POLYMERS, PROCESSES, COMPOSITIONS & USES

1 . A polymer comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of S1 and S2, wherein each of the units S1 and S2 is represented by the following corresponding formula:

wherein

i) k is an integer equal to or higher than 0,

ii) m is an integer equal to or higher than 0,

iii) the sum of k and m, is equal to or higher than 1,

iv) X is selected from the group consisting of L4, L7, L9, L10, L11, L12, L13, L20, L23, L24, L25, L26, L27, L28, and L31 as defined in the formulae below, wherein the black dots shown in the formulae of the groups L4 to L31 represent carbon atom attachment points of each of the groups L4 to L31 to the unit S1,

v) Y is selected from the group consisting of L4, L7, L9, L10, L11, L12, L13, L20, L23, L24, L25, L26, L27, L28, and L31 as defined in the formulae below, wherein the black dots shown in the formulae of the groups L4 to L31 represent carbon atom attachment points of each of the groups L4 to L31 to the unit S2,

wherein

R 1 ″, R 2 ″ is independently selected from the group consisting of H and CHs,

R 3 ″, is a CH 2 or C 2 -C 34 optionally-substituted-hydrocarbylene, and

R 12 ″ iS C 4 -C 34 unsaturated-acyclic-hydrocarbyl,

and

wherein the polymer has a functional group which comprises one or both of a cation and an anion,

and

wherein the polymer has:

i) a number average molecular weight (Mr) of at least 10 3 and at most 5×10 4 , Da,

ii) a polydispersity D (=M w /M n ) of at least 1.1 and at most 5,

iii) a glass transition temperature (T g ) of at least −25 and at most 150° C.,

iv) an acid value (AV) of at least 10 and at most 350 mg KOH/g,

v) a hydroxyl value (OHV) of at least 0 and at most 350 mg KOH/g, and

vi) a functionality (f) of at least 0.2 and at most 50,

wherein

M w is the weight average weight and is measured via Gel Permeation Chromatography according to the description, and

M n is measured via Gel Permeation Chromatography according to the description, and

T g is measured via Differential Scanning calorimetry according to the description, and

AV is measured titrimetrically via ISO 2114, and

OHV is measured titrimetrically via ISO 4629, and

f is determined by the equation:

f

=

[

M

n

×

(

AV

+

OHV

)

]

56110

.

2 . The polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer has:

i) a number average molecular weight (Mr) of at most 3×10 4 Da,

iii) a glass transition temperature (T g ) of at most 95° C.,

iv) an acid value (AV) of at least 10 and at most 300 mg KOH/g,

v) a hydroxyl value (OHV) of at most 160 mg KOH/g.

3 . The polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer has:

i) a number average molecular weight (Mr) of at most 3×10 4 Da,

iii) a glass transition temperature (T g ) of at most 95° C.,

iv) an acid value (AV) of at least 20 and at most 300 mg KOH/g,

v) a hydroxyl value (OHV) of at most 100 mg KOH/g.

4 . The polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer has a Molar Ratio Q (MRQ) as determined via NMR spectroscopy of at least 1 and at most 10, wherein MRQ is:

MRQ

=

S

total

S

specific

=

S

specific

+

S

rest

S

specific

wherein

S total =S specific +S rest ,

S specific =(total moles S 1)+(total moles S 2), and

S rest =the total moles of all the units of a polymer wherein said units are not any one of the units S 1 and S 2.

5 . The polymer according to claim 4 , wherein the polymer has a MRQ of at most 4.

6 . The polymer according to claim 4 , wherein the polymer has a MRQ of at most 1.4.

7 . The polymer according to claim 4 , wherein the polymer has:

i) a number average molecular weight (Mr) of at most 3×10 4 Da,

iii) a glass transition temperature (T g ) of at most 95° C.,

iv) an acid value (AV) of at least 10 and at most 300 mg KOH/g,

v) a hydroxyl value (OHV) of at most 160 mg KOH/g.

8 . The polymer according to claim 5 , wherein the polymer has:

i) a number average molecular weight (Mr) of at most 3×10 4 Da,

iii) a glass transition temperature (T g ) of at most 95° C.,

iv) an acid value (AV) of at least 10 and at most 300 mg KOH/g,

v) a hydroxyl value (OHV) of at most 160 mg KOH/g.

9 . The polymer according to claim 6 , wherein the polymer has:

i) a number average molecular weight (Mr) of at most 3×10 4 Da,

iii) a glass transition temperature (T g ) of at most 95° C.,

iv) an acid value (AV) of at least 10 and at most 300 mg KOH/g,

v) a hydroxyl value (OHV) of at most 160 mg KOH/g.

10 . The polymer according to claim 6 , wherein the polymer has:

iv) an acid value (AV) of at least 20 and at most 300 mg KOH/g,

v) a hydroxyl value (OHV) of at most 100 mg KOH/g.

11 . The polymer according to claim 7 , wherein the polymer has:

iv) an acid value (AV) of at least 20 and at most 300 mg KOH/g,

v) a hydroxyl value (OHV) of at most 100 mg KOH/g.

12 . The polymer according to claim 8 , wherein the polymer has:

iv) an acid value (AV) of at least 20 and at most 300 mg KOH/g,

v) a hydroxyl value (OHV) of at most 100 mg KOH/g.

13 . A composition comprising a binder, wherein the binder comprises:

i) the polymer according to any one of claims 1 - 10 , and

ii) a constituent A selected from the group consisting of organic metal salt, thermal initiator, photoinitiator, copolymerizable agent and mixtures thereof.

14 . A cured composition, wherein the composition is the composition according to claim 13 which is cured.

15 . A product which comprises the polymer according to any one of claims 1 - 10 .

16 . A product which comprises the cured composition according to claim 14 .