Abstract: A composition suitable for slush molding is disclosed. The composition comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (A) having a number average molecular weight of 10,000 to 50,000 and mainly comprised of a diol component including an aromatic ring-containing diol and a non-aromatic diisocyanate; a plasticizer (B); and optionally an additive. The composition provides a molded article excellent in durability such as thermal/light aging resistance and chemical resistance, soft touch at low temperature, and appearance.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a foam outstanding in electrification and heat insulating and sound insulating properties and has high compressive strength even when it has low density. The present invention relates to a foam comprising an organic polymer expanded matrix (I) and at least one kind of inorganic substance (II) selected from the group consisting of metals, metal compounds and non-metal inorganic fillers, wherein said expanded matrix (I) contains metal salt-crosslinks and the relation between the weight percentage (M) of the metal forming said metal salt-crosslinks in the expanded matrix (I) based on the total weight of the expanded matrix (I) and the inorganic substance (II) and the weight percentage (S) of the inorganic substance (II) based on the total weight of the expanded matrix (I) and the inorganic substance (II) satisfies the following expression. M≧10−S/4  (1) wherein M≦50 and S≧5.

Abstract: There are disclosed a polymer packing material suitable for liquid chromatography and a producing method thereof. The polymer packing material having a polymer particle based on a styrene skeleton with monodispersed particle distribution can be obtained by hydrophilic treatment of an inner surface of a micropore existing in a fine pore of the polymer packing material, or subsequent introduction of a hydrophobic group into the inner hydrophilic surface by chemical modification. A method of producing the polymer packing material suitable for liquid chromatography includes the step of polymerizing glycerol dimethacrylate as a crosslinking agent and 2-ethylhexl methacrylate as a monomer according to a two-step swelling polymerization process. Alternatively, the producing method includes the step of crosslinking and polymerizing only glycerol dimethacrylate to form a polymer, and introducing the hydrophobic group into the polymer by chemical modification.

Abstract: A method of producing a foamed material comprises contacting a material with a fluid mixture comprising carbon dioxide and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant facilitates the dissolution of the carbon dioxide into the material and then foam the material in the fluid mixture.

Abstract: Adhesive plaster that may be applied on human skin and that has a number of microcapsules applied on its surface destined to remain exposed to the air, the said microcapsules enclosing liquid essences that are released by the microcapsules when the latter burst as a result of friction, the said microcapsules being applied on the adhesive plaster by means of silk-screen printing and with the use of water-soluble resins.

Abstract: A porous article having excellent heat resistance, a finely cellular structure, and a low dielectric constant; and a process for producing the porous article which comprises subjecting a polymer composition having a micro-domain structure comprising a continuous polymer phase and dispersed therein a discontinuous phase having an average diameter smaller than 10 &mgr;m to a treatment for removing the ingredient constituting the discontinuous phase by at least one operation selected from vaporization and decomposition and by an extraction operation to thereby make the polymer porous. The ingredient constituting the discontinuous phase has a weight average molecular weight of, e.g., 10,000 or lower. Liquefied carbon dioxide, supercritical carbon dioxide, or the like can be used as an extraction solvent for the ingredient constituting the discontinuous phase.

Abstract: A composition has a polymeric network that includes a porogen and a photoinitiator. The photoinitiator produces a reactive species upon irradiation, which reacts with the porogen in a degradation reaction that degrades at least some of the porogen. A method of forming a nanoporous polymer has one step in which a plurality of polymeric strands, a photoinitiator, and a porogen are provided. In a subsequent step, at least some of the polymeric strands are crosslinked to form a polymeric network that includes the porogen and the photoinitiator, and in a further step the photoinitiator in the polymeric network is irradiated to generate a reactive species that reacts with the porogen in a degradation reaction to degrade at least some of the porogen.

Abstract: A thermoresistance adhesive which does not dissolve in the sealer-composing resins at the sealer molding temperature and is capable of providing a semiconductor chip/lead frame adhesive strength under shear of 1 N/4 mm2 or greater, and including, for example, amide, imide, ester or ether linkage is suited for use in producing thermoresistance adhesive solutions and thermoresistance resin pastes, and the semiconductor chips, lead frames, films, etc., made by using such an adhesive are suited for providing low-cost semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive adhesive sheet comprising a substrate having formed thereon an adhesive layer comprising a polymer composition (C) which comprises the following aqueous emulsion (A) and copolymer (B), wherein an adhesive force determined by the 180° peeling test method as specified in JIS Z 0237 at a temperature of 25° C. is 10 g/25 mm or less: Aqueous emulsion (A): An aqueous emulsion containing an alkyl (meth)acrylate-based polymer (a) having a glass transition temperature of −10° C. or below, which is obtained by emulsion-polymerizing radically polymerizable monomers containing as the main component an alkyl (meth)acrylate; and Copolymer (B): A water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer (B) having a glass transition temperature of 20° C.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition dynamically vulcanized to a gelation rate of 50 to 95% which is superior in heat resistance and durability while maintaining flexibility and superior in air permeation preventive property which can be efficiently used as, for example, a pneumatic tire as an air permeation preventive layer. In particular, a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a reduced particle size of the domain rubber is produced by a material having a high rubber ratio by mixing a composition (C) mixed under conditions of a ratio of melt viscosities of the rubber composition (A)/resin (B) of 0.8 to 1.2 and the formula (&phgr;A/&phgr;B)×(&eegr;B/&eegr;A)<1.0 under conditions of a ratio of melt viscosities of the rubber composition (D)/composition (C) of 0.8 to 1.2 and the formula (&phgr;D/&phgr;C)×(&eegr;C/&eegr;D)<1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive double coated tape or sheet, an acrylic non-substrate pressure-sensitive adhesive transfer tape or sheet, and a method for manufacturing the same. The acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive double coated tape or sheet and the acrylic non-substrate pressure-sensitive adhesive transfer tape or sheet are manufactured by the use of a light-cured adhesive whose main components are a (metha)alkyl ester acrylate monomer, a polar functional group containing monomer, an acrylic polymer having a photo-active functional group, and photopolymerization initiating agent, wherein the acrylic polymer having a photo-active functional group has a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 to 3,000,000 and the content of the photo-active functional group of 0.001 milli-equivalent/g to 0.5 milli-equivalent/g.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tintable coating composition, comprising an admixture of: (A) about 2 to about 80 wt % of a carboxylated urethane polymer dispersion mixture made from 1,6-hexanediol and 4,4-methylenebis(cyclohexylisocyanate); (B) about 5 to about 65 wt % of a hydroxylated methylmethacrylate acrylic polymer emulsion; (C) about 0.1 to about 3 wt % of a crosslinking agent, the crosslinking agent comprising an aziridine-based crosslinking compound; and (D) optionally, about 0.5 wt % to about 25 wt % of a solvent; all percentages based on the total weight of the coating composition. The coating composition of the present invention may be used as a clear coating, or may include a decorative component such as dyes, pigments, colorants, metal flakes, metal powders, glass flakes, glass powders, and combinations thereof, that add a decorative or colored characteristic to the disclosed coating composition.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for promoting the curing reactions of an acetylenic oligomer or polymer, characterized in that the oligomer or polymer is cured in the presence of sulfur or an organic sulfur derivative which is capable of lowering the temperature of cure of the oligomer or polymer. The invention also provides a process for producing a polyimide oligomer or polymer containing an aliphatic or aromatic disulfide moiety which is covalently bound to, and forms an integral part of the oligomer or polymer and which is capable of lowering the temperature of cure of the oligomer or polymer, characterised in that a suitable amount of a diamino-disulfide or dianhydride-disulfide, or any suitable derivative or precursor thereof, is introduced into the mixture of aromatic diamines, tetracarboxylic dianhydrides, and the phenylethynyl-substituted amine or anhydride normally used for the reparation of the oligo-imide.

Abstract: A membrane for use in chloride-sensitive electrodes, comprises a polymer matrix with at least one electroactive component. The polymer matrix of the membrane contains an epoxy resin with an amino compound as a curing agent. For the purpose of reducing the danger of contamination and improving the useful life of the electrode, the epoxy resin is provided with at least one epoxy resin compatible flexibilizer, and the content of epoxy resin plus added flexibilizer in the electrode membrane amounts to more than 60% by weight, while that of the electroactive component is not more than 35% by weight, and preferably not more than 30% by weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygenator membrane based on organically modified silicic-acid polycondensates into a process for preparation thereof. The oxygenator membrane is obtainable by processing a viscous to resinous liquid by conventional methods to form a membrane, drying this membrane, if desired, and subjecting it to curing induced thermally and/or radiatively and/or chemically. The viscous to resinous liquid is obtained by hydrolytic polycondensation of one or more compounds of the general formula I and/or II and/or III and/or IV and/or of precondensates derived from these compound by hydrolytic condensation and, if desired, of one or more compounds of the general formula V, and, if desired, by addition of one or more monomers and/or oligomers which are capable of undergoing addition copolymerization and/or (poly)addition reaction and/or of one or more curing catalysts.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composite having a multiplicity of layers and comprising: I) a layer of a polyamide molding composition, II) a layer of a polyester molding composition, and III) a layer of an adhesion promoter adherent to I and II comprising at least 50% by weight of a blend of: a) from 20 to 80% by weight of a polyamide, prepared from &agr;) at least one diamine having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and &bgr;) an essentially stoichiometrically equivalent amount of at least one dicarboxylic acid comprising at least 5 mol % of a dicarboxylic acid having from 10 to 36 carbon atoms, and b) from 80 to 20% by weight of a polyester, prepared from &agr;) a mixture of from 30 to 95 mol % of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms and from 70 to 5 mol % of the same dicarboxylic acid as in the polyamide of the adhesion promoter, having from 10 to 36 carbon atoms, and &bgr;) at least one diol having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric co-grafting of massing polymers and copolymers of ethylene and one or more &agr;-olefins having at least 4 carbon atoms. The co-grafts are useful tougheners for polyamides.

Abstract: Foams comprising blends of thermoplastic and thermoset materials wherein the thermoset forms a discontinuous phase in a continuous thermoplastic phase are described. Foams comprising an uncured thermoset and unreacted radiation-activatable curing agent in a thermoplastic matrix are also described. Additionally described are batch and continuous methods for making the foams. Particular uses for the foams, such as flexographic mounting tapes, are also described.

Abstract: A polymeric closure for a container comprising a foamed polyethylene, wherein said polyethylene prior to foaming has: 1) a density of between 0.910 g/cm3 and 0.885 g/cm3; ii) a molecular weight distribution of 2 or less; and iii) a melt index of between 2 and 10. Closure can be used as a replacement of natural cork for wine bottles.

Abstract: Polypropylene films having a base layer of a propylene polymer with at least one matte outer layer of a blend of a polyether block polyamide, polypropylene, and polybutene-1, the polybutene-1 representing from 40 to 60 wt. % of the blend. Such films have shown good antistatic properties combined with particularly low heat seal thresholds compared with similar films without the polybutene-1 in the outer layer or layers.