The present invention relates to a photoalignment composition for the alignment of liquid crystals and the stabilization of the pre-tilt angle in liquid crystal layers. Further the present invention relates to the liquid crystal alignment film and coating layer prepared from the said composition and the use to fabricate optical and electrooptical elements and devices.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal alignment agent having high thermal stability and high solvent solubility, and a liquid crystal panel in which occurrence of ghosting and stain and a decrease in contrast are suppressed even under environments at high temperatures long period of time. The present invention is a liquid crystal alignment agent including a copolymer including a structure represented by a chemical formula (1) below, and a solvent. In the formula, X is a specified structure including a cyclic hydrocarbon group, Y.sup.1 is a specified structure including a cyclic hydrocarbon group, R.sup.1 represents a homogeneous alignment group, a homeotropic alignment group, or a photoreactive functional group, and Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are the same or different, and represent an —NH— group, an —O— group, or a —S— group. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a liquid crystal alignment agent having high thermal stability and high solvent solubility, and a liquid crystal panel in which occurrence of ghosting and stain and a decrease in contrast are suppressed even under environments at high temperatures long period of time. The present invention is a liquid crystal alignment agent including a copolymer including a structure represented by a chemical formula (1) below, and a solvent. In the formula, X is a specified structure including a cyclic hydrocarbon group, Y.sup.1 is a specified structure including a cyclic hydrocarbon group, R.sup.1 represents a homogeneous alignment group, a homeotropic alignment group, or a photoreactive functional group, and Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are the same or different, and represent an —NH— group, an —O— group, or a —S— group. ##STR00001##

A reactive oligomer has a backbone derived from at least one of polyamideimide, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyaryletherketone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyamide, polyester, polyarylate, polyesteramide, polycarbonate, polybenzoxazole or polybenzimidazole and functionalized with at least one unreacted functional group capable of thermal chain extension and crosslinking after formation of the reactive oligomer, wherein the reactive oligomer has an M.sub.n of about 250 to about 10,000 g/mol, calculated using the Carothers equation. Compositions comprising the reactive oligomer have at least one other component that includes a second reactive oligomer, an oligomer lacking unreacted functional groups capable of thermal chain extension and crosslinking, a thermoplastic polymer, a thermoplastic polymer having the same backbone repeat units as the reactive oligomer, a filler, or an additive. A method of manufacture of an article comprises heating a composition comprising the reactive oligomer at a sufficient temperature and time to shape and crosslink the reactive oligomer, including additive manufacturing.

A continuous automated process and production line for preparing an acid doped polybenzimidazole, PBI, polymer membrane film for use in a fuel cell, the process having a washing stage, a drying procedure, and a doping stage.

A continuous automated process and production line for preparing an acid doped polybenzimidazole, PBI, polymer membrane film for use in a fuel cell, the process having a washing stage, a drying procedure, and a doping stage.

A fluorinated amide compound having a specific repeating unit and a fluorinated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring-containing compound having a specific repeating unit.

An amide compound and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring-containing compound which have a specific repeating unit and a crosslinking site represented by Formula (2):

—C≡CX.sup.1

at a molecular end.

An amide compound and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring-containing compound which have a specific repeating unit and a crosslinking site represented by Formula (2):

—C≡CX.sup.1

at a molecular end.

A polybenzimidazole production method for producing the polybenzimidazole including a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.f is —SO.sub.2—, —O—, —CO—, an alkylene group optionally containing a substituent, or a group represented by the following formula (a):

##STR00002##

two Xs are each individually a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group; and R.sup.1 is a divalent organic group, the production method including a step (1-1) of polymerizing a tetramine compound and a dicarboxylic acid derivative compound to provide a polybenzimidazole precursor polyamide, and a step (1-2) of dehydrocyclizing the polybenzimidazole precursor polyamide.