MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS

**Definition:** This place covers:

Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. condensation polymers, where the polymers are:

Polymers from aldehydes or ketones, the polymers including polyacetals and phenol-formaldehyde-type resins such as novolaks or resoles,

Polymers from isocyanates or isothiocyanates, the polymers including polyurethanes and polyureas,

Epoxy resins,

Polymers obtained by reactions forming a carbon-to-carbon link in the main chain, e.g. Polyphenylenes and polyxylylenes,

Polymers obtained by reactions forming a linkage containing oxygen in the main chain, e.g. Polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers and copolymers of carbon monoxide with aliphatic unsaturated compounds,

Polymers obtained by reactions forming a linkage containing nitrogen in the main chain, e.g. Polyamides, polyamines, polyhydrazides, polytriazoles, polyimides, polybenzimidazoles and nitroso rubbers,

Polymers obtained by reactions forming a linkage containing sulphur in the main chain, e.g. Polysulphides, polythioethers, polysulphones, polysulphoxides, polythiocarbonates and polythiazoles,

Polymers obtained by reactions forming a linkage containing silicon in the main chain, e.g. Polysiloxanes, silicones or polysilicates,

Other polymers obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. Polymers obtained by reactions forming a linkage containing other elements in the main chain, e.g. P, B, AL, Sn, block copolymers obtained by inter-reacting polymers in the absence of monomers, dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers.

Processes for preparing the macromolecular compounds provided for in this subclass.

**Glossary:** - Addition polymers: Polymers in which unsaturated monomer molecules join together to form a polymer in which the molecular formula of the repeat unit is identical (except for the double bond) with that of the monomer. - Block polymers: Polymers formed by polymerization of monomers on to a macromolecule having groups capable of inducing the formation of new polymer chains bound at one or both ends of the starting macromolecule, or by polymerization using successively different catalyst types or successively different monomer systems without deactivating the intermediate polymer. - Condensation polymers: Polymers in which water or some other simple molecule is eliminated from 2 or more monomer molecules as they combine to form the polymer or crosslinks between polymer chains. - Copolymers: Usually denotes polymers of 2 chemically distinct monomers, and sometimes denotes terpolymers containing more than 2 types of monomer unit. - Graft polymers: Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerizing monomers on to preformed polymers or on to inorganic materials. Such preformed polymers could be rubbers, polysaccharides, condensation polymers, homopolymers or copolymers of the addition polymer type.