The present invention concerns a suspension of a polymer comprising, in addition to said polymer, a) a liquid medium; b) a monovalent cation salt; c) an alginate.

Provided is a binder composition for lithium ion secondary battery electrode-use that reduces internal resistance of a lithium ion secondary battery while also providing the lithium ion secondary battery with excellent life characteristics. The binder composition contains a copolymer X and a solvent. The copolymer X is obtained from a monomer composition X that contains at least 20.0 mass % and no greater than 75.0 mass % of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid compound (A) composed of either or both of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid salt, and at least 20.0 mass % and no greater than 75.0 mass % of a copolymerizable compound (B) that has an ethylenically unsaturated bond and a solubility of at least 7 g in 100 g of water at 20° C. The copolymer X has a degree of swelling in electrolysis solution of less than 120 mass %.

Provided is a binder composition for lithium ion secondary battery electrode-use that reduces internal resistance of a lithium ion secondary battery while also providing the lithium ion secondary battery with excellent life characteristics. The binder composition contains a copolymer X and a solvent. The copolymer X is obtained from a monomer composition X that contains at least 20.0 mass % and no greater than 75.0 mass % of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid compound (A) composed of either or both of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid salt, and at least 20.0 mass % and no greater than 75.0 mass % of a copolymerizable compound (B) that has an ethylenically unsaturated bond and a solubility of at least 7 g in 100 g of water at 20° C. The copolymer X has a degree of swelling in electrolysis solution of less than 120 mass %.

A chemically amplified positive-type photosensitive resin composition including an acid generator which generates acid upon exposure to an irradiated active ray or radiation, a resin whose solubility in alkali increases under the action of acid, and a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic compound that is a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic compound having a specific structure and having a Log S value of −6.00 or less.

A chemically amplified positive-type photosensitive resin composition including an acid generator which generates acid upon exposure to an irradiated active ray or radiation, a resin whose solubility in alkali increases under the action of acid, and a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic compound that is a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic compound having a specific structure and having a Log S value of −6.00 or less.

Polymers, hydrogels, and thermochromic agents, including products embodying them, methods of using them, and processes for making them. In certain embodiments, temperature therapy packs which utilize thermochromic agents integrated into solid, semi-solid, or liquid hydrogels. In preferred (but optional) embodiments, the thermochromic agents are integrated into the composition used as the temperature exchange material of the therapy pack. In certain other embodiments, methods of using the thermochromic integrated temperature exchange materials, or processes for manufacturing such thermochromic integrated temperature exchange materials and/or methods or processes for manufacturing or using thermal packs embodying such materials. In certain particularly preferred embodiments, novel polymer compositions and/or processes for making polymers, which improve product durability or longevity and/or which improve use cycles or usage times.

Polymers, hydrogels, and thermochromic agents, including products embodying them, methods of using them, and processes for making them. In certain embodiments, temperature therapy packs which utilize thermochromic agents integrated into solid, semi-solid, or liquid hydrogels. In preferred (but optional) embodiments, the thermochromic agents are integrated into the composition used as the temperature exchange material of the therapy pack. In certain other embodiments, methods of using the thermochromic integrated temperature exchange materials, or processes for manufacturing such thermochromic integrated temperature exchange materials and/or methods or processes for manufacturing or using thermal packs embodying such materials. In certain particularly preferred embodiments, novel polymer compositions and/or processes for making polymers, which improve product durability or longevity and/or which improve use cycles or usage times.

This invention relates to a one-step process for making a polymer composite suspension for coating plastic films characterized in that a first polymer is synthesized in-situ optionally in the presence of other polymers and in the presence of clay. Preferably the polymer composite suspension comprises a) 1.0 to 11.0 wt % of clay or silane modified clay, b) 0.1 to 10.0 wt % of poly (acrylic acid), which is a copolymer of acrylic acid (AA) with at least one other monomer selected from 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), β-carboxyethyl acrylate (β-CEA), methacrylamidoethyl ethylene urea (WAM II) and ethoxylated behenyl methacrylate (β-FM), c) 1.0 to 15.0 wt % of other polymers, preferably poly (vinyl alcohol) and d) 70 to 97 wt % of water or mixture of water with 2-propanol. The coating films made from the suspensions show good barrier capabilities against water vapor and oxygen can be used to make barrier layers on or within plastic films for packaging applications. The invention also relates to methods for making silane modified clay usable in the process for making the suspensions.

This invention relates to a one-step process for making a polymer composite suspension for coating plastic films characterized in that a first polymer is synthesized in-situ optionally in the presence of other polymers and in the presence of clay. Preferably the polymer composite suspension comprises a) 1.0 to 11.0 wt % of clay or silane modified clay, b) 0.1 to 10.0 wt % of poly (acrylic acid), which is a copolymer of acrylic acid (AA) with at least one other monomer selected from 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), β-carboxyethyl acrylate (β-CEA), methacrylamidoethyl ethylene urea (WAM II) and ethoxylated behenyl methacrylate (β-FM), c) 1.0 to 15.0 wt % of other polymers, preferably poly (vinyl alcohol) and d) 70 to 97 wt % of water or mixture of water with 2-propanol. The coating films made from the suspensions show good barrier capabilities against water vapor and oxygen can be used to make barrier layers on or within plastic films for packaging applications. The invention also relates to methods for making silane modified clay usable in the process for making the suspensions.

Acid-functionalized copolymers of methyl methacrylate having relatively high glass transition temperatures and molecular weights may be employed to manufacture articles having high light transmission values, low haze, high heat resistance, and high environmental stability, which are useful as optical protection films, zero-zero optical retardation films, and compensation films as well as lighting pipes and optical imaging lenses.