A high-chi diblock copolymer (BCP) for self-assembly comprises a first block comprising repeat units of trimethylsilyl styrene (TMSS) and styrene, and a second block comprising an aliphatic carbonate repeat unit. The blocks are linked together by a fluorinated junction group L′ in which none of the fluorines of L′ are covalently bound to an atomic center of the polymer backbone. A top-coat free film layer comprising the BCP, which is disposed on an underlayer and in contact with an atmosphere, is capable of forming a perpendicularly oriented lamellar domain pattern on an underlayer that is preferential or non-preferential to the domains of the block copolymer. The domain pattern can be selectively etched to provide a relief pattern comprising a remaining domain. The relief pattern having good critical dimensional uniformity compared to an otherwise identical polymer lacking the silicon.

Methods for forming a graft copolymer of a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer and at least one type of electrically conductive polymer, wherein the electrically conductive polymer is grafted on the poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer are provided. The methods comprise a) irradiating a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer with a stream of electrically charged particles; b) forming a solution comprising the irradiated poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer, an electrically conductive monomer and an acid in a suitable solvent; and c) adding an oxidant to the solution to form the graft copolymer. Graft copolymers of a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer and at least one type of electrically conductive polymer, wherein the electrically conductive polymer is grafted on the poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer, nanocomposite materials comprising the graft copolymer, and multilayer capacitors comprising the nanocomposite material are also provided.

The present invention provides a modified conjugated diene polymer that has excellent hydrophilicity and is useful for modification of polar polymers. The present invention also provides a modified conjugated diene polymer and a polymer modifier that, when used for modification of a polar polymer, can enhance characteristics, for example, flexibility, of the composition including the polymer and also offer excellent processability and shaping properties. The present invention further provides a polymer composition including such a conjugated diene polymer. A polymer modifier (A) includes a modified conjugated diene polymer (A1) having a hydrophilic group having a polyethylene glycol structure.

A polymer composite includes a functionalized polyisobutylene and an additional polyisobutylene-containing material. One or more methods of making the polymer composite are also provided. Where the functionalized polyisobutylene is applied to a polyisobutylene-containing material, the method of applying the functionalized polyisobutylene compound can be described as a modular method.

Provided is a method for preparing a block copolymer including a step of subjecting a lactide monomer to ring-opening polymerization in the presence of a biosynthesized poly(3-hydroxypropionate) initiator to prepare a polylactide-poly(3-hydroxypropionate) block copolymer.

A polypropylene modifier and a preparation method therefor, polypropylene composition, and polypropylene material comprising the polypropylene modifier and a preparation method therefor are provided. The preparation method for the polypropylene modifier comprises: bringing a polar monomer grafted polypropylene into contact with a component A to carry out reactive extrusion and granulation, and then carrying out drying, wherein a polar monomer in the polar monomer grafted polypropylene is capable of chemically reacting with the component A; in formula (1), the polar monomer is selected from maleic anhydride, acrylic acid, and acrylate, etc; and the component A is selected from polyisocyanate, etc; and in formula (2), the polar monomer is selected from ditnethylaminoethyl methacrylate and epoxy acrylate, etc; and the component A is selected from polyisocyanate and polyethylene oxide, etc. When introduced into an ordinary linear polypropylene, the polypropylene modifier can significantly improve the melt strength and the mechanical properties of the polypropylene.

Described are amphiphilic polymers that are provided with chelating moieties. The amphiphilic polymers are block copolymers comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, with the chelating moieties linked to the end-group of the hydrophilic block. The disclosed polymers are capable of self-assembly into structures such as micelles and polymersomes. With suitable metals present in the form of coordination complexes with the chelating moieties, the chelating amphiphilic polymers of the invention are suitable for use in various imaging techniques requiring metal labeling, such as MRI (T.sub.1/T.sub.2 weighted contrast agents or CEST contrast agents) SPECT, PET or Spectral CT.

Disclosed is a block copolymer of the formula: A-B-A (I) or A-B (II), wherein block A is: (i) a polymer of allyl glycidyl ether or (ii) a polymer of allyl glycidyl ether wherein one more of the allyl groups have been replaced with 1,2-dihydroxypropyl group or a group of the formula: —(CH.sub.2).sub.a—S—(CH.sub.2).sub.b—X, wherein a, b, and X are defined herein. The block copolymers find use as wetting agents in the preparation of porous membranes from aromatic hydrophobic polymers such as polyethersulfone. Also disclosed are methods of preparing such block copolymers and porous membranes therefrom.

Methods of making blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers and blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers. The generation of blended membranes by mixing two chemically distinct block copolymers in the casting solution demonstrates a pathway to advanced asymmetric block copolymer derived films, which can be used as ultrafiltration membranes, in which different pore surface chemistries and associated functionalities can be integrated into a single membrane via standard membrane fabrication, i.e. without requiring laborious post-fabrication modification steps. The block copolymers may be diblock, triblock and/or multiblock mixes and some block copolymers in the mix may be functionally modified. Triblock copolymers comprising a reactive group (e.g., sulfhydryl group) terminated block and films comprising the triblock copolymers.

Disclosed herein is a method to stabilize a poly(arylene ether) comprising combining a neat or diluted poly(arylene ether) with a vinyl or vinylidene-terminated polyolefin at a temperature of at least 80° C. to form heated reaction components; combining a Brφnsted acid or Lewis acid with the heated reaction components; and isolating a polyolefin-poly(arylene ether) copolymer composition.