The present invention is directed at the decarboxylation and amidation of polyitaconic acid polymers. The polymers formed have useful dispersion properties and are suitable for use in the prevention of scaling.

The present invention is directed at the decarboxylation and amidation of polyitaconic acid polymers. The polymers formed have useful dispersion properties and are suitable for use in the prevention of scaling.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a water-absorbent resin having excellent water absorption characteristics and being capable of improving the shape-retaining characteristics of a water-absorbent material when used in the water-absorbent material. A water-absorbent resin obtained by performing reversed phase suspension polymerization of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer in a hydrocarbon dispersion medium, using a radical polymerization initiator, said resin being capable of having both excellent absorption performance and shape retention in a water-absorbent material using the water-absorbent resin, as a result of fulfilling the conditions of: (1) having a water-retention capacity of physiological saline of at least 38 g/g; (2) having a water-absorption capacity of physiological saline under a load of 4.14 kPa of at least 15 ml/g; and (3) having a tan of a 50-fold swollen gel of at least 2.1010.sup.2.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a water-absorbent resin having excellent water absorption characteristics and being capable of improving the shape-retaining characteristics of a water-absorbent material when used in the water-absorbent material. A water-absorbent resin obtained by performing reversed phase suspension polymerization of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer in a hydrocarbon dispersion medium, using a radical polymerization initiator, said resin being capable of having both excellent absorption performance and shape retention in a water-absorbent material using the water-absorbent resin, as a result of fulfilling the conditions of: (1) having a water-retention capacity of physiological saline of at least 38 g/g; (2) having a water-absorption capacity of physiological saline under a load of 4.14 kPa of at least 15 ml/g; and (3) having a tan of a 50-fold swollen gel of at least 2.1010.sup.2.

New ampholyte biomaterial compounds containing ampholyte moieties are synthesized and integrated into polymeric assemblies to provide hydrophilic polymers exhibiting improved biocompatibility, haemocompatibility, hydrophilicity non-thrombogenicity, anti-bacterial ability, and mechanical strength, as well as suitability as a drug delivery platform.

Maleic anhydride homopolymer corrosion inhibitors, maleic acid homopolymer corrosion inhibitors, methods for preparing the same, and methods of inhibiting corrosion are provided. The corrosion inhibitors may exclude phosphorus and may contain a hydrolysate of a maleic anhydride homopolymer or a hydrolysate of a maleic acid homopolymer. The maleic acid homopolymer may include from about 2 to about 5 maleic acid repeating units and the maleic anhydride homopolymer may include from about 2 to about 5 maleic anhydride repeating units.

An itaconate molecule can have the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from H, Ag, or Cu; wherein the ratio of Ag and/or Cu to itaconate is at least about 1:1; and wherein n ranges from 1 to 14. The itaconates are useful, for example, as antimicrobial agents.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode capable of maintaining superior capacity retention without destruction of an electrode structure, even in the case of using an active material including silicon. The present invention relates to a binder for a lithium cell, the binder comprising polyacrylic acid cross-liked by a cross-linking agent selected from the compounds described in the general formulae [1] to [13] and the polymer described in the general formula [14] (provided that the one which includes a functional group-containing vinylidene fluoride-based polymer is excluded); a composition for producing an electrode of a lithium cell, the composition comprising 1) an active material containing silicon, 2) a conductive assistant and 3) a cross-linked-type polyacrylic acid (provided that the one containing a functional group-containing vinylidene fluoride-based polymer is excluded); and an electrode for a lithium cell, the electrode comprising 1) an active material containing silicon, 2) a conductive assistant, 3) a cross-linked-type polyacrylic acid, and 4) a current collector (provided that the one containing a functional group-containing vinylidene fluoride-based polymer is excluded).

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode capable of maintaining superior capacity retention without destruction of an electrode structure, even in the case of using an active material including silicon. The present invention relates to a binder for a lithium cell, the binder comprising polyacrylic acid cross-liked by a cross-linking agent selected from the compounds described in the general formulae [1] to [13] and the polymer described in the general formula [14] (provided that the one which includes a functional group-containing vinylidene fluoride-based polymer is excluded); a composition for producing an electrode of a lithium cell, the composition comprising 1) an active material containing silicon, 2) a conductive assistant and 3) a cross-linked-type polyacrylic acid (provided that the one containing a functional group-containing vinylidene fluoride-based polymer is excluded); and an electrode for a lithium cell, the electrode comprising 1) an active material containing silicon, 2) a conductive assistant, 3) a cross-linked-type polyacrylic acid, and 4) a current collector (provided that the one containing a functional group-containing vinylidene fluoride-based polymer is excluded).

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode capable of maintaining superior capacity retention without destruction of an electrode structure, even in the case of using an active material including silicon.

The present invention relates to a binder for a lithium cell, the binder comprising polyacrylic acid cross-linked by a cross-linking agent selected from the compounds described in the general formulae [1] to [13] and the polymer described in the general formula [14] (provided that the one which includes a functional group-containing vinylidene fluoride-based polymer is excluded); a composition for producing an electrode of a lithium cell, the composition comprising 1) an active material containing silicon, 2) a conductive assistant and 3) a cross-linked-type polyacrylic acid (provided that the one containing a functional group-containing vinylidene fluoride-based polymer is excluded); and an electrode for a lithium cell, the electrode comprising 1) an active material containing silicon, 2) a conductive assistant, 3) a cross-linked-type polyacrylic acid, and 4) a current collector (provided that the one containing a functional group-containing vinylidene fluoride-based polymer is excluded).