A polymer [polymer (P)] comprising a plurality of (per)fluoropolyether (PFPE) segments [segments (S.sup.RF)] joined together by hydrogenated (poly)ether segments [segments (S.sup.H)], said polymers (P) having two end groups [groups (E)], each group (E) comprising a hydroxy or a leaving group, with the proviso that the hydrogenated (polytether segment (S.sup.H) is not a segment of formula —CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2 2 OCH.sub.2— is herein disclosed. Disclosed is also a method for the manufacture of polymer (P) and a polymer obtainable by full or partial fluorination of polymer (P). Polymer (P) and polymers obtainable therefrom by full or partial fluorination can be conveniently used in the manufacture of lubricant compositions or of compositions for imparting hydro-/oleo-repellence to substrates. Said polymers can also be used as intermediates for the manufacture of other polymers or block copolymers.

A gas barrier polymer of the present invention is formed by heating a mixture including a polycarboxylic acid and a polyamine compound, in which, in an infrared absorption spectrum of the gas barrier polymer, when a total peak area in a range of an absorption band of equal to or more than 1493 cm.sup.−3 and equal to or less than 1780 cm.sup.−1 is A, and a total peak area in a range of an absorption band of equal to or more than 1598 cm.sup.−1 and equal to or less than 1690 cm.sup.−1 is B, an area ratio of an amide bond indicated by B/A is 0.370 or more.

A polydiorganosiloxane having both a silicon bonded aliphatically unsaturated group and a silicon bonded poly(meth)acrylate polymer or copolymer, and method for preparation of this polydiorganosiloxane are disclosed. The method preserves the aliphatically unsaturated groups when grafting the poly(meth)acrylate to the polydiorganosiloxane. This polydiorganosiloxane is useful in hydrosilylation reaction curable compositions, such as pressure sensitive adhesive compositions.

A polysulfone membrane is modified so that monomers are wafted onto the surface of the membrane. The polysulfone membranes can be grafted by contacting the membrane with a grafting solution and exposing the membrane to electromagnetic radiation, typically within the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. The monomers that are grafted are typically anionic or cationic. The grafted membranes can be used for filtering impurities, such as positively and negatively charged particles, from a liquid. Anionic membranes provide improved filtration of negatively charged impurities, while cationic membranes provide improved filtration of positively charged impurities.

The present disclosure provides a multilayer film. The multilayer film includes at least two layers including a sealant layer and a second layer in contact with the sealant layer. The sealant layer contains (A) a first ethylene-based polymer having a density from 0.900 g/cc to 0.925 g/cc and a melt index from 0.5 g/10 min to 30 g/10 min; and (B) a polyethylene-polydimethylsiloxane block copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 1,000 g/mol to 10,000 g/mol. The second layer contains a second ethylene-based polymer.

Methods for forming a graft copolymer of a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer and at least one type of electrically conductive polymer, wherein the electrically conductive polymer is grafted on the poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer are provided. The methods comprise a) irradiating a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer with a stream of electrically charged particles; b) forming a solution comprising the irradiated poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer, an electrically conductive monomer and an acid in a suitable solvent; and c) adding an oxidant to the solution to form the graft copolymer. Graft copolymers of a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer and at least one type of electrically conductive polymer, wherein the electrically conductive polymer is grafted on the poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer, nanocomposite materials comprising the graft copolymer, and multilayer capacitors comprising the nanocomposite material are also provided.

Methods of making blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers and blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers. The generation of blended membranes by mixing two chemically distinct block copolymers in the casting solution demonstrates a pathway to advanced asymmetric block copolymer derived films, which can be used as ultrafiltration membranes, in which different pore surface chemistries and associated functionalities can be integrated into a single membrane via standard membrane fabrication, i.e. without requiring laborious post-fabrication modification steps. The block copolymers may be diblock, triblock and/or multiblock mixes and some block copolymers in the mix may be functionally modified. Triblock copolymers comprising a reactive group (e.g., sulfhydryl group) terminated block and films comprising the triblock copolymers.

A rubber composition for a tire tread contains a diene rubber, silica, and a cured product; a content of the silica being from 20 to 100 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber, a content of the cured product being from 0.3 to 30 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber; the diene rubber containing a natural rubber and a modified butadiene rubber having a polyorganosiloxane group at a terminal, a content of the natural rubber in the diene rubber being from 30 to 90 mass %, a content of the modified butadiene rubber in the diene rubber being from 10 to 70 mass %; the cured product being a cured product obtained by curing a crosslinkable oligomer or polymer that is incompatible with the diene rubber; and a JIS A hardness of the cured product being from 3 to 45.

A graft copolymer (B-III) includes a rubbery polymer (A-III) that is a miniemulsion polymerization reaction product of an alkyl (meth)acrylate; and at least one monomer selected from aromatic vinyl compounds, (meth)acrylic acid esters, and vinyl cyanide compounds graft-polymerized onto the rubbery polymer (A-III).

The present invention pertains to: a functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane containing a novel chain extender having functionality capable of chemically bonding to a prepolymer polymerized by reacting a polyol (P) with a diisocyanate (R); a functional composite material containing one or more monomers or polymers selected from the group consisting of an anionic functional group, an amphoteric functional group, a perfluorinated compound, a hydrogel, and a silicone polymer; a method for producing same; and an article including same.