Mixtures are disclosed containing a plurality of charged pigment particles and a one or more charge control agents. At least one of the charge control agents has a chemical structure that includes a cationic head group, such as an ammonium cation or an iminium compound, and a non-ionic, polar functional group, other than an acyclic secondary amide group. The mixtures are useful as dispersions for forming electrophoretic media that may be incorporated into electrophoretic displays. Alternatively, the dispersions may be useful for forming electrophotographic toners and dispersions for other printing applications.

The present application is directed to a method for preparing an amino-functional polyester, said method comprising: providing a mixture comprising at least one lactone monomer, a catalyst and a polyamine having at least one primary and at least one secondary amine group; and, subjecting said mixture to ring-opening polymerization conditions.

The present application is directed to a method for preparing an amino-functional polyester, said method comprising: providing a mixture comprising at least one lactone monomer, a catalyst and a polyamine having at least one primary and at least one secondary amine group; and, subjecting said mixture to ring-opening polymerization conditions.

A curable film-forming composition is provided, comprising: (a) a polymeric polyester binder comprising a plurality of carbamate groups; (b) a curing agent reactive with the carbamate functional groups of (a); and (c) a reaction product of: (1) a hydroxyl functional polymer comprising the reaction product of: (i) a monomer comprising at least two ethylenically unsaturated double bonds; (ii) a monomer comprising a carbon atom that is bonded to four moieties wherein one of the moieties is a hydrogen atom and the remainder of the moieties comprises an alkyl group, wherein at least one of the alkyl group-containing moieties comprises an ethylenically unsaturated double bond; and (iii) at least one monomer that is polymerizable with (i) and (ii); and (2) a lactone or lactam. Also provided are a multi-component composite coating composition that includes the curable film-forming composition described above and methods for forming a composite coating on a substrate.

A curable film-forming composition is provided, comprising: (a) a polymeric polyester binder comprising a plurality of carbamate groups; (b) a curing agent reactive with the carbamate functional groups of (a); and (c) a reaction product of: (1) a hydroxyl functional polymer comprising the reaction product of: (i) a monomer comprising at least two ethylenically unsaturated double bonds; (ii) a monomer comprising a carbon atom that is bonded to four moieties wherein one of the moieties is a hydrogen atom and the remainder of the moieties comprises an alkyl group, wherein at least one of the alkyl group-containing moieties comprises an ethylenically unsaturated double bond; and (iii) at least one monomer that is polymerizable with (i) and (ii); and (2) a lactone or lactam. Also provided are a multi-component composite coating composition that includes the curable film-forming composition described above and methods for forming a composite coating on a substrate.

Various embodiments relate to biorenewable and water-degradable co-polymers and methods of producing co-polymers that include a plurality of first monomeric units and a plurality of second monomeric units joined by a plurality of hydrolytically-sensitive ester linkages. Each of the plurality of first monomeric units may be derived from a first monomer. The first monomer may be the product of a reaction between itaconic acid and a first amino acid. Each of the plurality of second monomeric units may be derived from a second monomer. The second monomer may be the product of a reaction between itaconic acid and a second amino acid. The co-polymers may be a product of the reaction of the first monomer and the second monomer in the presence of a diol. The co-polymers may have a glass transition temperature of about 50 C. or greater.

Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.

This invention relates to catalysts for polyesterol synthesis and the use of a di-thio compound as catalyst for the production of polyester-polyols.

The present application is directed to a method for preparing an amino-functional polyester, said method comprising: providing a mixture comprising at least one lactone monomer, a catalyst and a polyamine having at least one primary and at least one secondary amine group; and, subjecting said mixture to ring-opening polymerization conditions.

Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.