Abstract: Systems and methods for producing aerogel materials are generally described. In certain cases, the methods do not require supercritical drying as part of the manufacturing process. In some cases, certain combinations of materials, solvents, and/or processing steps may be synergistically employed so as to enable manufacture of large (e.g., meter-scale), substantially crack free, and/or mechanically strong aerogel materials.

Abstract: A process for the production of expanded material based on sulfone polymers includes an extrusion step in an extruder of virgin sulfone polymer with the injection of at least one expanding agent and in the presence of at least one nucleating agent, and a recycling step of part of the expanded material, which provides a recycled product used as raw material fed to the extruder in combination with the virgin sulfone polymer.

Abstract: To provide a core material for a fiber reinforced composite having an excellent workability upon being composited with a fiber reinforcing material. A core material for a fiber reinforced composite of the present disclosure comprises a molded product of expanded beads containing a thermoplastic resin, and having a heat shrinkage onset temperature of 80° C. or higher, a linear expansion coefficient of 10×10?5 mm/mm·° C. or less, and a ratio of change in dimensions with heating at 130° C. of ?4.0% to 0%.

Abstract: Acrylic copolymers that include the controlled placement of functional groups within the polymer structure are provided. The copolymers contain a reactive segment and a non-reactive segment and are manufactured via a controlled radical polymerization process. The copolymers are useful in the manufacture of adhesives and elastomers.

Abstract: A variety of foams and foam components are provided, including foam components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment. The articles include a composition having a foam structure, wherein the composition includes a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer comprising: (a) a plurality of first segments, each first segment derived from a dihydroxy-terminated polydiol; (b) a plurality of second segments, each second segment derived from a diol; and (c) a plurality of third segments, each third segment derived from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including at least one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by extrusion or injection molding to foam the polymeric composition, or extrusion or injection molding to foam the polymeric composition followed by compression molding of the foam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous material, at least comprising the steps of providing a mixture (I) comprising a water soluble polysaccharide, at least one compound suitable to react as cross-linker for the polysaccharide or to release a cross-linker for the polysaccharide, and water, and preparing a gel (A) comprising exposing mixture (I) to carbon dioxide at a pressure in the range of from 20 to 100 bar for a time sufficient to form a gel (A), and depressurizing the gel (A). Gel (A) subsequently is exposed to a water miscible solvent (L) to obtain a gel (B), which is dried. The invention further relates to the porous materials which can be obtained in this way and the use of the porous materials as thermal insulation material, for cosmetic applications, for biomedical applications or for pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: Molded polymer foam articles are described as having a novel a foam structure. The polymer foam articles include a continuous polymer matrix defining a plurality of pneumatoceles therein which is present throughout the entirety of the article, including in the surface region extending 500 microns beneath the surface of the article. The surface region is further characterized as having compressed pneumatoceles. The novel foam structure is achieved even when molding polymer foam articles comprising a thickness of more than 2 cm, a volume of more than 1000 cm3; or both a volume of more than 1000 cm3 and a thickness of more than 2 cm. Methods of making the molded polymer foam articles are also described.

Abstract: Expandable styrene resin particles include 2.0 wt % to 8.0 wt % of graphite, and the graphite has a mean particle size of 2.5 ?m to 9 ?m. The expandable styrene resin particles satisfy (i) a laser scattering intensity per unit solution concentration of the graphite is not less than 5 {%/(mg/ml)}/wt %, (ii) an area of the graphite per unit solution concentration of the graphite in 1 mm2 is not less than 55 ({mm2/mm2}/{g/g}), or (iii) when the expandable styrene resin particles are pre-expanded and are made into an expanded molded product having an expansion ratio of 40 times, a value (%/wt %) obtained by dividing, by the content of the graphite (wt %), a percentage of an area occupied by the graphite in a surface layer of the expanded molded product (%), a quotient of which is further multiplied by 100, is not less than 100.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curable composition and a use thereof and, more particularly, to a curable composition and a use thereof, the curable composition comprising: (a) a compound capable of being denatured to a quinone-based compound by oxygen; (b) an amine-based polymeric compound; and (c) an oxygen clathrate structure. The curable composition is rapidly cured and can be cured not only at an interface of a conventional film but also to the inside of the film, such that the curable composition has uniform physical properties throughout the entire film and excellent physical properties compared to a curing film obtained by curing at an existing interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to present principles enhance aspects of applied plaster coats. In particular, the materials include a synthetic substitute aggregate (SSA), added to a cementitious base coat, for a plastering step prior to application of stucco or acrylic synthetic finishes or finish coats. The addition of SSA to a pre-blended cementitious base coat creates a light weight product which in some implementations is highly advantageous for the plastering industry.

Abstract: Expanded particles of a polycarbonate-based resin containing a polycarbonate-based resin containing a component derived from bisphenol A as abase resin, the expanded particles being expanded particles of a polycarbonate-based resin satisfying any one of the following conditions (a) to (c) in a GC/MS chart: (a) a peak derived from a molecular weight of from 145 to 230 and a peak derived from a molecular weight of from 320 to 350 are shown; (b) a peak derived from a molecular weight of from 210 to 230 is shown; and (c) a peak derived from a molecular weight of from 290 to 320 is shown.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer composition based on thermoplastic copolyester elastomer comprising: —from 90% to 70% by weight of the thermoplastic copolyester elastomer containing ester and ether bonds; —from 5% to 25% by weight of one or more saturated esters with a molecular weight between about 200 and 1,000, and preferably between 300 and 380; —from 2 to 10% by weight of expanding additives. This invention also covers a manufactured article obtained by injection moulding a predefined amount of the polymer composition according to this invention, as well as a production process of such polymer composition.

Abstract: A method of producing a metal form containing dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers comprising a method of impregnating an aerogel with polymers, placing the aerogel impregnated with polymers within a dissolved polymer, cooling the dissolved polymer to create a polymer form with dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers, adding molten metal to the polymer form, vaporizing the polymer form, replacing the polymer form with molten metal, and cooling the molten metal to yield a metal form containing dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers. Dispersing the aerogel particles impregnated with polymers within the polymer form prior to adding molten metal allows the aerogel particles to be fully dispersed throughout the metal form.

Abstract: Molded polymer foam articles are described as having a novel a foam structure. The polymer foam articles include a continuous polymer matrix defining a plurality of pneumatoceles therein which is present throughout the entirety of the article, including in the surface region extending 500 microns beneath the surface of the article. The surface region is further characterized as having compressed pneumatoceles. The novel foam structure is achieved even when molding polymer foam articles comprising a thickness of more than 2 cm, a volume of more than 1000 cm3; or both a volume of more than 1000 cm3 and a thickness of more than 2 cm. Methods of making the molded polymer foam articles are also described.

Abstract: Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components are provided. The articles include a composition having a foam structure, wherein the composition includes an ionomeric polymer and a plurality of cations, wherein the ionomeric copolymer is crosslinked by the cations. The crosslinks are ionic, so in some aspects the composition is free or essentially free of any covalent crosslinks between the ionomers. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.

Abstract: A composition may contain a first polymer, a second polymer, and a block copolymer. The first polymer may be polylactic acid, starch, polybutylene succinate, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), or a mixture thereof. The second polymer may be polybutadiene, high impact polystyrene, or a mixture thereof. The block copolymer may be a block copolymer of polylactic acid and polybutadiene. The composition may be prepared by a process that includes contacting the first polymer with the second polymer and the block copolymer. Articles may be prepared from the composition.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a porous polyimide film production method and a porous polyimide film produced using said method, said method including: a step (1) in which a poly(amic acid) solution comprising 40%-97% by mass organic polar solvent and 3%-60% by mass poly(amic acid) having an intrinsic viscosity, comprising tetracarboxylic acid units and diamine units, of 1.0-3.0 is cast in film form and immersed in or caused to come in contact with a coagulating solvent having water as an essential component thereof, and a porous film of poly(amic acid) is produced; and a step (2) in which the porous film of poly(amic acid) obtained in said step is heat treated and imidized. Shrinkage in the film longitudinal direction and transverse direction after heat treatment is suppressed to no more than 8% for each direction and the speed of temperature increase in a temperature range of at least 200° C. during the heat treatment is at least 25° C./min.

Abstract: The invention discloses an expandable copolymer resin used for manufacturing a lost foam casting model and a preparation method thereof, wherein the molecular weight of the expandable copolymer resin is 150000-300000, and the expandable copolymer resin comprises mixed monomers, deionized water, a cellulose ether dispersant, sodium salt, an initiator, a foaming agent and a molecular weight regulator; the mixed monomers comprise MMA and ST, wherein MMA accounts for 70-95% wt of the mixed monomers, and ST accounts for 5-30% wt of the mixed monomers. The model formed by the expandable copolymer resin has the advantage of reducing or eliminating carbon defects of castings when casting cast iron and cast steel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a geopolymer composite. It further relates to a geopolymer composite, and the use of a geopolymer, a geopolymer in combination with an athermanous additive, or the geopolymer composite in expanded vinyl polymer, preferably vinyl aromatic polymer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the production of expandable vinyl aromatic polymer granulate, and expandable vinyl aromatic polymer granulate. Finally, the present invention relates to expanded vinyl foam, preferably vinyl aromatic polymer, and to a masterbatch comprising vinyl polymer and a), b), or c).

Abstract: A method of fabricating an oleophilic foam includes providing a foam comprising a base material. The base material is coated with an inorganic material using at least one of an atomic layer deposition (ALD), a molecular layer deposition (MLD) or sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) process. The SIS process includes at least one cycle of exposing the foam to a first metal precursor for a first predetermined time and a first partial pressure. The first metal precursor infiltrates at least a portion of the base material and binds with the base material. The foam is exposed to a second co-reactant precursor for a second predetermined time and a second partial pressure. The second co-reactant precursor reacts with the first metal precursor, thereby forming the inorganic material on the base material. The inorganic material infiltrating at least the portion of the base material. The inorganic material is functionalized with an oleophilic material.