Shape memory polymers and copolymers are based on poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA) and have improved elastomeric properties. The shape memory polymers and copolymers may be used as protective, reinforcement, cladding or embellishment material having mechanical properties enabling substitution to materials based on technical polymers such as plasticized PVC and polyolefins.

The invention generally relates to compositions comprising degradable polymers and methods of making degradable polymers. Specifically, the disclosed degradable polymers comprise a biodegradable polymer backbone, a nitric oxide linker moiety, and a nitric oxide molecule. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

A pigment dispersant can be obtained by reacting amine-rich moieties C with at least one polymer P having one or more amine reactive groups. The amine-rich moieties C have an amine density of at least 600 mg KOH/g and are obtainable from repetitive self-reaction of at least one type of substance B and/or from cross-reaction of at least one B with at least one substance A. B is an adduct of at least one substance A and at least one linker D. The amine-reactive functionality in B and D are reacted with reactive amines in B and/or A; and if B has only one amine reactive group, then additional D and/or mixture of B and A is reacted to a previously formed C, where such an additional reaction of D and/or mixture of B and A to a formed C is repeated for 1 to 10 times.

A method of simultaneously modifying degradation rates of at least two compounds including a first compound having a first unmodified degradation rate constant k.sub.1 and a second compound having a second unmodified degradation rate k.sub.2 is provided. The method includes combining a first composition including the first compound with a second composition including the second compound, degrading the first compound and forming a first degradation product; and degrading the second compound and forming a second degradation product. The second degradation product modifies the first unmodified degradation rate constant k.sub.1 of the first compound to a first modified degradation rate k.sub.1′ and the first degradation product modifies the second unmodified degradation rate k.sub.2 of the second compound to a second modified degradation rate k.sub.2′. Compositions resulting from the method are also provided.

A biodegradable cationic polymer is disclosed, comprising first repeat units derived from a first cyclic carbonyl monomer by ring-opening polymerization, wherein more than 0% of the first repeat units comprise a side chain moiety comprising a quaternary amine group; a subunit derived from a monomeric diol initiator for the ring-opening polymerization; and an optional endcap group. The biodegradable cationic polymers have low cytotoxicity and form complexes with biologically active materials useful in gene therapeutics and drug delivery.

Disclosed is a branched polymer resin comprising repeating units of —(—OCH2-CO—)— or —(—CO—CH2O—)—, which is produced by ring-opening polymerization in the presence of structure regulators and optionally end-capping agents. The branched polymer resin exhibits a lower melt viscosity and a higher heat-stable temperature and suitable for melt processing.

The invention relates a novel polyglycolic acid. The polyglycolic acid comprises branched repeating units and linear repeating units. The polyglycolic acid may be produced from methyl glycolate by polycondensation in the presence of structure regulators, and exhibit excellent melt strength and thermal stability while maintaining good flowability and suitability for use in melt blow molding.

The composition of the present invention related to a quaternary ammonium salt detergent and the use of such quaternary ammonium salt detergents in a fuel composition to reduce diesel injector deposits and remove or clean up existing deposits on the diesel injectors.

The process includes pretreating the biomass with a first basic solution such as sodium hydroxide and mechanically altering the fibers to provide a fluidized biomass. The fluidized biomass is then subjected to high frequency pulses and shear forces without denaturing the individual components of the biomass. The biomass is then subjected to compressive force to separate a first liquid fraction from a first fractionated biomass. The first fractionated biomass may again then be subjected to the same high frequency pulses and shear forces as previously, particularly if there are hemicellulose and/or sugars still present in the first fractionated biomass. Compressive forces are used to separate a second liquid fraction from a second fractionated biomass. The second fractionated biomass is subjected to oxidation such as with hydrogen peroxide at a pH of 8 to 12. The second fractioned biomass is then subjected to compressive forces to separate one or more water insoluble components of the biomass in water soluble form.

The invention relates to a process of preparing a glycolide product from methyl polyglycolate or its product. The process comprises depolymerizing the methyl polyglycolate or its product in the presence of a depolymerization agent to make a depolymerized product; repolymerizing the depolymerized product to make a glycolic acid oligomer; and pyrolyzing the repolymerized mixture to make a glycolide product. A rare earth metal catalyst may be used facilitate the depolymerization reaction. The glycolide pyrolysis conversion rate may be greater than 90%. Also provided are related glycolide product and the glycolic acid oligomer. The glycolic acid oligomer may have a weight average molecular weight of 4,000-80,000.