Liquid crystal polymerization films, prepared by applying a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by formula (2) on an alignment film prepared by calcinating a composition containing a polymer represented by a repeating unit of formula (1), and subsequently polymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystal composition.

##STR00001##

In formula (1), R.sup.1 is independently a tetravalent group, R.sup.2 is independently a divalent functional group and R.sup.3 is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent functional group.

PG.sup.1-Sp.sup.1-R.sup.4-Sp.sup.2-PG.sup.2(2)

In formula (2), R.sup.4 represents a divalent group formed by combining five or more and nine or less of alicycles and/or aromatic rings, SP.sup.1 and SP.sup.2 represent a spacer group, and PG.sup.1 and PG.sup.2 represents an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, a cyano group, fluorine or a polymerizable functional group, in which either group is the polymerizable functional group.

Liquid crystal polymerization films, prepared by applying a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by formula (2) on an alignment film prepared by calcinating a composition containing a polymer represented by a repeating unit of formula (1), and subsequently polymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystal composition.

##STR00001##

In formula (1), R.sup.1 is independently a tetravalent group, R.sup.2 is independently a divalent functional group and R.sup.3 is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent functional group.

PG.sup.1-Sp.sup.1-R.sup.4-Sp.sup.2-PG.sup.2(2)

In formula (2), R.sup.4 represents a divalent group formed by combining five or more and nine or less of alicycles and/or aromatic rings, SP.sup.1 and SP.sup.2 represent a spacer group, and PG.sup.1 and PG.sup.2 represents an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, a cyano group, fluorine or a polymerizable functional group, in which either group is the polymerizable functional group.

The present invention provides a pigment dispersant that exhibits high fine dispersibility, stability, and fluidity in a small amount, a pigment dispersion liquid including the pigment dispersant, and a process of producing the pigment dispersant and pigment dispersion liquid. The pigment dispersant contains as a main component, a graft copolymer formed through living radical polymerization using two or more monomers including a methacrylate A having an acidic group or a basic group and a methacrylate-based macromonomer B having a methacrylate residue at one terminal of a particular polymer chain that has a molecular weight of from 500 to 5000. A ratio of a total molar number of the methacrylate-based monomers relative to 1 mol of a polymerization-initiating compound in the raw material monomers is from 20 to 50 mol. A ratio of the B component-derived polymer chain to the graft copolymer is from 50 to 90 mass %.

The present invention provides a pigment dispersant that exhibits high fine dispersibility, stability, and fluidity in a small amount, a pigment dispersion liquid including the pigment dispersant, and a process of producing the pigment dispersant and pigment dispersion liquid. The pigment dispersant contains as a main component, a graft copolymer formed through living radical polymerization using two or more monomers including a methacrylate A having an acidic group or a basic group and a methacrylate-based macromonomer B having a methacrylate residue at one terminal of a particular polymer chain that has a molecular weight of from 500 to 5000. A ratio of a total molar number of the methacrylate-based monomers relative to 1 mol of a polymerization-initiating compound in the raw material monomers is from 20 to 50 mol. A ratio of the B component-derived polymer chain to the graft copolymer is from 50 to 90 mass %.

A radical-polymerizable resin composition comprising one or more metal-containing compounds (A) selected from a metal soap (A1) and a -diketone skeleton-containing metal complex (A2); one or more thiol compounds (B) selected from a secondary thiol compound (B1) and a tertiary thiol compound (B2); and a radical-polymerizable compound (C) can stably cure under a dry condition, in water and in seawater and further on a wet substrate. The radical-polymerizable resin composition is useful as a repairing material for inorganic structure, a radical-polymerizable coating composition, a concrete spall preventing curable material, a reinforcing fiber-containing composite material, etc.

A radical-polymerizable resin composition comprising one or more metal-containing compounds (A) selected from a metal soap (A1) and a -diketone skeleton-containing metal complex (A2); one or more thiol compounds (B) selected from a secondary thiol compound (B1) and a tertiary thiol compound (B2); and a radical-polymerizable compound (C) can stably cure under a dry condition, in water and in seawater and further on a wet substrate. The radical-polymerizable resin composition is useful as a repairing material for inorganic structure, a radical-polymerizable coating composition, a concrete spall preventing curable material, a reinforcing fiber-containing composite material, etc.

A liquid crystal alignment agent for photo-alignment for providing an aligning member has excellent photoreaction efficiency and is capable of aligning polymerizable liquid crystals with high sensitivity. A liquid crystal alignment agent for photo-alignment includes (A) a resin having a side chain including a structure of Formula (1) and (B) a compound of Formula (2), an alignment member obtained from the liquid crystal alignment agent, and a retardation member: wherein X1 is a benzene ring which may be arbitrarily substituted with an substituent, R is a substituent selected from OH and NH.sub.2, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently a substituent selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 haloalkyl, etc., and n is an integer of 0 or 1.

##STR00001##

A liquid crystal alignment agent for photo-alignment for providing an aligning member has excellent photoreaction efficiency and is capable of aligning polymerizable liquid crystals with high sensitivity. A liquid crystal alignment agent for photo-alignment includes (A) a resin having a side chain including a structure of Formula (1) and (B) a compound of Formula (2), an alignment member obtained from the liquid crystal alignment agent, and a retardation member: wherein X1 is a benzene ring which may be arbitrarily substituted with an substituent, R is a substituent selected from OH and NH.sub.2, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently a substituent selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 haloalkyl, etc., and n is an integer of 0 or 1.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a block copolymer comprising at least one PA block and at least one PB block. The PA block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer A, and the PB block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer B. Monomer A is a vinyl, acrylic, diolefin, nitrile, dinitrile, or acrylonitrile monomer. Monomer B is a radically polymerizable plant oil monomer containing one or more triglycerides. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a thermoplastic block copolymer by radical polymerizing a radically polymerizable monomer with a radically polymerizable plant oil monomer containing one or more triglycerides, in the presence of an initiator and a transition-metal catalyst system to form the thermoplastic block copolymer. The polymerized plant oil-based block copolymers are useful in a variety of applications, such as asphalt modifiers, rubber compositions, adhesives, tires, in the automobile industry, footwear, packaging, etc.

The present invention relates to a block copolymer comprising at least one PA block and at least one PB block. The PA block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer A, and the PB block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer B. Monomer A is a vinyl, acrylic, diolefin, nitrile, dinitrile, or acrylonitrile monomer. Monomer B is a radically polymerizable plant oil monomer containing one or more triglycerides. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a thermoplastic block copolymer by radical polymerizing a radically polymerizable monomer with a radically polymerizable plant oil monomer containing one or more triglycerides, in the presence of an initiator and a transition-metal catalyst system to form the thermoplastic block copolymer. The polymerized plant oil-based block copolymers are useful in a variety of applications, such as asphalt modifiers, rubber compositions, adhesives, tires, in the automobile industry, footwear, packaging, etc.