A polymerizable monomer prepared by partial or complete acrylation or methacrylation of at least one epoxidized cardanol, wherein the epoxidized cardanol is formed by epoxidation of an unsaturation site of a cardanol having the formula (I) wherein R is selected from hydrogen and an alkyl, or alkenyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms, and n is 7, 10, or 13, a polymer and resin made form the polymerizable monomer, and a method of preparing such a polymer. The resin created from this monomer is suitable for moderate temperture composites and coatings applications.

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A sizing composition for reinforcing fibres is provided which makes it possible to improve the adhesion of these fibres with respect to an organic matrix that forms, with them, a part made of a composite material and that results from the chain transfer polymerization of a curable resin. The sizing composition includes a polybutadiene prepolymer comprising at least two epoxide functions, a cross-linking agent comprising at least two reactive functions, at least one of which is a thiol function; and a catalyst comprising at least one tertiary amine function. The sizing composition may be used in the following fields of use: aeronautical, aerospace, railway, naval and motor vehicle industries, for example, for the production of structural, engine, passenger compartment or body work parts; arms industry, for example, for the production of parts incorporated into the composition of missiles or missile launch tubes; sports and leisure goods industry, for example, for the production of goods intended for water sports and board sports.

Aspects of the present invention relate to polymers, and particularly to farnesene polymers functionalized with one or more oxirane groups and, optionally, one or more hydroxyl groups. According to one aspect of the invention, provided is an epoxidized and optionally hydroxyl-functionalized polyfarnesene. The epoxidized farnesene polymer has at least one of a side chain or a main backbone functionalized with at least one oxirane group and, optionally, at least one terminal end functionalized with a hydroxyl group. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for preparing an epoxidized and optionally hydroxyl-functionalized polyfarnesene. The method includes epoxidizing a farnesene polymer, which may optionally contain one or more terminal hydroxyl groups, to functionalize at least one of a side chain or a main backbone of the farnesene polymer with an oxirane group.

A method of producing an epoxy compound, which comprises reacting hydrogen peroxide with a compound having a carbon-carbon double bond, in the presence of at least one of a tungsten compound and a molybdenum compound; and an onium salt comprising 20 or more carbon atoms and one or more of substituents convertible to a functional group containing an active hydrogen or a salt thereof.

An ethylene bis-12-hydroxystearamide grafted glycidyl citrate (EBH-g-ECA) and a preparation method thereof are provided; the EBH-g-ECA can be used as a multifunctional auxiliary agent in a polymer material, and particularly has a chain extension and a crystal nucleation effect in a polyester polymer material. A heat-resistant polylactic acid continuously-extruded foamed material containing EBH-g-ECA is further provided. The continuous foaming technology can be realized by using the heat-resistant polylactic acid foamed material, and the prepared foamed product has a high heat resistance, a uniform appearance, a low density, and complete biodegradation. A polylactic acid foamed material preparation method for a heat-resistant is provided, which is easy to be industrialized and has a great significance for realizing the large-scale replacement of petroleum-based plastic disposable foamed products such as PP and PS.

The present invention relates to fluorine compounds (I), (II) and (III), to processes for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing two mixtures of epoxidized fatty acid esters, comprising in the order given a transesterification of an epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a reduction of the volatile saturated non-epoxidized fraction by short path distillation of the transesterified epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a selection on the one hand of the non-vaporized fraction (residue) of the previous process step as the first mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters and a selection on the other hand of the vaporized fraction (distillate) as the second mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters. The first mixture is in particular suitable as plasticizer in halogenated polymers, the second mixture being particularly suitable as plasticizer in non-halogenated polymers.

There is provided an epoxy resin composition containing an epoxy compound, which has a low viscosity and a low dielectric constant, and when added to a general-purpose epoxy resin composition, can lower a viscosity of the composition and can sufficiently lower a dielectric constant of an epoxy resin cured product obtained from the composition. An epoxy resin composition comprising: (a) an epoxy component containing at least an epoxy compound of formula [1]; and (b) a curing agent: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 each independently are a hydrogen atom or methyl group, and L.sup.1 to L.sup.3 each independently are pentamethylene group, hexamethylene group or heptamethylene group.

Provided is a curable composition capable of giving a lens that has excellent transfer accuracy from a mold and offers heat resistance and optical properties at excellent levels. The curable composition according to the present invention for lens formation contains a cycloaliphatic epoxide (A) represented by Formula (a), a cationic-polymerization initiator (B), and a polysiloxane (C) represented by Formula (c). The curable composition contains the polysiloxane (C) in an amount of 0.01% to 5% by weight based on the total amount of the curable composition. The curable composition according to the present invention for lens formation may further contain a siloxane compound (D) containing two or more epoxy groups per molecule. ##STR00001##

Provided is a monomer mixture having fast-curing properties and forming a cured product having high hardness, excellent alkali resistance, and excellent adhesion to a substrate. The monomer mixture according to an embodiment of the present invention is a monomer mixture containing a compound represented by Formulas (a-1) and/or (a-2): a compound (2B) including two cationically polymerizable groups per molecule, at least one of the cationically polymerizable groups being an epoxy group; and a compound (3B) including three or more cationically polymerizable groups per molecule, at least one of the cationically polymerizable groups being an epoxy group; wherein a total content of the compound represented by Formula (a-1) above and the compound represented by Formula (a-2) above is from 1 to 20 wt. % of a total amount of the monomer mixture; the compound (2B) contains a compound represented by Formula (2b-1); and a content of the compound represented by Formula (2b-1) above is 5 wt. % or greater of the amount of the monomer mixture, and a ratio of contents of the compound (2B)/the compound (3B) is from 5 to 20.