A process for preparing a random copolymer based on at least one acyclic diene monomers and on at least one cyclic diene monomer is provided. The process comprises a step of copolymerization, in the presence of a polar agent and an anionic initiator in a polymerization solvent, of at least one acyclic diene monomer and of at least one cyclic diene monomer of which one CC double bond is endocyclic and conjugated to an exocyclic CC double bond, at a polymerization temperature below 80 C. A molar ratio of the polar agent/function(s) of the anionic initiator capable of initiating anionic polymrization being greater than 0.1.

Copolymers based on at least one acyclic diene monomer and on at least one cyclic diene monomer and the compositions containing them are also provided.

Disclosed are novel substituted catechol polymeric dispersants and related method of preparing. Also disclosed are methods of dispersing at least one pigment comprising the following steps: contacting an aqueous solution containing at least one pigment with the polymeric dispersant copolymers as described herein.

Disclosed are novel substituted catechol polymeric dispersants and related method of preparing. Also disclosed are methods of dispersing at least one pigment comprising the following steps: contacting an aqueous solution containing at least one pigment with the polymeric dispersant copolymers as described herein.

Disclosed are novel substituted catechol monomers, polymers made with the substituted catechol monomers, pH responsive polymers made with the substituted catechol monomers, and related methods. Also provided is a method of preparing an aqueous coating composition such as a latex paint including the above components.

Disclosed are novel substituted catechol monomers, polymers made with the substituted catechol monomers, pH responsive polymers made with the substituted catechol monomers, and related methods. Also provided is a method of preparing an aqueous coating composition such as a latex paint including the above components.

The invention relates to a method for producing a hydrocarbon resin, in which method a monomer mixture which contains an aromatic component containing indene and/or C.sub.1-4 alkylindene and a cyclic diolefin component containing a cyclic diolefin compound is polymerized by heating to a polymerization temperature of at least 180? C. to obtain a product stream containing hydrocarbon resin, wherein oligomers which contain units originating from the cyclic diolefin compound and/or units originating from the aromatic component are separated from the product stream and returned to the monomer mixture, and wherein the hydrocarbon resin is heated in an annealing step to a temperature of 150? C. to 300? C. for a period of 15 minutes to 240 hours. The invention also relates to a hydrocarbon resin that is obtainable by the method, to a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, and to the use of the hydrocarbon resin and the hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin.

The invention relates to a method for producing a hydrocarbon resin, in which method a monomer mixture which contains an aromatic component containing indene and/or C.sub.1-4 alkylindene and a cyclic diolefin component containing a cyclic diolefin compound is polymerized by heating to a polymerization temperature of at least 180? C. to obtain a product stream containing hydrocarbon resin, wherein oligomers which contain units originating from the cyclic diolefin compound and/or units originating from the aromatic component are separated from the product stream and returned to the monomer mixture, and wherein the hydrocarbon resin is heated in an annealing step to a temperature of 150? C. to 300? C. for a period of 15 minutes to 240 hours. The invention also relates to a hydrocarbon resin that is obtainable by the method, to a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, and to the use of the hydrocarbon resin and the hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin.

The present invention provides an antifouling film that is excellent in antifouling properties, rubbing resistance, and adhesion. The antifouling film includes: a substrate; and a polymer layer disposed on a surface of the substrate and including on a surface thereof an uneven structure provided with projections at a pitch not longer than a wavelength of visible light, the polymer layer being a cured product of a polymerizable composition, the polymerizable composition containing, in terms of active components, 30 to 80 wt % of a polyfunctional acrylate, 10 to 30 wt % of a monofunctional amide monomer, 0.5 to 10 wt % of a fluorine-based release agent, and 5 to 30 wt % of a vinyl-based polymer containing a repeat unit represented by a predetermined formula.

The present invention provides an antifouling film that is excellent in antifouling properties, rubbing resistance, and adhesion. The antifouling film includes: a substrate; and a polymer layer disposed on a surface of the substrate and including on a surface thereof an uneven structure provided with projections at a pitch not longer than a wavelength of visible light, the polymer layer being a cured product of a polymerizable composition, the polymerizable composition containing, in terms of active components, 30 to 80 wt % of a polyfunctional acrylate, 10 to 30 wt % of a monofunctional amide monomer, 0.5 to 10 wt % of a fluorine-based release agent, and 5 to 30 wt % of a vinyl-based polymer containing a repeat unit represented by a predetermined formula.

Presented and described is a hydrocarbon resin obtainable by thermal polymerization of a cyclic diolefin component including a cyclic diolefin compound with an aromatic component including indene and/or C.sub.1-4-alkylindene, with the hydrocarbon resin having a polydispersity index (PDI) of 1 to less than 2.3. Further described is a production process for the hydrocarbon resin, wherein a monomer mixture which includes an aromatic component including indene and/or C.sub.1-4-alkylindene and a cyclic diolefin component including a cyclic diolefin compound is polymerized by heating to a polymerization temperature of at least 180? C. to give a product stream including hydrocarbon resin, and oligomers which include units originating from the cyclic diolefin compound and/or units originating from the aromatic component are separated from the product stream and returned to the monomer mixture. Lastly described are a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, a process for production thereof, and the use of the hydrocarbon resin and of the hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin.