Disclosed herein are embodiments of methods for making and using functionalized forms of polydicyclopentadiene polymers. The disclosed polymers and methods enable a greater range of uses than the unmodified polydicyclopentadiene, which is currently used industrially. In addition, the presence of the functional groups contemplated by the disclosed compounds and formulae allow for the control of the polymer surface energy, and also enables the use of reversible chemical crosslinks, which permits recycling of the material.

Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) derivatives of following general formula (I); their preparation and use thereof, especially as monomers in polymerization reactions, such as olefin polymerization or ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP).

##STR00001##

An electro-optic polymer includes a backbone that is a polynorbornene chain and an electro-optic structure at a side chain on the backbone. The polynorbornene chain has a first constituent unit represented by:

##STR00001##

wherein at least one of X.sup.1 or X.sup.2 is a binding site between the polynorbornene chain and the electro-optic structure, when X.sup.1 is the binding site, X.sup.2 is O or NH, when X.sup.2 is the binding site, X.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, and n.sub.A2 is an integer of 1 or greater.

An electro-optic polymer includes a backbone that is a polynorbornene chain and an electro-optic structure at a side chain on the backbone. The polynorbornene chain has a first constituent unit represented by:

##STR00001##

wherein at least one of X.sup.1 or X.sup.2 is a binding site between the polynorbornene chain and the electro-optic structure, when X.sup.1 is the binding site, X.sup.2 is O or NH, when X.sup.2 is the binding site, X.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, and n.sub.A2 is an integer of 1 or greater.

Various polycycloolefinic polymers containing phenolic pendent groups and compositions thereof useful for forming self-imageable films encompassing such polymers are disclosed. Such polymers encompass norbornene-type repeating units containing phenolic pendent groups which contain very low levels of fluorine containing monomers. The films formed from such polymer compositions provide self imageable, low-k, thermally stable layers for use in microelectronic and optoelectronic devices.

Various polycycloolefinic polymers containing phenolic pendent groups and compositions thereof useful for forming self-imageable films encompassing such polymers are disclosed. Such polymers encompass norbornene-type repeating units containing phenolic pendent groups which contain very low levels of fluorine containing monomers. The films formed from such polymer compositions provide self imageable, low-k, thermally stable layers for use in microelectronic and optoelectronic devices.

The present invention is a method for producing a stretched film comprising stretching an unstretched film that is formed using a hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene ring-opening polymer at a temperature of 95 to 135 C. and a stretching ratio of 1.2 to 10, followed by heating at a temperature of 150 to 220 C. Since the thus-obtained stretched film has excellent transparency and low coefficient of linear expansion, the stretched film is suitable for not only use in optical applications but also use for electronic materials.

The present invention is a method for producing a stretched film comprising stretching an unstretched film that is formed using a hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene ring-opening polymer at a temperature of 95 to 135 C. and a stretching ratio of 1.2 to 10, followed by heating at a temperature of 150 to 220 C. Since the thus-obtained stretched film has excellent transparency and low coefficient of linear expansion, the stretched film is suitable for not only use in optical applications but also use for electronic materials.

Novel methods and materials particularly useful for ophthalmic applications and to methods for making and using the same are disclosed herein. More particularly, relatively soft, optically transparent, foldable, high refractive index materials particularly suited for use in the production of intraocular lenses, contact lenses, and other ocular implants and to methods for manufacturing and implanting IOLs made therefrom are disclosed.

The present invention is: a hydrogenated tetracyclododecene-based ring-opening polymer comprising a repeating unit (A) derived from tetracyclododecene in a ratio of 40 wt % or more based on a total amount of repeating units, a ratio of meso diads in the repeating unit (A) being 65% or more; and a method for producing the same. By means of the present invention, provided are: a crystalline hydrogenated tetracyclododecene-based ring-opening polymer having a high melting point and a high glass transition temperature, and exhibiting excellent heat resistance and excellent processability even after forming due to melt forming; and a method for producing the same.