This invention relates to a process for forming a long-chain branched polymer and a long-chain branched polymer resulting from the process. The process comprises reacting (a) a polyolefin base polymer with (b) a coupling agent comprising a polymeric coupling agent, optionally blended with a molecular coupling agent, the polymeric coupling agent being a modified polyolefin having a reactive coupling group at one or more terminal ends of the modified polyolefin chain, to couple the polyolefin base polymer (a) with the coupling agent (b) to form a long-chain branched polymer having a long-chain branching and/or higher surface energy relative to the polyolefin base polymer.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

Water-soluble, conjugated polymers containing one or more dibenzosilole monomer residues, as well as compositions, kits, and methods of making and using such polymers are disclosed. Also disclosed are dibenzosilole derivatives substituted with one or more water-solubilizing groups, and methods of making and using such derivatives to prepare water-soluble dibenzosilole polymers.

There is provided a material comprising a n-doped electrically conductive polymer comprising at least one electron-deficient aromatic moiety, each electron-deficient aromatic moiety having a gas-phase electron affinity (E.sub.A) of 1-3 eV; and at least one counter-cation covalently bonded to the polymer or to a further polymer comprised in the material, the polymer being n-doped to a charge density of 0.1-1 electron per electron-deficient aromatic moiety, the polymer being capable of forming a layer having a vacuum workfunction (WF) of 2.5-4.5 eV, and wherein all the counter-cations comprised in the material are immobilised such that any electron in the polymer cannot significantly diffuse or migrate out of the polymer. There is also provided a method of preparing the material.

Provided are an anion exchange resin being capable of producing an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, a binder for forming an electrode catalyst layer and a fuel cell electrode catalyst layer, which have an improved physical property (anion conductivity); a method for producing thereof; an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, a binder for forming an electrode catalyst layer and a fuel cell electrode catalyst layer produced from the anion exchange resin; and a fuel cell having the electrolyte membrane or the electrode catalyst layer.

For example, the anion exchange resin is obtained by reacting a hydrophobic monomer with an aminoalkyl group-containing monomer, in which the hydrophobic monomer is composed of one aromatic ring or a plurality of aromatic rings to which two halogen atoms are bonded, and the aminoalkyl group-containing monomer is composed of one aromatic ring or a plurality of aromatic rings to which two halogen atoms are bonded and an aminoalkyl group is introduced; and by quaternizing the amino group. In the anion exchange resin, a divalent hydrophobic group formed by the residue of the hydrophobic monomer, and a divalent hydrophilic group formed by the residue of the quaternized aminoalkyl group-containing monomer are bonded via direct bond.

The present invention relates to functionalized polymers including a poly(phenylene) structure. The structure can include any useful modifications, such as the inclusion of one or more reactive handles having an aryl group. Methods and uses of such structures and polymers are also described herein.

The invention provides for polyfluoreno[4,5-cde]oxepine conjugates and their use in methods of analyte detection.

A ladder tetrazine polymer is disclosed.