Hygroscopic hydrogels including a cross-linked polymer, the polymer being prepared by polymerization of one or more monomers, wherein at least one of the monomers is a compound of formula I, are provided. Related monomers and polymers, as well as methods for the production and use thereof, are also provided. Hygroscopic hydrogels as described herein may be used for water harvesting, for example. (I) (formula I) ##STR00001##

A heat-resistant liquid crystal polymer film includes a soluble liquid crystal polymer, accounting for 15-75 wt % of the heat-resistant liquid crystal polymer film; an insoluble liquid crystal polymer, accounting for 15-75 wt % of the heat-resistant liquid crystal polymer film; and a polyimide, composed of dianhydride and diamine, which accounts for 10-50 wt % of the heat-resistant liquid crystal polymer film, and the polyimide has a glass transition temperature greater than 250 C., wherein the heat-resistant liquid crystal polymer film has a moisture absorption less than 0.5%, and has a dielectric loss less than 0.005 under the condition of frequency of 10 GHz and humidity of 65% RH; also, under the condition of 50-200 C., the heat-resistant liquid crystal polymer film has a linear thermal expansion coefficient less than 20 ppm/ C.; under the condition of 310 C., the heat-resistant liquid crystal polymer film has a storage modulus greater than 0.2 Gpa, and has a glass transition temperature greater than 220 C.

Described herein are polyamides (PA) incorporating a cycloaliphatic monomer containing a cyclohexyl group. It was surprisingly discovered that by incorporating the cycloaliphatic monomer containing a cyclohexyl group, the resulting polyamides (PA) had significantly reduced water absorption, while maintaining good mechanical properties, relative to both analogous polyamides free of the cycloaliphatic monomer as well as relative to both PA6,T based polyamides copolymerized with either or both of isophthalic acid and adipic acid.

A laminate, including a substrate having a microstructure on a surface thereof; and a coating layer formed on the substrate and encapsulating the microstructure of the substrate. A glass transition temperature T.sub.1 of the substrate is higher than a glass transition temperature T.sub.2 of the coating layer. A method of producing an ophthalmic lens, including deforming the laminate into a shape of the ophthalmic lens by applying heat and/or pressure at a temperature of lower than T.sub.1.

The presently disclosed subject matter generally relates to polymer networks having covalent crosslinks, non-covalent crosslinks, and ionic side groups, and methods of making and using same. Specifically, the disclosed polymer networks can be incorporated into membranes, which can be useful in, for example, electrodialysis. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.