Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute

Tokyo Optical Company, Ltd.

Tokyo Optical Company Ltd. (kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo Megane)

Akihiko Ito

Isao Kaetsu

Hiroshi Okubo

Masamichi Kato

Koichiro Hayashi

Masaru Yoshida

Yuji Maeda

Yoshiaki Nakase

Minoru Kumakura

Hiroshi Watanabe

Tadafumi Yamauchi

Tadashi Iwai

Akira Shimizu

Tomotaro Sato

This invention relates to polymer composition having fixed bacterial cells and/or fixed enzyme, in which the enzyme or cells are dispersed within the polymer. The polymer composition is prepared by mixing an aqueous enzyme solution or an aqueous dispersion of bacterial cells with one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate and hydroxypropyl acrylate and then polymerizing or copolymerizing the monomer(s) contained in the mixture by means of ionizing radiation at a temperature at which water in the mixture is frozen.

Immobilization of enzymes or bacterial cells

A thermosetting resin composition comprising (A) the hydrolysate of an alkoxysilane represented by either of the general formulas: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are respectively a divalent group, R.sup.3 is a lower alkyl and R.sup.4 is R.sup.3 or OR.sup.3 and (B) a polymer or copolymer of monomers represented by the general formula ##STR2## wherein R is a hydroxyalkyl and X is hydrogen or methyl is provided. This composition forms a transparent anti-fogging abrasion-resistant coating on the surface of glass, metals and synthetic resins.

Thermosetting resin composition

A multi-step process of producing polyoxymethylenes by solid state polymerization of trioxane is disclosed. Trioxane is irradiated with ionizing radiation within a temperature range in which no polymerization of trioxane takes place. The irradiated trioxane is then polymerized by raising the temperature to a value at which polymerization of trioxane takes place, said temperature value being at least 15.degree. C above the first mentioned temperature. The polymerization is effected in the presence of an amount of alkyl acetal. The polymerized product thus obtained is then again irradiated, whereupon further polymerization of the irradiated product takes place. The resulting polyoxymethylenes are snow white and exhibit excellent thermal stability. They also have high molecular weights.

Multi-step radiation process of producing polyoxymethylenes

A novel thermosetting resin composition comprising at least one [(2,3-epoxypropoxy)alkyl]trialkoxysilane and at least one selected from polymers, prepolymers, copolymers and coprepolymers of epoxy-group-containing vinyl monomers, which may further contain at least one selected from polymers, prepolymers, copolymers and coprepolymers of vinyl monomers containing no epoxy group, is disclosed. This composition is cured by heating with addition of a ring-opening polymerization catalyst and remarkably improves surface hardness, abrasion resistance, weathering resistance, chemical resistances, heat resistances, etc. of acrylic resins and many other plastic materials without imparing the inherent transparency and other optical properties of these materials when it is applied on the surface of them and cured.

Thermosetting resin composition comprising an

A process for the production of molded product composed of transparent resin having highly cured cross-linked structure comprises the following three steps:

Process for preparing highly-cured transparent resin molded products

Soft contact lenses comprising a copolymer comprising at least one monomer of the general formula, ##EQU1## wherein X is H or CH.sub.3 and n is 2 or 3, at least one monomer of the general formula, ##EQU2## wherein X is H or CH.sub.3 and m is an integer of 4 to 13, and optionally at least one polymerizable monomer other than the monomers of the above-mentioned two groups are disclosed. These contact lenses are soft and flexible in the non-swollen state and are tougher and less susceptible to microbiological contamination than the hitherto known soft contact lenses. Also a novel process for preparation of these soft contact lenses is disclosed, which comprises cast-polymerizing a mixture of the above-mentioned monomers, cooling the resulting copolymer to a low temperature at which it stands rigid, and shaping the copolymer body into the lens form in the cooled rigid state.

Soft contact lenses and process for preparation thereof

Tetraoxane is polymerized by means of an electron acceptor substance used as polymerization initiator in the absence or presence of a saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid anhydride and/or an acetal, to obtain an oxymethylene polymer having thermal stability. An ionizing radiation or a light can, if desired, concomitantly be employed before and/or in the course of polymerization.

Novel process for preparing oxymethylene polymer and resulting product

Transparent resin composites comprising a substrate of a transparent plastic material coated with a cured film of at least one [(2,3-epoxypropoxy)alkyl]trialkoxysilane or of at least one [(2,3-epoxypropoxy)alkyl]trialkoxysilane and at least one transparent polymer compatible with said silane are provided. The resin composites have excellent abrasion resistance, surface hardness, heat resistance, chemical resistance, weathering resistance, etc. well retaining the transparency and other optical characteristics of the substrate resin. These resin composites can be used as transparent plastic panels, lenses, etc.

Transparent resin composite

A process for producing cast polymer is carried out by using a mold treated by the following steps: coating the glass surface of the mold with polysiloxane; heating the coated glass surface at a temperature in the range of from more than about 150.degree. C. to a temperature at which the coated polysiloxane is not hardened yet; and wiping the coated surface of baked polysiloxane. Not only is easy mold release attained, but also repeated use of the same mold becomes possible.

Cast polymerization process with improved mold release

Trioxane can advantageously be polymerized in the presence of a thiocyanate (an ester of thiocyanic acid), to obtain an oxymethylene polymer having thermal stability. The polymerization is further promoted by means of an ionizing radiation or an ultraviolet light.

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Takasaki, Japan

Akihiko Ito