The present invention relates to a pre-treatment liquid providing improved spreading property when printing an ink-jet image, as well as an ink-jet printing method comprising applying the pre-treatment liquid of the invention on a recording medium prior to printing an ink-jet image and a method of pre-treating a recording medium, comprising pre-treating a recording medium with the pre-treatment liquid of the invention. With the present pre-treatment liquid a combination an improved spreading of the ink on the pre-treated recording medium can be achieved.

Techniques regarding a star polymer with light-activated enhanced antimicrobial functionality are provided. For example, a polymer is provided that can comprise a plurality of non-degradable copolymer arms comprising respective first ends and respective second ends. The respective first ends can be crosslinked to form a vinyl polymer core and the respective second ends can have antimicrobial functionality. Further, the polymer can comprise a singlet oxygen generator loaded within the vinyl polymer core. The singlet oxygen generator can generate a singlet oxygen species in response to light.

Provided is an epoxy resin composition having excellent adhesion and low dielectric characteristics. Specifically, provided is an epoxy resin composition comprising an acid-modified polyolefin resin and an epoxy resin having a specific structure.

The present disclosure provides a primer composition. In an embodiment, the primer composition includes a functionalized polyolefin, a functionalized styrenic block copolymer containing greater than or equal to 20 wt % polymerized styrene, a solvent composition and an isocyanate component. The primer composition is suitable for use as an adhesive layer between a substrate and a polyolefin layer.

The present application relates to a gel polymer electrolyte, a method for producing a gel polymer electrolyte, and an electrochromic device comprising the same. As the gel polymer electrolyte comprises a block copolymer, the present application can simultaneously satisfy high ionic conductivity, low turbidity and adhesiveness.

Provided is a coating agent which can be stably immobilized on metal surface, and which can give blood compatibility. Provided is a copolymer which is usable as the above-mentioned coating agent that comprises PEG segment and a segment which has a phosphoric acid residue (PO(OH).sub.2) and a cyclic nitroxideradical randomly as a side chain or a pendant group.

Polymers having pendant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) groups covalently bound to the polymer backbone via thioester bonds are provided. The PAH groups are covalently bound to the backbone of the polymer by a molecular linker that includes a thioester bond. Also provided are dispersions of polymer-coated carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube films formed from the dispersions.

Techniques regarding a star polymer with light-activated enhanced antimicrobial functionality are provided. For example, a polymer is provided that can comprise a plurality of non-degradable copolymer arms comprising respective first ends and respective second ends. The respective first ends can be crosslinked to form a vinyl polymer core and the respective second ends can have antimicrobial functionality. Further, the polymer can comprise a singlet oxygen generator loaded within the vinyl polymer core. The singlet oxygen generator can generate a singlet oxygen species in response to light.

Described herein is a polymeric pigment dispersant, a process for preparation of the polymeric pigment dispersant and a pigment dispersion including the pigment dispersant that is used for coating and in printing ink, automotive basecoat, auto-motive clearcoat, mill base, furniture coatings and wood coatings.

A mask structure and a method for manufacturing a mask structure for a lithography process is provided. The method includes providing a substrate covered with an absorber layer on a side thereof; providing a patterned layer over the absorber layer, the patterned layer comprising at least one opening; and forming at least one assist mask feature in the at least one opening, wherein the at least one assist mask feature is formed by performing a directed self-assembly (DSA) patterning process comprising providing a BCP material in the at least one opening and inducing phase separation of a BCP material into a first component and a second component, the first component being the at least one assist mask feature and being periodically distributed with respect to the second component.