An amorphous polylactic acid polymer having a weight average molecular weight in the range of about 35,000 to 180,000 is described. The polylactic acid polymer composition can be hammer milled without cryogenics result in the form of particles wherein 90% of the particles have particle size of about 250 μm or less and the material has a glass transition temperature of between about 55° C. to about 58° C. and a relative viscosity of about 1.45 to about 1.95 centipoise. The polymer composition can be used to form an aqueous suspension. The material is ideally suited for use in preparing particleboard. A method is disclosed for preparing such polylactic acid polymers. The method involves obtaining an amorphous polylactic acid polymer having a weight average molecular weight of between about 115,000 to about 180,000. Treating the polylactic acid polymer to reduce the molecular weight to between about 35,000 to 45,000 such that it has a glass transition temperature of between about 55° C. and 58° C. and a relative viscosity of about 1.45 to about 1.95. Material can be formed into particles in a commercial hammer mill with bypass such that 90% of the initial mass results in the particles which can pass thru a sieve having a pore size of about 250 μm. During particle board formation the temperature of around 140-140 C being reached to optimally activate the adhesive; Bond strengths and throughput rates of resulting particle boards can be controlled thereafter, with variable combination of particle sizes, adhesive loading and initial moisture content.

An adhesive formulation such as a hot melt adhesive or a pressure sensitive adhesive is provided comprising 5 to 98% (by weight) biodegradable substantially non-crystalline mcl-PHA. The mcl-PHA may be cured with a peroxide curing agent. The adhesive formulation may include an additional biodegradable polymer, or a non-biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer. Hot melt adhesives comprising significant amounts of biodegradable mcl-PHA, waxes, and tackifiers are also provided.

An adhesive formulation such as a hot melt adhesive or a pressure sensitive adhesive is provided comprising 5 to 98% (by weight) biodegradable substantially non-crystalline mcl-PHA. The mcl-PHA may be cured with a peroxide curing agent. The adhesive formulation may include an additional biodegradable polymer, or a non-biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer. Hot melt adhesives comprising significant amounts of biodegradable mcl-PHA, waxes, and tackifiers are also provided.

An adhesive formulation such as a hot melt adhesive or a pressure sensitive adhesive is provided comprising 5 to 98% (by weight) biodegradable substantially non-crystalline mcl-PHA. The mcl-PHA may be cured with a peroxide curing agent. The adhesive formulation may include an additional biodegradable polymer, or a non-biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer. Hot melt adhesives comprising significant amounts of biodegradable mcl-PHA, waxes, and tackifiers are also provided.

A macromolecule comprises a ring-opened polymerized product of β-lactone monomers of formula I:

##STR00001## and having a structure of formula IA:

##STR00002## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having at least 8 carbon atoms. The macromolecule may be hydroxy-terminated, and may be copolymerized with other β-lactone monomers having different substituting groups and/or with higher lactone monomers. The macromolecule may be used as a reactant to form an alkoxysilane-terminated polymer, a polyurethane, or a (co)polyester, or may be used as an elastomeric midblock in a triblock copolymer having hard end blocks, such as polylactic acid. Such triblock systems demonstrate two discreet regions having properties similar to styrene block copolymers and are therefore suitable for use as hot melt or pressure-sensitive adhesives. In some embodiments, such triblock polymers may be entirely bio-sourced and compostable.

A macromolecule comprises a ring-opened polymerized product of β-lactone monomers of formula I:

##STR00001## and having a structure of formula IA:

##STR00002## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having at least 8 carbon atoms. The macromolecule may be hydroxy-terminated, and may be copolymerized with other β-lactone monomers having different substituting groups and/or with higher lactone monomers. The macromolecule may be used as a reactant to form an alkoxysilane-terminated polymer, a polyurethane, or a (co)polyester, or may be used as an elastomeric midblock in a triblock copolymer having hard end blocks, such as polylactic acid. Such triblock systems demonstrate two discreet regions having properties similar to styrene block copolymers and are therefore suitable for use as hot melt or pressure-sensitive adhesives. In some embodiments, such triblock polymers may be entirely bio-sourced and compostable.

An adhesive composition comprising a cyanoacrylate and a solidifying polymer. The composition may further comprise a hydrophilic material, e.g. silica particles, and/or one or more polymerisation inhibitors. The adhesive composition may be disposed on a surgical mesh. The surgical mesh carrying the adhesive composition may be used for hernia repair.

An adhesive composition comprising a cyanoacrylate and a solidifying polymer. The composition may further comprise a hydrophilic material, e.g. silica particles, and/or one or more polymerisation inhibitors. The adhesive composition may be disposed on a surgical mesh. The surgical mesh carrying the adhesive composition may be used for hernia repair.

An adhesive composition comprising a cyanoacrylate and a solidifying polymer. The composition may further comprise a hydrophilic material, e.g. silica particles, and/or one or more polymerisation inhibitors. The adhesive composition may be disposed on a surgical mesh. The surgical mesh carrying the adhesive composition may be used for hernia repair.

A solvent-less hybrid curable composition is prepared from grafting polyesters or polyamides onto a (meth)acrylic copolymer backbone. Besides the many benefits of a solvent-less system, the hybrid curable composition forms strong adhesion to polar substrates, widens the use temperatures, and enables faster processing speeds than conventional hybrid curable compositions. The solvent-less hybrid curable composition forms an optically clear single phase that is suitable as tapes and labels, or in electronic, optoelectronic, OLED and photovoltaic devices, and the like.