The invention provides a class of polymeric materials being ABA tri-block or AB di-block, comprised of biodegradable segments and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) segment and uses thereof.

The invention features oligofluorinated cross-linked polymers and their use in the manufacture of articles and coating surfaces.

Halogenated cyclic diesters, halogenated polymers derived from the cyclic diesters, and methods for making the halogenated cyclic diesters and related halogenated polymers.

Methods of functionalizing α-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers and coupling α-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers are provided. Suitable α-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers include α-halogenated polyesters and α-halogenated acrylate-based inimers. Methods include coupling α-halogenated polyesters and functionalizing α-halogenated polyesters without polymer cleavage. Certain α-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers may be functionalized, crosslinked or, intiate polymerization by inducing the α-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers to make a dioxolenium ion intermediate. The α-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers may also be functionalized using a radical trap.

The present invention provides a photocured product having both excellent toughness and high strength, and also provides a photocurable composition for forming said photocured product. The present invention provides a photocurable composition comprising: A. a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer, wherein the glass transition temperature of a polymer formed from only said monomer is 20° C. or higher; B. a polyrotaxane obtained by respectively placing blocking groups at both ends of a pseudo-polyrotaxane, which is obtained by threading a linear molecule through the hole of a cyclic molecule, so as not to release the cyclic molecule, wherein the cyclic molecule has a (meth) acrylic group; and C. a photopolymerization initiator. The present invention also provides a photocured product formed from said composition.

The present invention relates to shape-memory polymers, a method for providing said shape-memory polymers, uses and precursors thereof. More precisely, shape-memory polymers according to the present invention comprise end-capped urethane- and/or urea-based polymers having an amorphous backbone. Shape-memory polymers described herein provide for improved properties.

Polyester compositions are disclosed herein, as well as methods of making and using such polyesters. In some embodiments, the polyesters are formed from monomers derived from natural oils.

Polyester compositions are disclosed herein, as well as methods of making and using such polyesters. In some embodiments, the polyesters are formed from monomers derived from natural oils. In some embodiments, the polyesters have lower glass transition temperatures than polyesters of comparable molecular weight.

A compound of the formula (III): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.21 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sup.22 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and R.sup.23 is a divalent organic group.

A process for reducing the amount of hydroxyl-end-groups of a polyester, wherein the polyester is prepared from at least one dicarboxylic acid and at least one dihydroxy alcohol, and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid anhydride and mono-isocyanate, and wherein the additive is added during a step of prepolycondensation and/or during a step of polycondensation and/or after a step of polycondensation.