Biodegradable copolymers obtainable via radically initiated emulsion polymerization processes are provided. The biodegradable copolymers contain one or more monomer units of the formula I,

##STR00001##

and vinyl acetate units. In formula I, n=1 to 3, X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 independently of one another are the atoms O or S or the group NR.sup.7, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are hydrogen, an alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy or aryl radical or a spirocyclic aliphatic group, and R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 independently of one another are hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl radical.

Biodegradable copolymers obtainable via radically initiated emulsion polymerization processes are provided. The biodegradable copolymers contain one or more monomer units of the formula I,

##STR00001##

and vinyl acetate units. In formula I, n=1 to 3, X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 independently of one another are the atoms O or S or the group NR.sup.7, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are hydrogen, an alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy or aryl radical or a spirocyclic aliphatic group, and R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 independently of one another are hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl radical.

Described herein are the synthesis and polymerization of a series of N-Boc-protected amino acid vinyl ester (BAAVE) monomers. Homopolymers and heteropolymers containing the monomers are described, particularly heteropolymers with vinyl ester monomers such as vinyl acetate. Deprotection can be used to produce hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers that are particular useful in biological applications such as cellular delivery of biological materials.

Copolymers and latex paint compositions using such copolymers that are heat-age stable and provide good adhesion, block resistance, and hiding all while using lower amounts of pigment are described herein. In one aspect, the heat-age stable compositions include an acrylic, styrene acrylic, vinyl acrylic copolymer or blends thereof including, as additional polymerizable units, at least one polymerizable phosphate surfactant and at least one linear or branched hydrophobic monomer that are both polymerized into the acrylic, styrene acrylic, vinyl acrylic copolymer backbone.

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a curable composition, a method for augmenting a structure in a patient with a resorbable biocompatible polymer, and a biodegradable, resorbable implant comprising a biocompatible copolymer. An exemplary embodiment of the curable composition comprises (a) 60 wt. % to 95 wt. % of one or more vinyl ester monomers and/or vinylcarbonate monomers, wherein said one or more vinyl ester monomers and/or vinylcarbonate monomers are respectively selected from compounds of the general formulas (I) and (II) below: ##STR00001##
wherein n, m R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the meaning defined herein; (b) 0.1 to 40 wt. % of one or more multifunctional thiols; and (c) 0 to 10 wt. % of a biocompatible polymerization initiator.

The present invention provides an easy-to-handle dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization that meets the following requirements: even if the amount of the dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization used for suspension polymerization of a vinyl compound is small, the resulting vinyl resin has high plasticizer absorptivity and is easy to work with; it is easy to remove residual monomer components from the resulting vinyl resin; and the resulting vinyl resin contains fewer coarse particles. The present invention relates to a dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization in the form of an aqueous liquid. This dispersion stabilizer contains, at a concentration of 20 mass % or more and 50 mass % or less, a PVA having a degree of saponification of 35 mol % or more and 65 mol % or less, a viscosity average degree of polymerization of 100 or more and 480 or less, a terminal aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and a block character of residual ester groups of 0.5 or more. In this dispersion stabilizer, the viscosity average degree of polymerization (P) of the PVA and the degree of modification (S) of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group satisfies 50SP/1.880100.

The present invention provides an easy-to-handle dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization that meets the following requirements: even if the amount of the dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization used for suspension polymerization of a vinyl compound is small, the resulting vinyl resin has high plasticizer absorptivity and is easy to work with; it is easy to remove residual monomer components from the resulting vinyl resin; and the resulting vinyl resin contains fewer coarse particles. The present invention relates to a dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization in the form of an aqueous liquid. This dispersion stabilizer contains, at a concentration of 20 mass % or more and 50 mass % or less, a PVA having a degree of saponification of 35 mol % or more and 65 mol % or less, a viscosity average degree of polymerization of 100 or more and 480 or less, a terminal aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and a block character of residual ester groups of 0.5 or more. In this dispersion stabilizer, the viscosity average degree of polymerization (P) of the PVA and the degree of modification (S) of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group satisfies 50SP/1.880100.

Provided is a dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization comprising an aqueous emulsion containing a dispersant (A), a dispersoid (B), a graft polymer (C), and an aqueous medium, wherein the dispersant (A) contains a surfactant, the dispersoid (B) contains a polymer having an ethylenically unsaturated monomer unit, the graft polymer (C) is obtained by graft polymerization of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer with the dispersant (A), a mass ratio [A/(A+B+C)] is 0.001 or more and less than 0.18, a mass ratio [C/(A+B+C)] is 0 or more and less than 0.04, and the total content of the dispersant (A), the dispersoid (B), and the graft polymer (C) is 35 to 70 mass %. A vinyl polymer to be obtained by suspension polymerization of a vinyl compound using the dispersion stabilizer has good plasticizer absorption. Further, the number of fish-eyes that occur when the vinyl polymer is formed is small, and the hue deterioration is also suppressed. Further, the dispersion stabilizer also has excellent handleability.