Crosslinked polymers and their uses

A composition consisting essentially of a homogenous mixture of:

• a polymer containing at least two free amino functional groups, and
• a compound comprising an aldehyde functional group, said compound being of formula I
• or of formula II,
• wherein R1 is C5-C25 alkyl, having one or more double bonds, and/or one or more triple bonds, possibly branched, and
• wherein the stoichiometric ratio between the aldehyde functional group contained in the compound and the amino functional groups contained in the polymer is from 0.1 to 3.

A method for lubricating a hydrophobic surface of a device, the method comprising applying either:

• i) a composition on the surface, the composition consisting essentially of a homogenous mixture of:
• a polymer containing at least two free amino functional groups, and
• a compound comprising an aldehyde functional group, said compound being of formula I
• or of formula II,
• wherein R1 is C5-C25 alkyl, having one or more double bonds, and/or one or more triple bonds, possibly branched,
• wherein the stoichiometric ratio between the aldehyde functional group contained in the compound and the amino functional groups contained in the polymer is from 0.1 to 3, or
• ii) a structured network comprising or consisting essentially of a polymer containing at least two free amino functional groups operably crosslinked to compound comprising two aldehyde groups of formula II,
• wherein R1 is C5-C25 alkyl, having one or more double bonds, and/or one or more triple bonds, possibly branched, and
• wherein the stoichiometric ratio between the aldehyde functional group contained in the compound and the amino functional groups contained in the polymer is from 0.1 to 3,
• or an hydrated form thereof

A method for producing a structured network, the method comprising:

• mixing:
• a first organic solvent comprising a polymer containing at least two free amino functional groups;
• and
• a second organic solvent comprising a compound containing comprising 2 aldehyde groups of formula I,
• to obtain a mixture
• wherein the stoichiometric ratio between the aldehyde functional group contained in
• the compound and the amino functional groups contained in the polymer is from 0.1 to 3, wherein said first organic solvent is miscible in said second solvent,
• contacting the mixture with a basic composition, to obtain a crosslinked mixture,
• possibly washing the crosslinked mixture, and
• recovering the crosslinked mixture which is in a form of a structured network.