The invention relates to a block copolymer comprising at least one rigid polyamide block and at least one flexible block, characterized in that the flexible block has an NH.sub.2/OH ratio of concentrations of amine chain ends to alcohol chain ends which is within the range from 30 to 150, said concentrations being measured by .sup.1H NMR (TF.sub.anh./CD.sub.2Cl.sub.2.sup.3). The invention also relates to the use of a flexible block for manufacturing a copolymer containing polyamide blocks and flexible blocks that is both hydrolysis-resistant and CO.sub.2-permeable, with a permeability to CO.sub.2 of at least 10 000 cm.sup.3/m.sup.2/24 h/atm for a 25 μm film of said copolymer, characterized in that said flexible block has a ratio of amine chain ends to acid chain ends which is within the range from 30 to 150.

A moulding composition contains a) 75 wt. % to 98.5 wt. % of a polyether block amide, based on a total weight of the moulding composition. The polyether block amide contains a subunit 1, composed of at least one lactam or α,ω-aminocarboxylic acid having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, and a subunit 2, composed of at least one amino- or hydroxy-terminated polyether having at least two carbon atoms per ether oxygen and at least two primary amino or at least two hydroxy groups at the chain ends. The moulding composition also contains b) 1.5 wt. % to 25 wt. % of at least one polyalkenamer, based on a total weight of the moulding composition. The at least one polyalkenamer contains at least one cycloalkene having 5 to 12 carbon atoms. A moulded article can be produced from the moulding composition, which can be a moulding, a film, a bristle, a fibre or a foam.

The present invention provides a polybenzoxazole precursor, which comprises a structure of formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein the definitions of Y, Z, R.sub.1, i, j, and V are provided herein. By means of the polybenzoxazole precursor, the resin composition of the present invention is able to form a film with high frequency characteristics and high contrast.

The present invention provides a polybenzoxazole precursor, which comprises a structure of formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein the definitions of Y, Z, R.sub.1, i, j, and V are provided herein. By means of the polybenzoxazole precursor, the resin composition of the present invention is able to form a film with high frequency characteristics and high contrast.

A structurally supported non-pneumatic tyre comprises a tread, an annular band, a plurality of spokes extending transversely and radially inside the annular band, and means for connecting the plurality of spokes to a wheel, characterized in that the spokes comprise a polymeric composition based on at least one polymeric matrix comprising 50 to 70% of one or more thermoplastic polymers, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of which is within a range extending from 120 to 250° C. and 30 to 50% of one or more thermoplastic elastomers, said thermoplastic elastomer(s) being compatible with said thermoplastic polymer(s), such that the elongation at break of the mixture of these polymers is greater than or equal to the elongation at break of the thermoplastic polymer(s) alone.

Embodiments of the present invention include composite compositions extrusion compounded together comprising a polymer, an amount of nanotubes, and an amount of finely milled carbon fiber having an aspect ratio greater than 1 and less than about 5. The resulting composite materials allow for high carbon loading levels with improved tribological properties including coefficient of friction and wear rates, provides uniform surface resistance with minimal processing sensitivity, retains rheological properties similar to the base resin, and provides isotropic shrink and a reduced coefficient of thermal expansion leading to minimal warp. In general, various articles can be formed that take advantage of the properties of the composite materials incorporating a polymer, carbon nanotubes and finely milled carbon fiber.

Provided is a monodisperse agglomerate of a substance-containing vesicle filled with a substance at a concentration higher than conventionally possible. A mixed solution, in which a target substance is included in an aqueous medium, is mixed with a monodisperse agglomerate of a crosslinked vesicle comprising a prescribed polymer which includes a first polymer, i.e. a block copolymer having uncharged hydrophilic segments and first charged segments, and a second polymer having second charged segments carrying a charge opposite to that of the first charged segments, and in which the first polymer and/or the second polymer are/is crosslinked. As a result, the crosslinked vesicle is made to contain the target substance.

Provided is a monodisperse agglomerate of a substance-containing vesicle filled with a substance at a concentration higher than conventionally possible. A mixed solution, in which a target substance is included in an aqueous medium, is mixed with a monodisperse agglomerate of a crosslinked vesicle comprising a prescribed polymer which includes a first polymer, i.e. a block copolymer having uncharged hydrophilic segments and first charged segments, and a second polymer having second charged segments carrying a charge opposite to that of the first charged segments, and in which the first polymer and/or the second polymer are/is crosslinked. As a result, the crosslinked vesicle is made to contain the target substance.

Disclosed herein are processes of making furan-based polyamides using solvent-free melt condensation of a diamine and an ester derivative of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid with a C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 aliphatic diol or a polyol. The processes comprise a) forming a reaction mixture by mixing one or more diamines, a diester comprising an ester derivative of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid with a C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 aliphatic diol or a polyol, and a catalyst, such that the diamine is present in an excess amount of at least 1 mol % with respect to the diester amount; and b) melt polycondensing the reaction mixture in the absence of a solvent at a temperature in the range of 60° C. to a maximum temperature of 250° C. under an inert atmosphere, while removing alkyl alcohol to form a furan-based polyamide, wherein the one or more diamines comprises an aliphatic diamine, an aromatic diamine, or an alkylaromatic diamine.

Molding composition, including by weight: (A) from 38 to 79.5% of at least one semi-crystalline aliphatic polyamide with the exclusion of PA6 and PA66, (B) from 10 to 20% of carbon fibres, (C) from 10 to 20% of hollow glass beads, (D) from 5.5 to 10% of at least one impact modifier having a flexural modulus of less than 200 MPa, in particular less than 100 MPa, as measured according to standard ISO 178: 2010, at 23° C., and (E) from 0.1 to 1% by weight of at least one additive, the sum of the proportions of each constituent (A)+(B)+(C)+(D)+(E) of the composition being equal to 100%.