The presently claimed invention relates to polymer with branched structure, in particular, hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble (or alkali-swellable) emulsion (HASE) copolymers which are effective thickeners at high shear rates and at the same time offer a Newtonian rheology profile and their use in aqueous compositions, particularly in aqueous coating formulations as well as a method for preparing hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble (or alkali-swellable) emulsion copolymers.

A polymer includes: structural units A derived from at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene; structural units B represented by a formula (1) below; and structural units C represented by a formula (2) below. In the formula (1), L.sup.16 represents —(CH.sub.2).sub.n—(R.sup.f2O).sub.p—R.sup.f1, R.sup.f1 represents a C.sub.1-15 alkyl group having one or more hydrogen atoms thereof substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, R.sup.f2 represents a C.sub.1-15 alkylene group having one or more hydrogen atoms thereof substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, p represents an integer of 0 to 15, and n represents an integer of 0 to 10. In the formula (2), L.sup.26 represents —(CH.sub.2).sub.n— (R.sup.r2O).sub.q—R.sup.r1, R.sup.r1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-15 alkyl group, R.sup.r2 represents a C.sub.1-15 alkylene group, q represents an integer of 0 to 1000000, and n represents an integer of 0 to 10.

##STR00001##

A polymer includes: structural units A derived from at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene; structural units B represented by a formula (1) below; and structural units C represented by a formula (2) below. In the formula (1), L.sup.16 represents —(CH.sub.2).sub.n—(R.sup.f2O).sub.p—R.sup.f1, R.sup.f1 represents a C.sub.1-15 alkyl group having one or more hydrogen atoms thereof substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, R.sup.f2 represents a C.sub.1-15 alkylene group having one or more hydrogen atoms thereof substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, p represents an integer of 0 to 15, and n represents an integer of 0 to 10. In the formula (2), L.sup.26 represents —(CH.sub.2).sub.n— (R.sup.r2O).sub.q—R.sup.r1, R.sup.r1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-15 alkyl group, R.sup.r2 represents a C.sub.1-15 alkylene group, q represents an integer of 0 to 1000000, and n represents an integer of 0 to 10.

##STR00001##

Polymeric films, which may be adhesive films, and display devices including such polymeric films, wherein a polymeric film includes: a first polymeric layer having two major surfaces, wherein the first polymeric layer includes a first polymeric matrix and particles. The first polymeric layer includes: a first polymeric matrix having a refractive index n.sub.1; and particles having a refractive index n.sub.2 uniformly dispersed within the first polymeric matrix; wherein the particles are present in an amount of less than 30 vol-%, based on the volume of the first polymeric layer, and have a particle size range of 400 nanometers (nm) to 3000 nm; and wherein n.sub.1 is different than n.sub.2.

Polymeric films, which may be adhesive films, and display devices including such polymeric films, wherein a polymeric film includes: a first polymeric layer having two major surfaces, wherein the first polymeric layer includes a first polymeric matrix and particles. The first polymeric layer includes: a first polymeric matrix having a refractive index n.sub.1; and particles having a refractive index n.sub.2 uniformly dispersed within the first polymeric matrix; wherein the particles are present in an amount of less than 30 vol-%, based on the volume of the first polymeric layer, and have a particle size range of 400 nanometers (nm) to 3000 nm; and wherein n.sub.1 is different than n.sub.2.

The invention relates to poly-amide bonded hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) stationary phases and novel HILIC methods for use in the characterization of large biological molecules modified with polar groups, known to those skilled in the art as glycans. The invention particularly provides novel, poly-amide bonded materials designed for efficient separation of large biomolecules, e.g. materials having a large percentage of larger pores (i.e. wide pores). Furthermore, the invention advantageously provides novel HILIC methods that can be used in combination with the stationary phase materials described herein to effectively separate protein and peptide glycoforms by eliminating previously unsolved problems, such as on-column aggregation of protein samples, low sensitivity of chromatographic detection of the glycan moieties, and low resolution of peaks due to restricted pore diffusion and long intra/inter-particle diffusion distances.

The invention relates to poly-amide bonded hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) stationary phases and novel HILIC methods for use in the characterization of large biological molecules modified with polar groups, known to those skilled in the art as glycans. The invention particularly provides novel, poly-amide bonded materials designed for efficient separation of large biomolecules, e.g. materials having a large percentage of larger pores (i.e. wide pores). Furthermore, the invention advantageously provides novel HILIC methods that can be used in combination with the stationary phase materials described herein to effectively separate protein and peptide glycoforms by eliminating previously unsolved problems, such as on-column aggregation of protein samples, low sensitivity of chromatographic detection of the glycan moieties, and low resolution of peaks due to restricted pore diffusion and long intra/inter-particle diffusion distances.

The present disclosure relates to a clay-polyacrylate composite comprising layers of clay intercalated with polyacrylate, wherein the layers of clay comprises at least one organosilane coupling agent comprising an acrylate moiety; and wherein the polyacrylate comprises a first acrylate monomer and a second acrylate monomer having different solubility. A surfactant-free method of synthesizing the said clay-polyacrylate composite and a method for coating are also provided. In a preferred embodiment, the first acrylate monomer is a hydrophilic acrylate monomer, e.g. 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, and the second acrylate monomer is a hydrophobic acrylate monomer, e.g. 2-ethylhexyl acrylate. The clay-acrylate composite can be used for forming a barrier coating, which exhibits low water and low oxygen permeability.

The present disclosure relates to a clay-polyacrylate composite comprising layers of clay intercalated with polyacrylate, wherein the layers of clay comprises at least one organosilane coupling agent comprising an acrylate moiety; and wherein the polyacrylate comprises a first acrylate monomer and a second acrylate monomer having different solubility. A surfactant-free method of synthesizing the said clay-polyacrylate composite and a method for coating are also provided. In a preferred embodiment, the first acrylate monomer is a hydrophilic acrylate monomer, e.g. 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, and the second acrylate monomer is a hydrophobic acrylate monomer, e.g. 2-ethylhexyl acrylate. The clay-acrylate composite can be used for forming a barrier coating, which exhibits low water and low oxygen permeability.

Provided are a liquid crystal composition which has excellent planarity in a case of being formed into a coating film and is also capable of forming a reflective layer having excellent diffuse reflectivity, a reflective layer that is formed using the liquid crystal composition, and a method for producing a reflective layer. Provided also is a copolymer that can be used as an alignment control agent for a liquid crystal compound.