Liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are described herein that include novel arrangements of bio-mimicking properties for use in surgery, therapy, and treatment of medical or comfort issues. Through the particular arrangements medical devices and portions of them may be adapted to have properties that dampen and dissipate vibrations such as shocks to body tissues during surgical recovery and/or during subsequent use. This dampening is attained by novel arrangements of LCP and processes for forming them that vary from prior attempts at synthesizing activated LCP elements. These novel arrangements include using LCP bodies that include thicknesses and properties that have not been demonstrated or achieved for medical or other purposes and that are achieved using distinct processes. These novel LCP arrangements and methods of creating them can produce medical devices that bio-mimic natural tissue or operation to provide better results for patients.

Liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are described herein that include novel arrangements of bio-mimicking properties for use in surgery, therapy, and treatment of medical or comfort issues. Through the particular arrangements medical devices and portions of them may be adapted to have properties that dampen and dissipate vibrations such as shocks to body tissues during surgical recovery and/or during subsequent use. This dampening is attained by novel arrangements of LCP and processes for forming them that vary from prior attempts at synthesizing activated LCP elements. These novel arrangements include using LCP bodies that include thicknesses and properties that have not been demonstrated or achieved for medical or other purposes and that are achieved using distinct processes. These novel LCP arrangements and methods of creating them can produce medical devices that bio-mimic natural tissue or operation to provide better results for patients.

The present invention relates to a novel method for the preparation of photoaligning polymer materials comprising aryl acrylic acid ester groups, to photoalignment compositions obtained by this process, to the use of the composition as orienting layer for liquid crystals and to non-structured and structured optical elements, electro-optical elements, multi-layer systems or in nanoelectronics comprising the compositions.

A water absorbent agent having a high water absorption multiplying factor where stickiness after absorbing liquid can be reduced when used as a hygienic material is produce by a method for manufacturing the water absorbing agent. The method for manufacturing a water absorbent agent having a centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) of 30 g/g or greater, includes subjecting an aqueous solution of a monomer that includes an acrylic acid (salt) to a polymerization step, a drying step, and a surface cross-linking step, and a step for adding α-hydroxycarboxylic acid (salt) before the drying step. The atomic weight of the soluble portion eluted when the water absorbent agent absorbs liquid and swells can be reduced by the α-hydroxycarboxylic acid (salt) before the drying step to reduce the stickiness of the water absorbent agent after absorption of liquid, which leads to discomfort during use of disposable diapers and the like.

A water absorbent agent having a high water absorption multiplying factor where stickiness after absorbing liquid can be reduced when used as a hygienic material is produce by a method for manufacturing the water absorbing agent. The method for manufacturing a water absorbent agent having a centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) of 30 g/g or greater, includes subjecting an aqueous solution of a monomer that includes an acrylic acid (salt) to a polymerization step, a drying step, and a surface cross-linking step, and a step for adding α-hydroxycarboxylic acid (salt) before the drying step. The atomic weight of the soluble portion eluted when the water absorbent agent absorbs liquid and swells can be reduced by the α-hydroxycarboxylic acid (salt) before the drying step to reduce the stickiness of the water absorbent agent after absorption of liquid, which leads to discomfort during use of disposable diapers and the like.

Chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure of a concentric multi-shell structure. Each layer of the multi-shell structure is optically and structurally anisotropic. The optical axes of adjacent layers have a sequential slight twist. All layers of the multi-shell structure generate a helix configuration and the chiral polymer microspheres are optically active. A method for preparing the chiral polymer microspheres, includes: forming a homogeneous liquid crystal mixture; dispersing the liquid crystal mixture into a continuous phase to form liquid crystal droplets through an emulsification process; polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal to form intermediate microspheres; and removing the one non-reactive liquid crystal and the chiral additive to form the chiral polymer microspheres. The chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure and a swelling ability, and can be used as the stationary phase in chiral chromatograph, improving separation efficiency.

Chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure of a concentric multi-shell structure. Each layer of the multi-shell structure is optically and structurally anisotropic. The optical axes of adjacent layers have a sequential slight twist. All layers of the multi-shell structure generate a helix configuration and the chiral polymer microspheres are optically active. A method for preparing the chiral polymer microspheres, includes: forming a homogeneous liquid crystal mixture; dispersing the liquid crystal mixture into a continuous phase to form liquid crystal droplets through an emulsification process; polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal to form intermediate microspheres; and removing the one non-reactive liquid crystal and the chiral additive to form the chiral polymer microspheres. The chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure and a swelling ability, and can be used as the stationary phase in chiral chromatograph, improving separation efficiency.

Oxime ester compounds of the formula I, II, III, IV or V ##STR00001## ##STR00002##
wherein
Z is for example ##STR00003##
Z.sub.1 for is NO.sub.2, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.7-C.sub.20aroyl or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4-C.sub.20heteroaroyl; provided that at least one Z.sub.1 is other than NO.sub.2; Z.sub.2 is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.7-C.sub.20aroyl; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 for example are hydrogen, halogen, or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4-C.sub.20heteroaryl; R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11, R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 for example are hydrogen, halogen, OR.sub.16, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; provided that R.sub.9 and R.sub.13 are neither hydrogen nor fluorine; R.sub.14 is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl or C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroaryl Q is for example C.sub.6-C.sub.20arylene or C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroarylene; Q.sub.1 is —C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkylene-CO—; Q.sub.2 is naphthoylene; Q.sub.3 is for example phenylene; L is for example O-alkylene-O—; R.sub.15 is for example hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; R.sub.20 is for example hydrogen, or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; are effective photoinitiators.

Oxime ester compounds of the formula I, II, III, IV or V ##STR00001## ##STR00002##
wherein
Z is for example ##STR00003##
Z.sub.1 for is NO.sub.2, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.7-C.sub.20aroyl or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4-C.sub.20heteroaroyl; provided that at least one Z.sub.1 is other than NO.sub.2; Z.sub.2 is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.7-C.sub.20aroyl; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 for example are hydrogen, halogen, or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4-C.sub.20heteroaryl; R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11, R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 for example are hydrogen, halogen, OR.sub.16, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; provided that R.sub.9 and R.sub.13 are neither hydrogen nor fluorine; R.sub.14 is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl or C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroaryl Q is for example C.sub.6-C.sub.20arylene or C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroarylene; Q.sub.1 is —C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkylene-CO—; Q.sub.2 is naphthoylene; Q.sub.3 is for example phenylene; L is for example O-alkylene-O—; R.sub.15 is for example hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; R.sub.20 is for example hydrogen, or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; are effective photoinitiators.

Oxime ester compounds of the formula I, II, III, IV or V ##STR00001##
wherein
Z is for example ##STR00002##
Z.sub.1 for is NO.sub.2, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.7-C.sub.20aroyl or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4-C.sub.20heteroaroyl; provided that at least one Z.sub.1 is other than NO.sub.2; Z.sub.2 is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.7-C.sub.20aroyl; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 for example are hydrogen, halogen, or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4-C.sub.20heteroaryl; R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11, R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 for example are hydrogen, halogen, OR.sub.16, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; provided that R.sub.9 and R.sub.13 are neither hydrogen nor fluorine; R.sub.14 is for example unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl or C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroaryl Q is for example C.sub.6-C.sub.20arylene or C.sub.3-C.sub.20heteroarylene; Q.sub.1 is —C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkylene-CO—; Q.sub.2 is naphthoylene; Q.sub.3 is for example phenylene; L is for example O-alkylene-O—; R.sub.15 is for example hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; R.sub.20 is for example hydrogen, or unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl; are effective photoinitiators.