Provided is a method for producing a polymer, comprising: a first step for synthesizing a crude polymer by reacting a monomer containing a pyrimidinetrione structure, an imidazolidinedione structure, or a triazinetrione structure, in an organic solvent in the presence of a quaternary phosphonium salt or quaternary ammonium salt; and a second step for precipitating and separating a purified polymer by mixing a poor solvent with the crude polymer-containing solution obtained in the first step.

Polyethers are prepared by polymerizing an alkylene oxide in the presence of a starter, an aluminum compound that has at least one hydrocarbyl substituent, and a phosphorus-nitrogen base. The phosphorus-nitrogen base is present in only a small molar ratio relative to the amount of starter. The presence of such small amounts of phosphorus-nitrogen base greatly increases the catalytic activity of the system, compared to the case in which the aluminum compound is used by itself. The product polyethers have low amounts of unsaturated polyether impurities and little or no unwanted high molecular weight fraction. Polymers of propylene oxide have very low proportions of primary hydroxyl groups.

Phosphorous containing compounds, epoxy resins thereof, and laminate composite structures thereof. The phosphorus containing compounds may have a structure according to formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein, X is an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms or a bivalent linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms; R.sup.A is selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a napthyl group, and an aromatic phenol group; w is an integer of 1 to 9; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are independently selected from H, C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkoxy, and C.sub.3-C.sub.10 cycloalkyl; R.sub.5 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkoxy, C.sub.3-C.sub.10 cycloalkyl, and Ar.sub.3; and Ar.sub.1 and Ar.sub.2 are independently selected.

Phosphorous containing compounds, epoxy resins thereof, and laminate composite structures thereof. The phosphorus containing compounds may have a structure according to formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein, X is an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms or a bivalent linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms; R.sup.A is selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a napthyl group, and an aromatic phenol group; w is an integer of 1 to 9; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are independently selected from H, C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkoxy, and C.sub.3-C.sub.10 cycloalkyl; R.sub.5 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkoxy, C.sub.3-C.sub.10 cycloalkyl, and Ar.sub.3; and Ar.sub.1 and Ar.sub.2 are independently selected.

Provided are strain-hardened polymers. The polymers may include a plurality of polyether units (e.g., isotactic polypropylene oxide units) and one or more crystalline domains. The strain-hardened polymers may have a higher initial engineering yield stress and/or enthalpy of fusion than native polymer (e.g., polypropylene oxide that has not been strain-hardened). The strain-hardened polymers may be made by catalytic methods using bimetallic catalysts. Also provided are uses of the strain-hardened polymers.

A polyphenylene ether bismaleimide resin is provided. The polyphenylene ether bismaleimide resin (PPE-BMI) is formed from a modified polyphenylene ether diamine and a maleic anhydride by a condensation polymerization. The modified polyphenylene ether diamine is formed by reacting a phenol-based compound with a polyphenylene ether.

This invention relates to a preparation for a polyurethane foam and a polymer polyol preparation for a polyurethane foam, each of which exhibits high coloration and discoloration inhibition properties over a long period of time when stored, and to a composition for a polyurethane foam, which is excellent in storage stability and is preferable as a resin premix. The composition comprises (i) at least one polyol, (ii) a compound having a PN bond, (iii) an antioxidant having a hydroxyphenyl group, (iv) at least an acid and/or its salt, (v) a catalyst for polyurethane foam production and (vi) a blowing agent.

A cross-linked rubber obtained by cross-linking a polyether rubber composition containing a polyether rubber and a cross-linking agent, wherein the polyether rubber contains an epihalohydrin monomer unit and an ethylene oxide monomer unit and has a ratio of content of the ethylene oxide monomer unit of 50 to 80 mol % in a total monomer unit, and an acetone extraction amount when the cross-linked rubber is immersed in acetone at 23 C. for 72 hours is 3.5 wt % or less.

Embodiments described herein relate to tertiary pnictogenium-borane catalyst complexes for the polymerization of one or more epoxides and one or more of CO.sub.2, COS, and CS.sub.2. The catalysts can also polymerize cyclic monomers such as lactones and lactide.