The invention relates to novel oligomers of formula ##STR1## wherein the variables are as defined in the claims. The oligomers of the invention are especially useful for the manufacture of biomedical moldings, for example ophthalmic moldings such as in particular contact lenses.

Polymeric materials that differ from each other in solubility parameters and other properties are covulcanized by reaction with a hydrogenated carboxylated nitrile rubber, a multivalent salt of an organic acid and a curing agent.

The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that confo...

Products intended for use as hand mouldable materials should meet the objectives of not causing pain to the user when held in the hand, and retaining malleability for a sufficient but not excessive length of time. The invention hand-mouldable compositions comprise selected copolymers of lactones and lactides which manifest a melt temperature T.sub.m in the range of from 48 to 58.degree. C. and a crystallisation temperature T.sub.c in the range of from 16 to 30.degree. C. They are preferably prod...

The present invention provides a condensation polymer, selected from the group consisting of polyamides and polyesters, that comprises between about 0.5% and about 4.0%, based on the theoretical moles of monomeric repeat units, of a trifunctional repeat unit. One of the functional groups of the trifunctional repeat unit comprises a moiety that imparts a desired property to the polymer, such as stain resistance or UV stabilization. One particular embodiment of the invention is a nylon 66 polymer ...

Tpresent invention provide a biocompatible polyurethane or oplyurethane urea containing, in the side chain, phosphorylcholine structure represented by the formula (1) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-20 alkyl, C.sub.6-12 aryl, C.sub.7-20 aralkyl or a group of the formula: (wherein A is C.sub.2-10 oxyalkylene, and (A).sub.n may be constituted of one kind of oxyalkylene groups or of two or more kinds of oxyalkylene groups linked together in blocks or at random; n is an integer of 1 to 30; and R...

Methods of sulfonating a polymer are provided. One method of sulfonating a polymer includes exposing sulfur dioxide and oxygen to free radical producing energy and contacting the polymer with the product of preceding step. Desirably, the steps of exposing sulfur dioxide and oxygen to free radical producing energy and contacting the polymer with this product are performed in a reduced pressure environment. Another method of sulfonating a polymer includes contacting the polymer with sulfur dioxide...

A colored polymer obtained or obtainable by polymerization of a mixture consisting essentially of a dye and a triazine compound having at least two groups selected from alkoxymethylamino and hydroxymethylamino. The colored polymers may be used in the coloration of plastics, inks and colored reprographic toners.

Elastomeric block co-polyesters having improved elastic and work recovery properties, a high melting point and are stable at high temperatures, have hard segments comprising at least 50 mole percent of polyethylene terephthalate groups and soft segments comprising at least 40 weight percent of the block copolyester. The soft segments, which have a defined structure, are formed by reacting phenolic compounds with a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide/butylene oxide.

Preceramic polymers which have particular utility in providing protective ceramic coatings on carbon/carbon composites, graphite, carbon fibers, and other normally oxidizable materials are prepared by reacting about 0.25-20 parts by weight of a trialkoxy-, triaryloxy-, or tri(arylalkoxy)boroxine with one part by weight of a polysiloxazane in an organic solvent to form an organoborosiloxazane polymer.