A superabsorbent polymer includes polymer particles, surface cross-linking agents and particles made of silicon-containing inorganic salt. The polymer particles have cross-linking inside the polymer particles. The surface cross-linking agents are covalently bound to the surface of the polymer particles so as to constitute a surface cross-linked region at the surface of each said resin particle, and the particles made of silicon-containing inorganic salt cover the surface of the polymer particles.

Methods for forming a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) film are provided. In embodiments, the method comprises applying a potential between a working electrode and a counter electrode, the electrodes in contact with an aqueous polyelectrolyte solution characterized by a bulk pH. The aqueous polyelectrolyte solution comprises a pH sensitive PEC pair comprising an unmodified anionic polymer and a cationic species, an electrochemical pH agent other than water, and a salt. The applied potential induces an electrochemical reaction of the electrochemical pH agent to generate OH.sup. or H.sup.+ at the working electrode without inducing water electrolysis in the aqueous polyelectrolyte solution, thereby forming a PEC film from the unmodified anionic polymer and the cationic species on a surface of the working electrode.

Methods for forming a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) film are provided. In embodiments, the method comprises applying a potential between a working electrode and a counter electrode, the electrodes in contact with an aqueous polyelectrolyte solution characterized by a bulk pH. The aqueous polyelectrolyte solution comprises a pH sensitive PEC pair comprising an unmodified anionic polymer and a cationic species, an electrochemical pH agent other than water, and a salt. The applied potential induces an electrochemical reaction of the electrochemical pH agent to generate OH.sup. or H.sup.+ at the working electrode without inducing water electrolysis in the aqueous polyelectrolyte solution, thereby forming a PEC film from the unmodified anionic polymer and the cationic species on a surface of the working electrode.

Compositions of flame retardants and methods of enhancing char formation in a flame retardant-treated substrate. A base material is combined with a flame retardant to form the flame retardant-treated substrate. The flame retardant contains a sulfur copolymer prepared by the polymerization of sulfur monomers with organic monomers. The flame retardant can be deposited on a surface of the base material, coated on the base material, or mixed into the base material. When the flame resistant substrate is on fire, the flame retardant forms a charring layer on the flame retardant-treated substrate. The charring layer can extinguish and prevent the fire from spreading.

Compositions of flame retardants and methods of enhancing char formation in a flame retardant-treated substrate. A base material is combined with a flame retardant to form the flame retardant-treated substrate. The flame retardant contains a sulfur copolymer prepared by the polymerization of sulfur monomers with organic monomers. The flame retardant can be deposited on a surface of the base material, coated on the base material, or mixed into the base material. When the flame resistant substrate is on fire, the flame retardant forms a charring layer on the flame retardant-treated substrate. The charring layer can extinguish and prevent the fire from spreading.

An oligomer, composition, and composite material employing the same are provided. The oligomer has a structure represented by Formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently hydrogen, C.sub.1-20 alkyl group, C.sub.2-20 alkenyl group, C.sub.6-12 aryl group, C.sub.6-12 alkylaryl group, C.sub.5-12 cycloalkyl group, C.sub.6-20 cycloalkylalkyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, or alkylcarbonyloxy group; R.sup.1 is not hydrogen when R.sup.2 is hydrogen; a is 0 or 1; n0; m1; n:m is from 0:100 to 99:1; the oligomer has a number average molecular weight of less than or equal to 12,000; and the repeat unit

##STR00002##

and the repeat unit

##STR00003##

are arranged in a random or block fashion.

A latex product composition that includes an anionicaily-stabilized latex; at least one volatile base compound; and one or more water soluble, polymers or polymeric adducts that have a backbone with a plurality of amine functional groups and hydroxyl functional groups. The polymers or polymeric adducts may be an addition product formed from at least one multifunctional amine compound reacted with one or more polyfunctional epoxy compounds, one or more monofunctional epoxy compounds, or a combination thereof. The polymers or polymeric adducts are formed by the addition reaction of the amine compound and the one or more epoxy compounds with 1.3 to 3.8 amine functional group per epoxy functional group. The addition product may be present in about 0.1 to 15.0 wt. % and the at least one volatile base compound is present in about 1.0 wt. % to 10.0 wt. % based on the weight of the particles present in the anionicaily-stabilized latex.

A latex product composition that includes an anionicaily-stabilized latex; at least one volatile base compound; and one or more water soluble, polymers or polymeric adducts that have a backbone with a plurality of amine functional groups and hydroxyl functional groups. The polymers or polymeric adducts may be an addition product formed from at least one multifunctional amine compound reacted with one or more polyfunctional epoxy compounds, one or more monofunctional epoxy compounds, or a combination thereof. The polymers or polymeric adducts are formed by the addition reaction of the amine compound and the one or more epoxy compounds with 1.3 to 3.8 amine functional group per epoxy functional group. The addition product may be present in about 0.1 to 15.0 wt. % and the at least one volatile base compound is present in about 1.0 wt. % to 10.0 wt. % based on the weight of the particles present in the anionicaily-stabilized latex.

This invention relates to a functionalized resin composition having the formula P-X-S-W where S is a spacer selected from at least one of C.sub.2-C.sub.40 straight chain and branched alkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.40 aromatics, butadiene, isoprene, and combinations thereof, P is a polymer backbone selected from at least one of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)-based polymers, cyclopentadiene (CPD)-based polymers, DCPD-styrene copolymers, C.sub.5 homopolymers and copolymer resins, C.sub.5-styrene copolymer resins, terpene homopolymer or copolymer resins, pinene homopolymer or copolymer resins, C.sub.9 homopolymers and copolymer resins, C.sub.5/C.sub.9 copolymer resins, alpha-methylstyrene homopolymer or copolymer resins, and combinations thereof, X is one or more reactive groups, and W is a silane.

This invention relates to a functionalized resin composition having the formula P-X-S-W where S is a spacer selected from at least one of C.sub.2-C.sub.40 straight chain and branched alkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.40 aromatics, butadiene, isoprene, and combinations thereof, P is a polymer backbone selected from at least one of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)-based polymers, cyclopentadiene (CPD)-based polymers, DCPD-styrene copolymers, C.sub.5 homopolymers and copolymer resins, C.sub.5-styrene copolymer resins, terpene homopolymer or copolymer resins, pinene homopolymer or copolymer resins, C.sub.9 homopolymers and copolymer resins, C.sub.5/C.sub.9 copolymer resins, alpha-methylstyrene homopolymer or copolymer resins, and combinations thereof, X is one or more reactive groups, and W is a silane.