The invention pertains to a side-chain epoxy-functionalized copolymer (P1) and to the process for preparing this copolymer (P1). The present invention also pertains to the use of the copolymer (P1) in the preparation of a membrane, a composite material or a coating. The present invention also relates to a resin composition comprising at least the copolymer (P1) according to the present invention.

A polyphenylene ether resin modified with benzoxazine, a method for producing the same, and a substrate material for a circuit board are provided. The polyphenylene ether resin modified with the benzoxazine has a structural formula as follows:

##STR00001## in which R represents a chemical group that is located between two hydroxyphenyl functional groups of a bisphenol compound, and n is an integer between 3 and 25, inclusive.

A polyphenylene ether resin modified with bismaleimide, a method for producing the same, and a substrate material for a circuit board are provided. The polyphenylene ether resin modified with the bismaleimide has a structural formula as follows:

##STR00001##

in which R represents a chemical group that is located between two hydroxyphenyl functional groups of a bisphenol compound, and n is an integer between 3 and 25, inclusive.

A polyphenylene ether resin modified with two amino functional groups, a method for producing the same, and a substrate material for a circuit board are provided. The polyphenylene ether resin modified with the two amino functional groups has a structural formula as follows:

##STR00001## in which R represents a chemical group that is located between two hydroxyphenyl functional groups of a bisphenol compound, and n is an integer between 3 and 25, inclusive.

A polyphenylene ether resin modified with two amino functional groups, a method for producing the same, and a substrate material for a circuit board are provided. The polyphenylene ether resin modified with the two amino functional groups has a structural formula as follows:

##STR00001## in which R represents a chemical group that is located between two hydroxyphenyl functional groups of a bisphenol compound, and n is an integer between 3 and 25, inclusive.

An amphiphilic copolymer includes a first block, a second block and a linker covalently linking the first block with the second block, wherein the first block is a hydrophilic dendritic polyglycerol derivative having a polyglycerol backbone and carrying a plurality of sulfate or sulfonate residues substituting hydroxyl groups of the polyglycerol backbone, wherein the second block is a hydrophobic block comprising a polymer chosen from the group consisting of polycaprolactone, a polylactic acid polymer, and a copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid. The linker comprises a hydrocarbon having at least six consecutive methylene residues and a cleavable entity. The linker is devoid of a triazole-containing residue resulting from a reaction between an alkyne and an azide.

Provided is a method for the production of a crosslinked molded body containing polyaryletherketone (PAEK), comprising the steps of (a) providing a mixture comprising a PAEK and a crosslinker, (b) preparing a molded body from the mixture, and (c) thermally treating the molded body at a temperature at which PAEK crosslinks, thereby obtaining the crosslinked molded body, and wherein the crosslinker is a di(aminophenyl) compound comprising two aminophenyl rings, wherein the two aminophenyl rings are joined together via an aliphatic group having a carbocyclic rest.

Methods of cross-linking or chain extending a polymeric material including a silane-modified poly(arylene ether) polymer (Si-PAE) in a shaped article include heating the shaped article from a temperature T.sub.1 to a temperature T.sub.2>T.sub.1, while maintaining the temperature at which the shaped article is heated within a specified range based on the increasing Tg of the polymeric material during the heating. Shaped articles cross-linked or chain extended by the methods are also described.

Methods of cross-linking or chain extending a polymeric material including a silane-modified poly(arylene ether) polymer (Si-PAE) in a shaped article include heating the shaped article from a temperature T.sub.1 to a temperature T.sub.2>T.sub.1, while maintaining the temperature at which the shaped article is heated within a specified range based on the increasing Tg of the polymeric material during the heating. Shaped articles cross-linked or chain extended by the methods are also described.

A proton-conducting polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for electrochemical reactions. The polymer may be synthesized from a super acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reaction of monomers Ar.sub.1′, Ar.sub.2′, and X.sub.1′ followed by a nucleophilic substitution reaction or a grafting reaction, and optionally an acidification reaction.

##STR00001##

Proton-exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies made from the polymer are also described.