Methods of post-polymerization modification of a polymer are provided herein. The present methods comprise the step of reacting a polymer with at least one nucleophile in a nucleophilic substitution reaction performed without a solvent to produce a functionalized polymer. The nucleophile can be selected from the group consisting of thioacetate, phenoxide, alkoxide, carboxylate, thiolate, thiocarboxylate, dithiocarboxylate, thiourea, thiocarbamate, dithiocarbamate, xanthate, thiocyanate. Nucleophilic substitution reaction can be performed in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. Nucleophilic substitution reaction can also be performed via a two-step in-situ reactive mixing process with the initial formation of the polymer-amine ionomer (polymer-NR.sub.3.sup.+Br) which catalyzes the subsequent nucleophilic substitution with a second nucleophile to form a bi-functional polymer.

A method for producing a maleimide compound having a group represented by the formula (a1), the method including condensing a primary amino group in a raw material compound having the primary amino group and dicarboxylic anhydride represented by the formula (a2) to generate a group represented by the formula (a3); and heating a compound having the group represented by the formula (a3), and converting the group represented by the formula (a3) into the group represented by the formula (a1).

Disclosed herein are graft polymers having a copolymer backbone and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon branches for use as a nanofiller dispersant and methods for making the same. Also disclosed are elastomeric nanocomposite compositions comprising a halobutyl rubber matrix, nanoparticles of graphite or grapheme, and the graft polymer. Such elastomeric nanocomposite compositions are suitable as tire innerliners or innertubes.

Cationic polymers are provided that comprise monomeric units of Formula (V). (V) Each asterisk (*) indicates an attachment position to another monomeric unit; R is hydrogen or methyl; each R.sup.2 is each independently an alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof; L is a linking group comprising an alkylene group; and +R.sup.3 is a cationic nitrogen-containing group free of any N—H bonds. Membranes formed from said cationic polymers, devices including such membranes, and methods of making such cationic polymers are also provided.

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The present invention is directed to a process for preparing epoxidized polymers. The process comprises reacting an unsaturated polymer with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a polymer support having a sulfonic acid group. The present invention is also directed to an epoxidized halogenated-polymer which comprises repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin monomer and repeating units derived from at least one diolefinic monomer, and one or more allylic halide groups and one or more oxirane functional groups in the polymer backbone.

The present invention relates to a novel copolymer, to processes for preparation thereof and to the use thereof.

Polycationic polymeric antimicrobial surfactant and polymeric biocompatible antimicrobial surfactant compositions are useful in dispersing various compounds in a carrier liquid. The polycationic polymeric antimicrobial surfactant and polymeric biocompatible antimicrobial surfactant compositions employ polymers having both hydrophilic domains and hydrophobic domains so that the compositions can disperse particles such as polymer particles or droplets in a continuous phase as well as provide stable dispersions that have not been provided before. The antimicrobial properties of the compositions provide much-needed capabilities of fighting infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses in a wide spectrum of products such as paint, adhesives, and coatings. Methods of using these compositions as well as methods of making products using the compositions are disclosed.

The present invention provides a compound and a pigment dispersant, each of which improves the dispersibility of various types of pigments in a non-aqueous solvent and also provides a pigment composition, a pigment dispersion, and a toner, each of which has a preferable coloring power. The compound includes a polymer which has a monomer unit having a specific structure and also includes a specific partial structure.

Water-dispersible or water-dispersed polymers are made by reacting (i) an unsaturated monomer containing one or more cyclic carbonate groups, or (ii) an unsaturated or saturated oligomer or polymer containing a plurality of cyclic carbonate groups, with a tertiary amine in the presence of an acid, or with an acid in the presence of a tertiary amine, or in the presence of an acid and a tertiary amine, to provide a water-dispersible or water-dispersed monomer, oligomer or polymer. When step a) provides a monomer or oligomer, the monomer or oligomer is reacted with one or more monomers in the presence of an initiator to provide a water-dispersible or water-dispersed polymer. When step a) provides a polymer, the polymer is optionally used to support emulsion polymerization of one or more unsaturated monomers in the presence of an initiator to provide a water-dispersible or water-dispersed further polymer.

A process for producing a halogenated isoolefin copolymer involves contacting an unsaturated isoolefin copolymer cement, the cement containing an unsaturated isoolefin copolymer dissolved in an organic solvent, under halogenation conditions with a halogenating agent and an aqueous solution of an organic peracid oxidant to form a two-phase reaction medium having an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the organic peracid oxidant capable of converting hydrogen halide to free halogen. The process leads to higher halogen utilization even when the cement contains significant amounts of water and without the use of an emulsifier.