A modified copolymer is provided. The modified copolymer includes a random copolymer of a repeat unit of formula (I) and a repeat unit of formula (II)

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wherein M is derived from monomers with double bonds, R is a direct bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 16 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group, an ether group, an ester group, an amide group, an aromatic group having 6 to 16 carbon atoms, or a divalent group having any of the above groups, wherein m and x are positive integers less than 50. The weight average molecular weight of the modified copolymer is between 3000 and 30000.

A composite ion exchange membrane obtainable by a process comprising reacting an ionically-charged membrane with a composition comprising: (a) a monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an ionic charge opposite to the charge of the ionically-charged membrane; and (b) a crosslinking agent comprising two or more ethylenically unsaturated groups; wherein the molar ratio of (b):(a) is lower than 0.04 or is zero.

A surface protective resin member contains a cured product of a composition containing an acrylic resin having a hydroxyl value in a range of 40 mgKOH/g to 280 mgKOH/g, a polyol having plural hydroxyl groups linked together via a linear moiety of a carbon chain, the linear moiety having 6 or more carbon atoms, and a multifunctional isocyanate; and photocatalyst particles.

Embodiments of the invention provide a method for producing a multilayer coated film which involves obtaining a first layered body by forming, on a film substrate, a wet-coated film including a coating material (A) containing an active energy ray-curable resin which contains a first photopolymerization initiator and a second photopolymerization initiator, the reaction wavelengths of which differ from one another; and forming a pre-cured coated film including the coating material (A) in a dry-to-the-touch state by preliminarily curing the wet-coated film including the coating material (A), by irradiating the first layered body with active energy rays which include the reaction wavelength of the first photopolymerization initiator and do not include the reaction wavelength of the second photopolymerization initiator. The method further includes obtaining a second layered body by forming a wet-coated film including a coating material (B) on the pre-cured coated film including the coating material (A); and obtaining the multilayer coated film by fully curing the pre-cured coated film including the coating material (A) by irradiating the second layered body with active energy rays including the reaction wavelength of the second photopolymerization initiator.

A polyimide resin including a structural unit A derived from a tetracarboxylic dianhydride and a structural unit B derived from a diamine compound, wherein the structural unit A includes a structural unit (A-1) derived from a compound represented by the following formula (a-1), and the structural unit B includes a structural unit (B-1) derived from a compound represented by the following formula (b-1):

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wherein m and n in the formula (b-1) each independently are an integer of 0 or 1.

A nanocomposite is provided including layered nanoparticles and a dispersant dispersed in a curable resin, where the nanocomposite contains less than 2% by weight solvent. A composite is also provided including from about 1 to 70 weight percent of layered nanoparticles, and a dispersant, dispersed in a cured resin, and a filler embedded in the cured resin. Further, a method of preparing a nanoparticle-containing curable resin system is provided including mixing from 1 to 70 weight percent of aggregated layered nanoparticles with a curable resin and a dispersant to form a mixture. The mixture contains less than 2% by weight solvent. The method also includes milling the mixture in an immersion mill containing milling media to form a milled resin system including layered nanoparticles dispersed in the curable resin.

Provided is a thermosetting resin composition that can satisfy both low transmission loss and radiation performance even under the same curing conditions as those for conventional substrate materials for high-frequency applications, and also provided are an adhesive sheet, a prepreg, and a laminate.

The thermosetting resin composition comprises a maleimide compound having at least two maleimide groups per molecule, a polyphenylene ether compound having at least two reactive organic groups per molecule, a curing accelerator, and an inorganic filler, wherein the inorganic filler is low-sodium aluminum oxide, and the low-sodium aluminum oxide has an Na.sup.+ ion content of 10 ppm or less.

A foamed, opacifying element has a substrate with opposing planar surfaces and a foamed opacifying layer disposed on one opposing surface. The foamed opacifying layer contains (a) 0.1-80 weight % of nonporous polymeric particles; (b) 10-80 weight % of a matrix material derived from a (b) binder material having a glass transition temperature of less than 40? C.; (c) 0.0001-50 weight % of certain additives; (d) less than 5 weight % of water; and (e) at least 0.002 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from all of the (c) additives. Foamable and foamed aqueous compositions can be used to provide these foamed, opacifying elements for use as light-blocking window shades, curtains, or other materials. These light-blocking articles can also have a printable outer surface that accepts ink for making printed images that are not observable from the opposite surface.

To provide a method for manufacturing a novel molded article using a commingled yarn and a composite material using a commingled yarn. The method for manufacturing a molded article, includes disposing a commingled yarn containing a continuous reinforcing fiber and a continuous thermoplastic resin fiber on a part of a surface of a prepreg, the prepreg containing continuous reinforcing fibers paralleling at least unidirectionally, and a thermosetting resin impregnated between the continuous reinforcing fibers, and heat-processing the prepreg with the commingled yarn.

The present invention relates to a masterbatch composition comprising high concentration of biological entities having a polymer-degrading activity and uses thereof for manufacturing biodegradable plastic articles.