The present invention relates to a polymer comprising repeating units consisting of a substituted pyrrole ring. In particular, the repeating units consist of substituted pyrrole containing polar groups capable of interacting with carbon allotropes such as carbon nanotubes, graphene or nanographites, in order to improve the chemical-physical characteristics of the allotropes mainly by increasing their dispersibility and stability in liquid media and in polymer matrices. The invention also relates to products of addition of these polymers with carbon allotropes in order to obtain easily dispersible macromolecules.

A bio-based polycarbonate ester resin is environment friendly by not containing a bisphenol, and exhibits excellent heat resistance, transparency, strength, hardness, dimensional stability and chemical resistance. Thus, the bio-based polycarbonate ester resin is suitable for use in an eyeglass frame. In addition, various colors may be painted and coated on during post-processing, a separate additive is not required during a molding process, and processing is undergone at a temperature lower than that for conventional plastic materials for an eyeglass frame, and thus manufacturing costs may be reduced.

The subject matter of this invention relates to hydrogel compositions and, more particularly, to hydrogel compositions comprising block copolymers (BCPs) capable of self-assembly into nanoparticles for the delivery and controlled release of therapeutic cargos.

The present invention is directed to a polymerizable composition comprising (A) a reaction product of: (a) diethyleneglycol bischloroformate, ethyleneglycol bischloroformate, or combinations thereof; (b) allyl alcohol; (c) optionally, a cyclic polyol selected from the group consisting of a cycloaliphatic polyol having at least one secondary hydroxyl group, a heterocyclic polyol having primary and/or secondary hydroxyl groups, and mixtures thereof; and (d) optionally, at least one linear or branched aliphatic polyol having two to six hydroxyl groups; and (B) an organic peroxide comprising at least three peroxide groups. A polymerizate and/or an optical article comprising the polymerizable compositions of the invention are also provided.

A composition comprising: a bulk material; and at least one surface; the bulk material comprising ions of a metal M bonded to one another via linker groups; the surface comprising ions of a metal M′ bonded to one another via linker groups; the metals M and M′ being the same or different; the surface comprising at least one first site A and at least one second, different site B; the site A having a hydroxyl group bonded thereto; the site B being a Lewis acidic site; is described. Methods of forming the composition and the use of the composition as a catalyst, in particular to catalyse reactions in which CO.sub.2 is incorporated into the structure of a molecule, in particular a polymer, are also described.

A water-soluble polymer having an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone, a first carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophilic functionality, and a second carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophobic functionality is able to completely and quickly eliminate a virus from a human and/or animal cell. The at least one hydrophilic functionality is a sulfate, a sulfonate, a carboxylate, and/or a phosphate and the at least one hydrophobic functionality is an alkyl. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic functionalities of the polymer may be tuned to enhance the antiviral properties of the polymer and/or to decrease any cytotoxicity associated with the application of the polymer to a human and/or animal cell. The antiviral polymer is biocompatible and biodegradable.

A ternary composite catalyst of diethylzinc and yttrium trifluoroacetate loaded on chitin for copolymerization of carbon dioxide, epoxy cyclohexane and ethylene oxide is provided. The ternary composite catalyst exhibits strong catalytic activity for the ternary copolymerization of carbon dioxide, cyclohexane oxide and ethylene oxide. A high molecular weight and content of ester chain is maintained. Conventional rare earth ternary catalysts leave residues in the polymer, and the polymer requires rinsing with hydrochloric acid. The ternary composite catalyst can be removed through filtration. The average molecular weight of the resulting polycarbonate is more than 100,000, and the ester chain content is more than 90%. The resulting polymer has a lower metal content. The ternary composite catalyst can be used in agricultural film, disposable packaging and other polymer materials.

A method for preparing polyether carbonate alcohols by attaching cyclic carbonate to an H-functional starter substance in the presence of a catalyst, characterized in that a tribasic alkali- or alkaline earth metal phosphate is used as the catalyst, the alkali metal being selected from potassium or cesium.

Small-, medium-, and large-caliber combustible cartridge cases and propellant combustible containers that are manufactured using reactive injection molding of azido polymers. An injection process for a single propellant combustible charge including the steps of: providing a quantity of azido bearing polymer; providing a quantity of curing agent; optionally providing a quantity of chemical blowing agent; optionally providing a quantity of fibers; optionally providing a quantity of additives and catalysts; and providing a mold defining a male cavity, a female cavity, and an injection port. The injection process further includes mixing together the azido bearing polymer, the curing agent, the optional chemical blowing agent, the optional fibers, the optional additives and catalysts, and injecting the resulting mixture into the mold.

The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a plastic optical fiber suitable for adjusting a plastic optical fiber to be uniform in size while inhibiting the entry of a metal that causes an increase in transmission loss of the plastic optical fiber. The apparatus for manufacturing a plastic optical fiber of the present invention is provided with an extruding device and a gear pump. The extruding device has a containing portion that contains a resin composition, and introduces a gas into the containing portion to extrude the resin composition from the containing portion by means of the gas. The gear pump adjusts a flow rate of the resin composition extruded from the extruding device.