Abstract: A method for improving the processability of foam premixes containing HFC and/or pentane-based blowing agents in polyols is provided, which method comprises adding trans-1,2-dichloroethylene to said premix in an amount effective to enhance said processability.

Abstract: The present invention is a low density polyurethane foam cushion useful as an attached carpet cushion or as a detached carpet underlay. The low density foams of the present invention are prepared by a process wherein a polyurethane foam formulation is blown by both mechanical and chemical processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, materials, and products for forming a foamed product, comprising the steps of combining an epoxy-based component with an amine-based component. The epoxy component is cross-linked through a polymerization reaction catalyzed by the amine formulation. In this regard, a reactive mixture or exothermic reaction is created between the epoxy component and the amine component when combined. The heat generated by the exothermic reaction softens a thermoplastic shell of a blowing agent formulated within the epoxy component thereby enabling a solvent core within the thermoplastic shell of the blowing agent to expand from the heat generated by the exothermic reaction.

Abstract: The present invention is an ABS foam composition. The composition is comprised of ABS, a foam modifier, and a blowing agent. The composition may be formed into a variety of shapes and products using many different processing techniques, e.g., extrusion and molding.

Abstract: An electrically conductive foam component free from blooming and having a stable electrically conductive property. The electrically conductive foam component is produced by foaming an electrically conductive composition which comprises a base polymer and a borate compound represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; M is an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal; and n is a positive number.

Abstract: Disclosed are formulations adapted to form a foamed cementitious composition, the foamed cementitious composition itself, a method of forming a hydraulic binder foam, and a method of conveying and applying the resulting foam to a substrate. A pumpable cementitious slurry is formed, the slurry is mixed with a gas such as air, and is subjected to mechanically created turbulence to generate gas bubbles and create a foam, which preferably is stabilized by a foam stabilizing agent such as polyvinyl alcohol present in the slurry. The foam is then conveyed to a nozzle or other suitable dispense point from which it is applied, for example sprayed, preferably uniformly, onto a substrate to be coated. Prior to dispensing, a set accelerator is preferably injected, which causes the foam to gel, which in turn improves the hangability of the product on a substrate. The spray material adheres to the substrate and hardens to form an insulative coating on the substrate.

Abstract: A method of producing a porous, liquid absorbent, open-cell polymeric foam material having properties which makes it suitable for use as an absorbent structure in absorbent articles such as diapers, pant diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence guards, wound dressings, bed protections etc, comprising dissolving a polymer in a solvent, adding a surfactant and causing foaming, after which the polymer is crosslinked in the foamed mixture by means of a crosslinking agent. The temperature of the foam thus formed is lowered to a temperature below the freezing point of the solvent and the crosslinking reaction is continued during the freezing step, and after the main part of the solvent is removed from the formed foam material.

Abstract: The application relates to a foamable copolymer resin and a process for preparing the same, which comprises firstly adding an organic peroxide initiator, a modifying aid and a foaming agent to a mixed monomers of methyl methacrylate and styrene so as to constitute a homogenous mixture; at the same tine charging a deionized water into a polymerization reactor and adding a dispersant hydroxy ethyl cellulose or hydroxylpropyl cellulose ether with stirring to produce a homogenous mixture, then sealing the reactor and introducing N2 gas to purge the reactor before the above homogenous monomer mixture is added; after the completion of the reaction the residue is washed with water and dewatered and dried, obtaining foamable pellets.

Abstract: A foam, comprising a blend of (a) from 0.1 to 4.9 weight percent ethylene/styrene interpolymer; and (b) from 95.1 to 99.9 weight percent polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer.

Abstract: Foamable modified polystyrene resin particles which are foamable modified polystyrene resin particles (d) comprising modified polystyrene resin particles (c) containing a blowing agent (e); the modified polystyrene resin particles (c) comprising a polystyrene resin and rubber polymer particles (b) being dispersed in the resin, wherein the rubber polymer particles (b) are dispersed uniformly throughout a continuous phase of the polystyrene resin or in a state of a density of the particles (b) being higher in a center portion of the resin particle than in a surface layer portion thereof, and the modified polystyrene resin particles (c) are modified polystyrene resin particles prepared by impregnating a monomer mixture consisting essentially of a styrene monomer and a conjugated diene monomer and comprising the styrene monomer in a larger amount than the conjugated diene monomer, into polystyrene resin particles (a) and carrying out copolymerization.

Abstract: A foamable polymer composition is described which comprises: a1) a substantially random interpolymer produced from: i) one or more &agr;-olefin monomers; and ii) one or more vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomers and/or one or more sterically hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphiatic vinyl or vinylidene monomers; and optionally iii) other polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s); or a2) an interpolymer comprising polymerized units of ethylene and vinyl acetate; or a3) a combination of the polymers a1) and a2); and b) a polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity of at least one million centistoke at 25° C.; and c) a foaming agent. The polydiorganosiloxane is useful for improving the abrasion resistance of foams comprising the substantially random interpolymer a1) and/or the ethylene/vinyl acetate interpolymer a2).

Abstract: Performance additives in high performance polymers using polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) and polyhedral oligomeric silicates (POS) as nanoscopic reinforcements, porosity control agents, thermal and oxidative stability aids to improve the properties of the polymers.

Abstract: A glazing adhesive product comprising a thermoplastic polyester material having trapped gas bubbles dispersed therein whereby the product has surface pores to provide a suction effect. Also provided is a method of installing/removing vehicle glazing.

Abstract: A method for dehydrating a porous cross-linked polymer conveniently to a low final water content is provided. A porous cross-linked polymer sheet is produced by a method which comprises causing a porous cross-linked polymer obtained by forming and polymerizing a water-in-oil type higher internal phase emulsion to be dehydrated by the use of non-woven fabric rolls furnished with an aspiration mechanism. Properly in this case, the porous cross-linked polymer is subjected to preliminary squeezing. In accordance with the present invention, a porous cross-linked polymer abounding in a water absorbing property to be dehydrated to a low final water content with a small number of rolls.

Abstract: Methods of forming a polymeric structure having a plurality of cells therein that include contacting a polymeric material that includes a first phase and a second phase with a composition comprising carbon dioxide to form the polymeric structure having a plurality of cells therein are described. Polymeric materials and microelectronic devices formed by such methods are also described.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous fiber, the method including blending a natural polymer having a thermal stability with a synthetic polymer having a thermal stability, wherein the thermal stability of the natural polymer is different from the thermal stability of the synthetic polymer, and wherein the natural polymer and synthetic polymer from immiscible phases; extruding the blended polymers while heating at a predetermined heating rate to the fiber spinning temperature; spinning the fibers while maintaining the temperature; and heating the fibers at a heating rate that maintains the natural polymer in a fiber form and that removes the synthetic polymer, whereby a porous fiber is formed.

Abstract: An expandable vinyl chloride resin composition that the expansion ratio of a vinyl chloride resin can be greatly increased by the use of thermally decomposable inorganic blowing agents without the use of organic solvent blowing agents, and which comprises 100 parts by weight of a vinyl chloride resin, 5 to 30 parts by weight of, as a processing aid, a (meth)acrylic acid ester polymer having a specific viscosity of not less than 0.73 measured at 30° C. with respect to a solution of 0.1 g of the polymer dissolved in 100 ml of chloroform, and 2 to 25 parts by weight of a thermally decomposable inorganic blowing agent.

Abstract: An extruded styrene resin foam obtained by extrusion-foaming of a styrene resin and excellent in environmental compatibility and excellent in flame retardant property and thermal insulating property, characterized in that it contains, as a blowing agent, 100 to 10% by weight of at least one of saturated hydrocarbons having 3 to 5 carbons and 0 to 90% by weight of other blowing agent, based on the total amount of the blowing agent, and contains (A) a halogenated flame retardant and (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of phosphorus type flame retardants containing nitrogen atom in a molecule, tetrazole compounds, cyanuric acid and derivatives thereof, isocyanuric acid and derivatives thereof, metal borates, and boron oxides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to form materials comprising polymeric material wherein the structure of the polymeric material contains elastic amorphous areas of nano-scale-size reinforced with self arranged crystalline domains of nano-crystals.

Abstract: Nano-sized particles such as nano-clays can be mixed with polymers through either melt compounding or in-situ polymerization. By modifying the particle surface with various surfactants and controlling processing conditions, we are able to achieve either intercalated (partial dispersion) or exfoliated (full dispersion) nano-clay distribution in polymers with the clay content up to 35% by weight. When a blowing agent is injected into the nanocomposite in an extruder (a continuous mixer) or a batch mixer, polymeric foam can be produced. Supercritical carbon dioxide, an environmentally friendly, low-cost, non-flammable, chemically benign gas is used as the blowing agent. This process forms a microcellular foam with very high cell density (>109 cells/cc) and small cell size (<5 microns) can be achieved by controlling the CO2 content, melt and die temperature, and pressure drop rate.