This invention relates to a phenolic resin composition comprising a phenolic resin admixed with and/or modified by one or more functionalized organosulfur compounds. This invention also relates to a rubber composition comprising (i) a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, or a mixture thereof; (ii) one or more phenolic resins; and (iii) one or more functionalized organosulfur compounds. The interaction between the component (i) and the components (ii) and (iii) reduces the hysteresis increase compared to a rubber composition without the component (iii), upon curing the rubber composition. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the phenolic resin composition, a process for preparing the rubber composition, and a process for reducing the hysteresis increase caused in a rubber composition when a phenolic resin is added to a rubber composition.

Provided are a polymer, a resin composition, and an antifouling coating material composition which are capable of forming a coating film having both of water resistance and antifouling properties resulting from superhydrophilicity; a method for producing the polymer; a method for forming a structure for stabilizing a carbamate on a surface of a coating film using the polymer; and a method for regenerating a structure for stabilizing a carbamate on a surface of a coating film using the polymer. The polymer having a structure which reacts with CO.sub.2 in the presence of water and stabilizes a formed carbamate, in which Expression (1) is satisfied.

Contact angle in water after reaction with CO.sub.2contact angle in water before reaction with CO.sub.210Expression (1)

Proposed is a polycondensation product comprising as monomer components at least one aryl polyoxyalkylene ether, at least one vicinally disubstituted aromatic compound, at least one aldehyde and also optionally further aromatic compounds; processes for preparing same, and also use thereof as dispersant for aqueous suspensions of inorganic binders and as grinding assistant for inorganic binders.

Proposed is a polycondensation product comprising as monomer components at least one aryl polyoxyalkylene ether, at least one vicinally disubstituted aromatic compound, at least one aldehyde and also optionally further aromatic compounds; processes for preparing same, and also use thereof as dispersant for aqueous suspensions of inorganic binders and as grinding assistant for inorganic binders.

A method for forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase comprising one or more molten thermoplastic polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase exfoliates the graphene successively with each event, until tearing of exfoliated multilayer graphene sheets occurs and produces reactive edges on the multilayer sheets that react with and cross-link the one or more thermoplastic polymers; where the one or more thermoplastic polymers are selected from thermoplastic polymers subject to UV degradation.

A method for forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase comprising one or more molten thermoplastic polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase exfoliates the graphene successively with each event, until tearing of exfoliated multilayer graphene sheets occurs and produces reactive edges on the multilayer sheets that react with and cross-link the one or more thermoplastic polymers; where the one or more thermoplastic polymers are selected from thermoplastic polymers subject to UV degradation.

This invention relates to a process for stabilizing a phenolic resin containing a mixture of linear phenolic resins and calixarenes and a demulsifier composition comprising the stabilized phenolic resins prepared from the process. The process comprises contacting the phenolic resin with an alkylene carbonate, in the presence of a base catalyst, to at least partially alkoxylate the phenolic hydroxyl groups of the calixarenes. This process forms a stabilized phenolic resin with an increased solubility in a hydrocarbon solvent.

This invention relates to a process for stabilizing a phenolic resin containing a mixture of linear phenolic resins and calixarenes and a demulsifier composition comprising the stabilized phenolic resins prepared from the process. The process comprises contacting the phenolic resin with an alkylene carbonate, in the presence of a base catalyst, to at least partially alkoxylate the phenolic hydroxyl groups of the calixarenes. This process forms a stabilized phenolic resin with an increased solubility in a hydrocarbon solvent.

The invention relates to an in-situ process for preparing an alkylphenol-aldehyde resin. The process comprises the step of providing a raw alkylphenol composition. The raw alkylphenol composition comprises one or more alkylphenol compounds and at least about 1 wt % phenol. Each alkylphenol compound has one or more alkyl substituents. The raw alkylphenol composition is reacted directly, without pre-purification, with one or more aldehydes to form an in-situ alkylphenol-aldehyde resin. The invention also relates to an in-situ alkylphenol-aldehyde resin formed from the in-situ process, and its use in a tackifier composition and rubber composition. The tackifier composition and rubber composition containing the in-situ alkylphenol-aldehyde resin show, inter alia, improved tack performance.

The invention relates to an in-situ process for preparing an alkylphenol-aldehyde resin. The process comprises the step of providing a raw alkylphenol composition. The raw alkylphenol composition comprises one or more alkylphenol compounds and at least about 1 wt % phenol. Each alkylphenol compound has one or more alkyl substituents. The raw alkylphenol composition is reacted directly, without pre-purification, with one or more aldehydes to form an in-situ alkylphenol-aldehyde resin. The invention also relates to an in-situ alkylphenol-aldehyde resin formed from the in-situ process, and its use in a tackifier composition and rubber composition. The tackifier composition and rubber composition containing the in-situ alkylphenol-aldehyde resin show, inter alia, improved tack performance.