A binder composition for a secondary battery positive electrode contains a specific polymer. The specific polymer includes a nitrile group-containing monomer unit and a linear alkylene structural unit having a carbon number of 4 or more. The pH of an extract of the specific polymer that is obtained by a specific method is 5.5 or higher.

A device includes a substrate and a hydrophilic polymer layer made of a hydrophilic polymer having a hydroxyl group. The hydrophilic polymer layer having a hydroxyl group is fixed to at least a part of a surface of the substrate and the hydrophilic polymer further has an amide group. A liquid film retention time of the device is 15 seconds or more. The device has a surface of a substrate which is hydrophilized. A method for producing the device by a simple method is also disclosed.

The present invention is directed to an addition polymer comprising an addition polymer backbone; at least one moiety comprising a sulfonic acid group; and at least one carbamate functional group. The present invention is also directed towards methods of making the addition polymer, aqueous resinous dispersions comprising the addition polymer, methods of coating a substrate and coated substrates.

A method of manufacturing a mineral fibre thermal insulation product comprises the sequential steps of: Forming mineral fibres from a molten mineral mixture; Spraying a substantially formaldehyde free binder solution on to the mineral fibres, the binder solution comprising: a reducing sugar, an acid precursor derivable from an inorganic salt and a source of nitrogen; Collecting the mineral fibres to which the binder solution has been applied to form a batt of mineral fibres; and Curing the batt comprising the mineral fibres and the binder which is in contact with the mineral fibres by passing the batt through a curing oven so as to provide a batt of mineral fibres held together by a substantially water insoluble cured binder.

The present invention provides a coating fluid including: a hydroxy group-containing resin; an inorganic layered compound; and a liquid medium, in which a ratio (outflow time (B)/outflow time (A)) of outflow time (B) of a coating fluid at 5° C. measured by a Zahn cup to outflow time (A) of a coating fluid at 24° C. measured by a Zahn cup is 1.40 or less.

The present invention provides a coating fluid including: a hydroxy group-containing resin; an inorganic layered compound; and a liquid medium, in which a ratio (outflow time (B)/outflow time (A)) of outflow time (B) of a coating fluid at 5° C. measured by a Zahn cup to outflow time (A) of a coating fluid at 24° C. measured by a Zahn cup is 1.40 or less.

A method of manufacturing a mineral fibre thermal insulation product comprises the sequential steps of: Forming mineral fibres from a molten mineral mixture; Spraying a substantially formaldehyde free binder solution on to the mineral fibres, the binder solution comprising: a reducing sugar, an acid precursor derivable from an inorganic salt and a source of nitrogen; Collecting the mineral fibres to which the binder solution has been applied to form a batt of mineral fibres; and Curing the batt comprising the mineral fibres and the binder which is in contact with the mineral fibres by passing the batt through a curing oven so as to provide a batt of mineral fibres held together by a substantially water insoluble cured binder.

An aqueous dispersion including a polymer having a 2-oxazoline group; and a surfactant, the surfactant containing a sulfuric acid ester compound represented by the following Chemical Formula (S):

R.sup.1—O—(R.sup.2O)nSO.sub.3X  (S)

wherein R.sup.1 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 8 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms; n represents 2 to 15; and X represents a monovalent cation.

The invention relates to novel antimicrobial surfactants and their application in antimicrobial coating systems, in particular water borne coatings. Provided is a method for providing an antimicrobial surfactant, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hyperbranched polyurea having blocked isocyanates at the end of the polymer branches by the polycondensation of AB.sub.2 monomers; (b) introducing tertiary amine groups by reacting said blocked isocyanates of the hyperbranched polyurea with a tertiary amine compound that is functionalized with —OH, —NH.sub.2, —SH, or —COO—; and (c) quaternization of said tertiary amine groups by reacting with an alkylating agent to obtain a quaternized hyperbranched polymer having antimicrobial surfactant properties.

A device includes a substrate and a hydrophilic polymer layer made of a hydrophilic polymer having a hydroxyl group. The hydrophilic polymer layer having a hydroxyl group is fixed to at least a part of a surface of the substrate and the hydrophilic polymer further has an amide group. A liquid film retention time of the device is 15 seconds or more. The device has a surface of a substrate which is hydrophilized. A method for producing the device by a simple method is also disclosed.