A method for producing a modified polytetrafluoroethylene, the method including: polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in an aqueous medium in which a polymer having units based on a fluorine-free monomer is present. The fluorine-free monomer is a monomer represented by formula (1): CH.sub.2═CR.sup.1-L-R.sup.2, where R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, L is a single bond, —CO—O—*, —O—CO—* or —O—, * is a bonding position to R.sup.2, and R.sup.2 is an alkyl group. To the total amount of tetrafluoroethylene supplied to the polymerization, a proportion of the polymer is from 0.001 to 0.050 mass %.

A method for producing a modified polytetrafluoroethylene, the method including: polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in an aqueous medium in which a polymer having units based on a fluorine-free monomer is present. The fluorine-free monomer is a monomer represented by formula (1): CH.sub.2═CR.sup.1-L-R.sup.2, where R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, L is a single bond, —CO—O—*, —O—CO—* or —O—, * is a bonding position to R.sup.2, and R.sup.2 is an alkyl group. To the total amount of tetrafluoroethylene supplied to the polymerization, a proportion of the polymer is from 0.001 to 0.050 mass %.

The present invention discloses a method for increasing absorbent capacity of a superabsorbent material (SAM) by treating the SAM with a selected salt or a combination of such salts. The selected salt(s) may interact with the polymer chain of the SAM through one or more absorbent capacity enhancement mechanisms. The absorbent capacity enhancement mechanism(s) between selected salt(s) and the SAM may lead to greater absorbent capacity of the SAM.

The present invention discloses a method for increasing absorbent capacity of a superabsorbent material (SAM) by treating the SAM with a selected salt or a combination of such salts. The selected salt(s) may interact with the polymer chain of the SAM through one or more absorbent capacity enhancement mechanisms. The absorbent capacity enhancement mechanism(s) between selected salt(s) and the SAM may lead to greater absorbent capacity of the SAM.

Polyurethane material for indicating pH at a locus, preferably as indication of presence of microbes, comprising a polyurethane network having immobilised therein one or more hydrophilic copolymers, the or each said copolymer comprising: hydrophilic monomer; and indicating monomer, which provides an indication in response to a change in hydrophilic state of said hydrophilic monomer and/or copolymer; characterised in that the or each copolymer further comprises one or a plurality of ionisable groups or moieties or polymerisable monomers having one or more characteristic pKa values in the range 5 to 10 and which are responsive to pH at the locus in the range pH 5 to pH 10 and in that hydrophilic state of hydrophilic copolymer is dependent on ionisation of said ionisable groups, moieties or monomers; kit and device comprising the material and process for preparation thereof; and use in detecting or sensing microbes or pH.

Polyurethane material for indicating pH at a locus, preferably as indication of presence of microbes, comprising a polyurethane network having immobilised therein one or more hydrophilic copolymers, the or each said copolymer comprising: hydrophilic monomer; and indicating monomer, which provides an indication in response to a change in hydrophilic state of said hydrophilic monomer and/or copolymer; characterised in that the or each copolymer further comprises one or a plurality of ionisable groups or moieties or polymerisable monomers having one or more characteristic pKa values in the range 5 to 10 and which are responsive to pH at the locus in the range pH 5 to pH 10 and in that hydrophilic state of hydrophilic copolymer is dependent on ionisation of said ionisable groups, moieties or monomers; kit and device comprising the material and process for preparation thereof; and use in detecting or sensing microbes or pH.

The present invention is related to water-swellable polymer particles which contain a hydrophilic base polymer (B) and a hydrophobic polymer (P). It is also related to a process for producing the water-swellable polymer particles, an article containing the water-swellable polymer particles and the use of the water-swellable polymer particles.

The present invention is related to water-swellable polymer particles which contain a hydrophilic base polymer (B) and a hydrophobic polymer (P). It is also related to a process for producing the water-swellable polymer particles, an article containing the water-swellable polymer particles and the use of the water-swellable polymer particles.

Aqueous matte coating compositions and methods for applying aqueous matte coating compositions to substrates are disclosed. The compositions comprise (a) from 10 to 65 wt % of a first acrylic bead having a calculated glass transition temperature (“Tg”) of from −30 to 10° C. and an average diameter particle of from 0.1 to 2 μm, (b) from 20 to 80 wt % of a second acrylic bead having a calculated Tg of from −60 to 0° C. and an average particle diameter of from 0.5 to 30 μm, optionally (c) from 10 to 30 wt % of a polymer binder having an average particle diameter of 0.03 to 0.5 μm, and (d) a slip additive. In some embodiments, the slip additive comprises a silicone emulsion and a wax dispersion. In some embodiments, the slip additive comprises a polyurethane dispersion. Methods for applying aqueous matte coating compositions are also disclosed.

Aqueous matte coating compositions and methods for applying aqueous matte coating compositions to substrates are disclosed. The compositions comprise (a) from 10 to 65 wt % of a first acrylic bead having a calculated glass transition temperature (“Tg”) of from −30 to 10° C. and an average diameter particle of from 0.1 to 2 μm, (b) from 20 to 80 wt % of a second acrylic bead having a calculated Tg of from −60 to 0° C. and an average particle diameter of from 0.5 to 30 μm, optionally (c) from 10 to 30 wt % of a polymer binder having an average particle diameter of 0.03 to 0.5 μm, and (d) a slip additive. In some embodiments, the slip additive comprises a silicone emulsion and a wax dispersion. In some embodiments, the slip additive comprises a polyurethane dispersion. Methods for applying aqueous matte coating compositions are also disclosed.