An alternative polyurethane composition is provided which comprises a reaction product of an azidated polyol and a poly(alkynyl carbamate) prepolymer reacted at a temperature of from 20° C. to 120° C., wherein the poly(alkynyl carbamate) prepolymer comprises a reaction product of a polyisocyanate and a stoichiometric equivalent of an alkynol of the formula (I),
HC≡C—R.sup.1R.sup.2—OH  (I),
and wherein R.sup.1 is an electron-withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of carbonyl, ester, amide, and urethane and R.sup.2 is a linear or branched alkyl chain having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms. The inventive alternative polyurethane composition position may be used to provide adhesives, sealants, films, elastomers, castings, foams, and composites.

An alternative polyurethane composition is provided which comprises a reaction product of an azidated polyol and a poly(alkynyl carbamate) prepolymer reacted at a temperature of from 20° C. to 120° C., wherein the poly(alkynyl carbamate) prepolymer comprises a reaction product of a polyisocyanate and a stoichiometric equivalent of an alkynol of the formula (I),

HC≡C—R.sup.1R.sup.2—OH  (I),

and wherein R.sup.1 is an electron-withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of carbonyl, ester, amide, and urethane and R.sup.2 is a linear or branched alkyl chain having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms. The inventive alternative polyurethane composition position may be used to provide adhesives, sealants, films, elastomers, castings, foams, and composites.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a liquid-crystal compound which exhibits liquid crystallinity at low temperatures. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermally responsive material which exhibits liquid crystallinity and rubber elasticity at low temperatures (around room temperature) ever, though a large amount of a liquid-crystal compound is contained therein, and a method for producing this thermally responsive material. A liquid-crystal compound according to the present invention is obtained by adding an alkylene oxide and/or styrene oxide to a mesogenic group-containing compound that has an active hydrogen group.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a liquid-crystal compound which exhibits liquid crystallinity at low temperatures. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermally responsive material which exhibits liquid crystallinity and rubber elasticity at low temperatures (around room temperature) ever, though a large amount of a liquid-crystal compound is contained therein, and a method for producing this thermally responsive material. A liquid-crystal compound according to the present invention is obtained by adding an alkylene oxide and/or styrene oxide to a mesogenic group-containing compound that has an active hydrogen group.

Provided are an aqueous dispersion including a microcapsule and water, the microcapsule including: a shell having a three-dimensional cross-linked structure containing: at least one bond selected from a urethane bond or a urea bond; and an anionic group and a nonionic group as hydrophilic groups; and a core, at least one of the shell having a photopolymerization initiating group or the core containing a photopolymerization initiator being satisfied, and at least one of the shell having a polymerizable group or the core containing a polymerizable compound being satisfied; a method for manufacturing the same; and an image forming method using the aqueous dispersion.

In an example, a process of forming a polyurethane material is disclosed. The process includes forming carboxylic acid-terminated aliphatic polyol molecules from an epoxidized plant oil. The process also includes chemically reacting the carboxylic acid-terminated aliphatic polyol molecules with an azide material to form monoisocyanate-functionalized aliphatic polyol molecules. The process further includes polymerizing the monoisocyanate-functionalized aliphatic polyol molecules to form a first polyurethane material.

In an example, a process of forming a polyurethane material is disclosed. The process includes forming carboxylic acid-terminated aliphatic polyol molecules from an epoxidized plant oil. The process also includes chemically reacting the carboxylic acid-terminated aliphatic polyol molecules with an azide material to form monoisocyanate-functionalized aliphatic polyol molecules. The process further includes polymerizing the monoisocyanate-functionalized aliphatic polyol molecules to form a first polyurethane material.