A vinyl amine containing polymer comprises randomly distributed repeating monomer units having at least two of the following formulae:

##STR00001## wherein, R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and wherein the vinyl amine containing polymer comprises repeating monomer unit III and/or IV in a total amount of from about 1.5 weight percent to about 8 weight percent based on a total weight of the polymer.

A vinyl amine containing polymer comprises randomly distributed repeating monomer units having at least two of the following formulae:

##STR00001## wherein, R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and wherein the vinyl amine containing polymer comprises repeating monomer unit III and/or IV in a total amount of from about 1.5 weight percent to about 8 weight percent based on a total weight of the polymer.

Methods for forming latexes are provided. In an embodiment, such a method comprises adding a monomer emulsion comprising water, a monomer, an acidic monomer, a hydrophilic monomer, a difunctional monomer, a first reactive surfactant, and a chain transfer agent, to a reactive surfactant solution comprising water, a second reactive surfactant, and an initiator, at a feed rate over a period of time so that monomers of the monomer emulsion undergo polymerization reactions to form resin particles in a latex. The reactive surfactant solution does not comprise monomers other than the second reactive surfactant, the reactive surfactant solution does not comprise a resin seed, and the monomer emulsion does not comprise the resin seed. The latex is characterized by a viscosity in a range of from about 10 cP to about 100 cP as measured at a solid content of about 30% and at room temperature. The latexes are also provided.

A binder for a secondary battery containing a fluorine-containing polymer (A) and polyvinylidene fluoride (B). The fluorine-containing polymer (A) contains a polymerized unit based on vinylidene fluoride, a polymerized unit based on tetrafluoroethylene, and a polymerized unit based on a monomer (2-2) represented by the following formula (2-2): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a C1-C8 hydrocarbon group; R.sup.8 is a C1-C8 hydrocarbon group; and Y.sup.1 is an inorganic cation or an organic cation. Also disclosed is an electrode mixture and an electrode for a secondary battery including the binder, and a secondary battery including the electrode.

A binder for a secondary battery containing a fluorine-containing polymer (A) and polyvinylidene fluoride (B). The fluorine-containing polymer (A) contains a polymerized unit based on vinylidene fluoride, a polymerized unit based on tetrafluoroethylene, and a polymerized unit based on a monomer (2-2) represented by the following formula (2-2): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a C1-C8 hydrocarbon group; R.sup.8 is a C1-C8 hydrocarbon group; and Y.sup.1 is an inorganic cation or an organic cation. Also disclosed is an electrode mixture and an electrode for a secondary battery including the binder, and a secondary battery including the electrode.

A binder for a secondary battery containing a fluorine-containing polymer (A) and polyvinylidene fluoride (B). The fluorine-containing polymer (A) contains a polymerized unit based on vinylidene fluoride, a polymerized unit based on tetrafluoroethylene, and a polymerized unit based on a monomer (2-2) represented by the following formula (2-2): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a C1-C8 hydrocarbon group; R.sup.8 is a C1-C8 hydrocarbon group; and Y.sup.1 is an inorganic cation or an organic cation. Also disclosed is an electrode mixture and an electrode for a secondary battery including the binder, and a secondary battery including the electrode.

Provided is a low-odor polymer which is soluble in a solvent and with which a work environment load can be reduced. In addition, provided are a curable composition using the polymer and a cured product of the curable composition. The vinyl-based polymer of the present invention comprises a terminal structure derived from one or more of 3- to 20-mer of a (meth)acrylic monomer, wherein an acid value is 35 to 300 mgKOH/g.

First embodiment of a (meth)acrylic copolymer in the present invention includes following: a (meth)acrylic copolymer having at least one kind of constitutional unit selected from the group consisting of a constitutional unit (A1) having at least one kind of structure (I) selected from the group consisting of structures represented by the following formula (1), formula (2), or formula (3) and a constitutional unit (A2) having a triorganosilyloxycarbonyl group and a constitutional unit (B) derived from a macromonomer (b):

##STR00001## (where, X represents —O—, —S—, or —NR.sup.14—, R.sup.14 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 each represent an alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, or an aryl group, and R.sup.4 and R.sup.6 each represent an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms).

First embodiment of a (meth)acrylic copolymer in the present invention includes following: a (meth)acrylic copolymer having at least one kind of constitutional unit selected from the group consisting of a constitutional unit (A1) having at least one kind of structure (I) selected from the group consisting of structures represented by the following formula (1), formula (2), or formula (3) and a constitutional unit (A2) having a triorganosilyloxycarbonyl group and a constitutional unit (B) derived from a macromonomer (b):

##STR00001## (where, X represents —O—, —S—, or —NR.sup.14—, R.sup.14 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 each represent an alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, or an aryl group, and R.sup.4 and R.sup.6 each represent an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms).

The present invention is to provide a method for producing a cartilage tissue which comprises a step of providing a substrate for producing cell aggregates provided with a plurality of spots comprising a copolymer containing recurring units derived from monomers represented by the following formulae (I) and (II):

##STR00001##

[wherein U.sup.a1, U.sup.a, R.sup.a1, R.sup.a2 and R.sup.b are as described in the specification and claims] on a substrate having an ability to suppress adhesion of cells; a step of seeding human cartilage progenitor cells which are positive for PRRX1 protein and derived from pluripotent stem cells on the substrate; a step of producing cell aggregates by culturing the cells; and a step of culturing the aggregates to produce a cartilage tissue.