Polymeric composition comprising, with respect to the total composition: i) 30-95% by weight, preferably between 50-85% by weight with respect to the sum of components i)-vi), of at least one polyester comprising: a) a dicarboxylic component comprising, with respect to the total of the dicarboxylic component: a1) 30-70% by moles of units deriving from at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid; a2) 70-30% by moles of units deriving from at least one saturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid; a3) 0-5% by moles of units deriving from at least one unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid; b) a diol component comprising, with respect to the total diol component: b1) 95-100% by moles of units deriving from at least one saturated aliphatic diol; b2) 0-5% by moles of units deriving from at least one unsaturated aliphatic diol; ii) 0.1-50% by weight with respect to the sum of components i)-vi), of at least one polymer of natural origin; iii) 0.1-10% by weight with respect to the sum of components i)-vi) of at least one polyhydroxy alkanoate different from a lactic acid polyester referred to in point iv); iv) 0-3% by weight with respect to the sum of components i)-vi) of at least one lactic acid polyester; v) 0-1% by weight, preferably 0-0.5% by weight, with respect to the sum of the components i)-vi) of at least one cross-linking agent and/or a chain extender and/or hydrolytic stabilizer comprising at least one compound di- and/or polyfunctional containing isocyanate, peroxide, carbodiimide, isocyanurate, oxazoline, epoxide, anhydride, diviniether groups and mixtures of these; vi) 0-15% by weight, with respect to the sum of components i)-vi), of at least one inorganic filling agent.

Polymeric composition comprising, with respect to the total composition: i) 30-95% by weight, preferably between 50-85% by weight with respect to the sum of components i)-vi), of at least one polyester comprising: a) a dicarboxylic component comprising, with respect to the total of the dicarboxylic component: a1) 30-70% by moles of units deriving from at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid; a2) 70-30% by moles of units deriving from at least one saturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid; a3) 0-5% by moles of units deriving from at least one unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid; b) a diol component comprising, with respect to the total diol component: b1) 95-100% by moles of units deriving from at least one saturated aliphatic diol; b2) 0-5% by moles of units deriving from at least one unsaturated aliphatic diol; ii) 0.1-50% by weight with respect to the sum of components i)-vi), of at least one polymer of natural origin; iii) 0.1-10% by weight with respect to the sum of components i)-vi) of at least one polyhydroxy alkanoate different from a lactic acid polyester referred to in point iv); iv) 0-3% by weight with respect to the sum of components i)-vi) of at least one lactic acid polyester; v) 0-1% by weight, preferably 0-0.5% by weight, with respect to the sum of the components i)-vi) of at least one cross-linking agent and/or a chain extender and/or hydrolytic stabilizer comprising at least one compound di- and/or polyfunctional containing isocyanate, peroxide, carbodiimide, isocyanurate, oxazoline, epoxide, anhydride, diviniether groups and mixtures of these; vi) 0-15% by weight, with respect to the sum of components i)-vi), of at least one inorganic filling agent.

A process of preparing an aqueous solution of a cycloimide-containing polymer includes heating an aqueous solution of a cycloanhydride-containing polymer with a first neutralizing agent at a ratio of cycloanhydride to neutralizing agent of about 1:1 to about 1:1.5 at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the aqueous solution of the cycloimide-containing polymer having a cycloimide to acid group ratio of about 1:2 to about 1.5:2.

A process of preparing an aqueous solution of a cycloimide-containing polymer includes heating an aqueous solution of a cycloanhydride-containing polymer with a first neutralizing agent at a ratio of cycloanhydride to neutralizing agent of about 1:1 to about 1:1.5 at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the aqueous solution of the cycloimide-containing polymer having a cycloimide to acid group ratio of about 1:2 to about 1.5:2.

Provided is a thermoplastic elastomer composition which does not undergo viscosity increase during melt molding, gelation and molding failure, while having excellent heat resistance and durability. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for tires, which contains (A) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or a modified ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, (B) a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer, which has a melting point of 200° C. or higher, and (C) an acid-modified elastomer in an amount of 20% by volume or more based on the amount of all polymer components. This thermoplastic elastomer composition for tires is characterized in that if this thermoplastic elastomer composition for tires is extruded at a piston speed of 5 min/min at a temperature that is higher than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer (B) by 20° C. in a viscosity measurement by means of a capillary rheometer, the viscosity η.sub.2 in 800 seconds after the start of the extrusion is less than 120% of the viscosity η.sub.1 in 200 seconds after the start of the extrusion.

Provided is a thermoplastic elastomer composition which does not undergo viscosity increase during melt molding, gelation and molding failure, while having excellent heat resistance and durability. A thermoplastic elastomer composition for tires, which contains (A) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or a modified ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, (B) a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer, which has a melting point of 200° C. or higher, and (C) an acid-modified elastomer in an amount of 20% by volume or more based on the amount of all polymer components. This thermoplastic elastomer composition for tires is characterized in that if this thermoplastic elastomer composition for tires is extruded at a piston speed of 5 min/min at a temperature that is higher than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer (B) by 20° C. in a viscosity measurement by means of a capillary rheometer, the viscosity η.sub.2 in 800 seconds after the start of the extrusion is less than 120% of the viscosity η.sub.1 in 200 seconds after the start of the extrusion.

A curable composition includes an olefin-aromatic vinyl compound-aromatic polyene copolymer satisfying conditions (1) to (4) and an additive resin, which is at least one of a hydrocarbon-based elastomer, polyphenylene ether, olefin-aromatic vinyl compound-aromatic polyene copolymerized oligomer, and aromatic polyene-based resin. (1) The number average molecular weight of the copolymer is 5000 to 100000. (2) The aromatic vinyl compound monomer has 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and the content of the unit of the monomer is 0 to 70 mass %. (3) The aromatic polyene is selected from polyenes having 5 to 20 carbon atoms and a plurality of vinyl and/or vinylene groups in the molecule, and the content of the groups is 1.5 to 20 pieces per number average molecular weight. (4) The olefin is selected from olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and the total monomer units of the olefin, aromatic vinyl compound, and aromatic polyene is 100 mass %.

A curable composition includes an olefin-aromatic vinyl compound-aromatic polyene copolymer satisfying conditions (1) to (4) and an additive resin, which is at least one of a hydrocarbon-based elastomer, polyphenylene ether, olefin-aromatic vinyl compound-aromatic polyene copolymerized oligomer, and aromatic polyene-based resin. (1) The number average molecular weight of the copolymer is 5000 to 100000. (2) The aromatic vinyl compound monomer has 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and the content of the unit of the monomer is 0 to 70 mass %. (3) The aromatic polyene is selected from polyenes having 5 to 20 carbon atoms and a plurality of vinyl and/or vinylene groups in the molecule, and the content of the groups is 1.5 to 20 pieces per number average molecular weight. (4) The olefin is selected from olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and the total monomer units of the olefin, aromatic vinyl compound, and aromatic polyene is 100 mass %.

A curable composition includes an olefin-aromatic vinyl compound-aromatic polyene copolymer satisfying conditions (1) to (4) and an additive resin, which is at least one of a hydrocarbon-based elastomer, polyphenylene ether, olefin-aromatic vinyl compound-aromatic polyene copolymerized oligomer, and aromatic polyene-based resin. (1) The number average molecular weight of the copolymer is 5000 to 100000. (2) The aromatic vinyl compound monomer has 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and the content of the unit of the monomer is 0 to 70 mass %. (3) The aromatic polyene is selected from polyenes having 5 to 20 carbon atoms and a plurality of vinyl and/or vinylene groups in the molecule, and the content of the groups is 1.5 to 20 pieces per number average molecular weight. (4) The olefin is selected from olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and the total monomer units of the olefin, aromatic vinyl compound, and aromatic polyene is 100 mass %.

A method of manufacturing a therapeutic material incorporating a soft thermoformable elastomer with a phase change material exhibiting high latent heat of fusion. The compound provides elasticity, softness, formability, and heat over an extended duration and to facilitate prolonged skin contact at elevated temperatures. Used in combination with active ingredients the increased temperature and formability provides enhanced transdermal delivery through the skin. Thermoplastic elastomers may be manufactured by mixing together plasticizing oil, a triblock copolymer, a paraffinic substance and one or more additives, e.g., an antioxidant, an antimicrobial agent, and/or other additives to form a mixture which melted then cooled into the thermoplastic elastomer. During cooling, the thermoplastic elastomer may be molded or otherwise formed into any number of articles including, but not limited to, prosthetic liners, prosthetic sleeves, external breast prostheses, breast enhancement bladders, masks, wound dressing sheets, wound dressing pads, socks, gloves, malleolus pads, metatarsal pads, shoe insoles, urinary catheters, vascular catheters, and balloons for medical catheters both vascular as well as urinary. Active ingredients are preferably added to the cooling thermoplastic elastomer when the temperature is below 100° F. to prevent heat degradation and/or breakdown of vital proteins.