A thermoplastic resin composition includes a resin component (A) in an amount of 97 to 80 parts by mass; and a hitting sound reducing material (B) in an amount of 3 to 20 parts by mass. The hitting sound reducing material (B) is a hydrogenated copolymer derived from hydrogenation of a copolymer formed of a block portion (I) primarily including structural units derived from an aromatic vinyl-based compound, and a random portion (II) primarily including structural units derived from an aromatic vinyl-based compound and derived from butadiene. The structural units derived from an aromatic vinyl-based compound in the block portion (I) and derived from an aromatic vinyl-based compound in the random portion (II) are present in a total content of 55 to 80 mass % relative to a 100 total mass % of the copolymer, and the hydrogenated copolymer has a primary dispersion peak of tan δ at 0° C. or greater.

A method of producing a powder mass for a lithium battery, the method comprising: (a) providing a solution containing a sulfonated elastomer dissolved in a solvent or a precursor in a liquid form or dissolved in a solvent; (b) dispersing a plurality of particles of a cathode active material in the solution to form a slurry; and (c) dispensing the slurry and removing the solvent and/or polymerizing/curing the precursor to form the powder mass, wherein the powder mass comprises multiple particulates and at least a particulate comprises one or a plurality of particles of a cathode active material being encapsulated by a thin layer of sulfonated elastomer having a thickness from 1 nm to 10 μm, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 800%, and a lithium ion conductivity from 10.sup.−7 S/cm to 5×10.sup.−2 S/cm at room temperature.

A method of producing a powder mass for a lithium battery, the method comprising: (a) providing a solution containing a sulfonated elastomer dissolved in a solvent or a precursor in a liquid form or dissolved in a solvent; (b) dispersing a plurality of particles of a cathode active material in the solution to form a slurry; and (c) dispensing the slurry and removing the solvent and/or polymerizing/curing the precursor to form the powder mass, wherein the powder mass comprises multiple particulates and at least a particulate comprises one or a plurality of particles of a cathode active material being encapsulated by a thin layer of sulfonated elastomer having a thickness from 1 nm to 10 μm, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 800%, and a lithium ion conductivity from 10.sup.−7 S/cm to 5×10.sup.−2 S/cm at room temperature.

A method for producing a phase difference film is provided. The phase difference film consisting of a resin C contains a copolymer P containing a polymerization unit A and a polymerization unit B, and includes a phase separation structure that exhibits a structural birefringence. The phase separation structure includes a phase including as a main component the polymerization unit A and another phase including as a main component the polymerization unit B. The phase difference film has an NZ factor of greater than 0 and smaller than 1. The method comprises: forming a single layer film of a resin C; and causing phase separation of the resin C in the film, which includes a step of applying to the film a stress along a thickness direction thereof.

Cationic polymers are provided that comprise monomeric units of Formula (V). (V) Each asterisk (*) indicates an attachment position to another monomeric unit; R is hydrogen or methyl; each R.sup.2 is each independently an alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof; L is a linking group comprising an alkylene group; and +R.sup.3 is a cationic nitrogen-containing group free of any N—H bonds. Membranes formed from said cationic polymers, devices including such membranes, and methods of making such cationic polymers are also provided.

##STR00001##

Cationic polymers are provided that comprise monomeric units of Formula (V). (V) Each asterisk (*) indicates an attachment position to another monomeric unit; R is hydrogen or methyl; each R.sup.2 is each independently an alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof; L is a linking group comprising an alkylene group; and +R.sup.3 is a cationic nitrogen-containing group free of any N—H bonds. Membranes formed from said cationic polymers, devices including such membranes, and methods of making such cationic polymers are also provided.

##STR00001##

Cationic polymers are provided that comprise monomeric units of Formula (V). (V) Each asterisk (*) indicates an attachment position to another monomeric unit; R is hydrogen or methyl; each R.sup.2 is each independently an alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof; L is a linking group comprising an alkylene group; and +R.sup.3 is a cationic nitrogen-containing group free of any N—H bonds. Membranes formed from said cationic polymers, devices including such membranes, and methods of making such cationic polymers are also provided.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a polymer blend comprising 75-99.5% (w/w) of at least one polylactic acid) (PLA) and 0.5-25% (w/w) of at least one styrene butadiene copolymer containing at least 50% (w/w) styrene. The present invention further relates to the use of such polymer blend for producing products and to the resulting products. Moreover, an object of the present invention is the use of a styrene butadiene block copolymer having a dendrimer structure comprising 50-85% (w/w) styrene as an additive of polymer blends comprising at least 50% (w/w) of PLA and a method of producing the polymer blend according to the invention.

The present invention relates to novel block copolymers comprising at least one mono vinyl aromatic monomer (also referred to as mono vinylarene) and at least one conjugated diene monomer, in particular to styrene butadiene block copolymers (SBC), with a defined block structure. The invention further relates to polymer blends which comprise at least one block copolymer and at least one mono vinylarene acrylate copolymer, in particular a styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer. Related methods for preparation and articles prepared from the polymer blends are also provided.

The present invention relates to novel block copolymers comprising at least one mono vinyl aromatic monomer (also referred to as mono vinylarene) and at least one conjugated diene monomer, in particular to styrene butadiene block copolymers (SBC), with a defined block structure. The invention further relates to polymer blends which comprise at least one block copolymer and at least one mono vinylarene acrylate copolymer, in particular a styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer. Related methods for preparation and articles prepared from the polymer blends are also provided.