excellent breaking elongation, breaking stress, and strain hardening, and has a high melting point. The present invention relates to a production method of an ethylene-based ionomer including a heating conversion step of heating a specific ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer and converting the ester group in the copolymer into a metal-containing carboxylate containing a metal ion of Group 1, 2, or 12 of the periodic table.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel production method of ethylene-based ionomer having excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance which exhibits remarkably excellent breaking elongation, breaking stress, and strain hardening, and has a high melting point. The present invention relates to a production method of an ethylene-based ionomer including a heating conversion step of heating a specific ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer and converting the ester group in the copolymer into a metal-containing carboxylate containing a metal ion of Group 1, 2, or 12 of the periodic table.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel production method of ethylene-based ionomer having excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance which exhibits remarkably excellent breaking elongation, breaking stress, and strain hardening, and has a high melting point. The present invention relates to a production method of an ethylene-based ionomer including a heating conversion step of heating a specific ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer and converting the ester group in the copolymer into a metal-containing carboxylate containing a metal ion of Group 1, 2, or 12 of the periodic table.

The invention provides powerful methods and compositions for designing, selecting, fine-tuning and optimizing polymer nanogel and other supramolecular assemblies for various properties including, for example, particle size, density and morphology, guest loading capacity and encapsulation stability, and dynamic release control.

The invention provides powerful methods and compositions for designing, selecting, fine-tuning and optimizing polymer nanogel and other supramolecular assemblies for various properties including, for example, particle size, density and morphology, guest loading capacity and encapsulation stability, and dynamic release control.

A Polymer used as a treatment means, having an acid number greater than 100. The Polymer has a valent metal ion which is bonded to at least one reactive group. The characteristics of the Polymer include, conductivities of 4 S/cm to 200 S/cm or more, depending upon the concentration and nature of the metal bound. The conductivity proportional to the amount of metal bound, the ability of the Polymer to bind metals having a +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5 valence charge to the Polymer, and the ability to bind two or more different metals to separate binding sites on the Polymer.

A Polymer used as a treatment means, having an acid number greater than 100. The Polymer has a valent metal ion which is bonded to at least one reactive group. The characteristics of the Polymer include, conductivities of 4 S/cm to 200 S/cm or more, depending upon the concentration and nature of the metal bound. The conductivity proportional to the amount of metal bound, the ability of the Polymer to bind metals having a +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5 valence charge to the Polymer, and the ability to bind two or more different metals to separate binding sites on the Polymer.

A functional polymer including at least two different types of side chains, having the general formula (1),

##STR00001##

wherein A is an at least monosubstituted alkylene or arylene group; B is an amide, ester or ether group and n is 0 or 1; F is selected from: an ester, secondary amine, amide, ether, thio ether, thio ester, and may be the same or different for the different side chains; D is a side chain intended to reversible bind to a substrate or has a coating function; E is a side chain intended to irreversible bind to a substrate, the side chain E and polymer includes 1 to 10 different side chains D and 1 to 10 different side chains E, but at least one of each, and includes a plurality of each type, whereby the different types of side chains are randomly or regularly distributed in the polymer.

A functional polymer including at least two different types of side chains, having the general formula (1),

##STR00001##

wherein A is an at least monosubstituted alkylene or arylene group; B is an amide, ester or ether group and n is 0 or 1; F is selected from: an ester, secondary amine, amide, ether, thio ether, thio ester, and may be the same or different for the different side chains; D is a side chain intended to reversible bind to a substrate or has a coating function; E is a side chain intended to irreversible bind to a substrate, the side chain E and polymer includes 1 to 10 different side chains D and 1 to 10 different side chains E, but at least one of each, and includes a plurality of each type, whereby the different types of side chains are randomly or regularly distributed in the polymer.