Abstract: Provided is a porous film which is excellent in a water vapor transmission rate, a tear strength and a weatherability. This porous film can be produced by melt-extruding, for example, by a T-die method, a composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a resin blend (1) comprising 100 parts by weight of {circle around (1)} an ethylene-propylene copolymer, 3 to 40 parts by weight of {circle around (2)} a low density polyethylene and 3 to 40 parts by weight of {circle around (3)} an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and 100 to 200 parts by weight of calcium carbonate (2), or a composition comprising 100 parts by weight of the above resin blend (1), 100 to 200 parts by weight of calcium carbonate (2), 0.5 to 20 parts by weight of titanium dioxide (3) coated on a surface thereof with silica and/or alumina, 0.2 to 10 parts by weight of a hindered amine light stabilizer (4) having a molecular weight of 1500 to 4500 and 0.

Abstract: Particulate, expandable styrene polymers capable of being processed into hard foamed plastic materials of a small density and containing, therefore, at least one foaming agent comprise at least aluminum in a particulate form for improving their thermal insulation properties. The styrene polymer particles comprise, after their expansion, a fine cell structure and contain the aluminum particles incorporated in a homogeneous distribution as an infrared ray reflecting material. The main proportion of these aluminum particles has the shape of platelets having a size between 1 and 15 &mgr;m. Styrene polymer particles produced in this manner can be foamed into plastic materials of foamed polystyrene particles which have a density of 30 g/l in maximum and improved heat insulation characteristics.

Abstract: Superabsorbent fiber and film compositions comprising partially acidified, hydrolyzed, internally plasticized, crosslinked, superabsorbing fibers or film derived from polysuccinimide and processes for preparing same.

Abstract: A sponge including an elastic material having a lipid, such as an oil, a fat, or a combination thereof, integrally formed therewith. The elastic material includes an amount from between 0.5 to 20 parts by weight of the lipid, and the lipid is selected from the group consisting of esters of fatty acids, alkanes, squalane and derivatives thereof squalene, bisabolol, animal hair oils and fats, wax, lanolin and combinations thereof to provide the sponge with a gentle feel. The sponge may also be made by first foam molding the sponge from an elastic material, impregnating the sponge with a water-dispersed lipid and allowing the sponge to dry for a predetermined amount of time so that the lipid is substantially inseparable from the elastic material.

Abstract: The present invention includes a composition having a co-continuous interconnecting channel morphology for controlled gas transmission rate. These co-continuous interconnecting channels are predominately occupied with a polymer and particles that control the percolation through the composition. The polymer composition may be used to form a desired shaped article such as plug type inserts and liners for closed containers, or it may be formed into a film, sheet, bead or pellet.

Abstract: A foam includes a blend of low density polyethylene and polypropylene having a melt tension of greater than about 20 centinewtons at 200° C.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods for making foams comprising functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles by photopolymerizing or thermally polymerizing emulsions comprising a reactive phase and a phase immiscible with the reactive phase components. Foams made from water-in-oil emulsions, including high internal phase emulsion are also disclosed. Articles and uses for the foams are also described.

Abstract: A method for providing a uniformly dense polymer foam body having a density between about 0.013 g/cm3 to about 0.5 g/cm3 is disclosed. The method utilizes a thermally expandable polymer microballoon material wherein some of the microballoons are unexpanded and some are only partially expanded. It is shown that by mixing the two types of materials in appropriate ratios to achieve the desired bulk final density, filling a mold with this mixture so as to displace all or essentially all of the internal volume of the mold, heating the mold for a predetermined interval at a temperature above about 130° C., and then cooling the mold to a temperature below 80° C. the molded part achieves a bulk density which varies by less then about ±6% everywhere throughout the part volume.

Abstract: In a process for preparing expanded or expandable polymer beads based on biodegradable saturated polyesters made from at least one diol and from at least one dicarboxylic acid, A. polymer pellets are dispersed in a liquid, B. a volatile blowing agent is injected into the dispersion and made to impregnate the pellets at an elevated temperature, C. the pressure on the dispersion is reduced at an elevated temperature, whereupon the pellets comprising blowing agent expand to give foam, and, respectively, D. the pellets are isolated from the liquid.

Abstract: By blending acicular conductive titanium oxide and an antistatic agent having a metal ion-containing moiety in an organopolysiloxane having at least two aliphatic unsaturated groups, there is obtained a silicone rubber composition which is curable with an organic peroxide and/or an organohydrogenpolysiloxane/platinum group catalyst. The composition cures into silicone rubber having a stabilized resistivity in the semiconductive region, especially in the range of 1×103 to 1×1012 &OHgr;-cm, even under high voltages. The composition is thus suitable as a semiconductive roll material for use as charging rolls, transfer rolls and developing rolls.

Abstract: There is provided a process for producing a foamed rubber comprising a step of foaming a rubber composition, which composition comprises: (A) 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-&agr;-olefin copolymer rubber, (B) 10 to 100 parts by weight of mica, and (C) 2 to 10 parts by weight of a foaming agent.

Abstract: A water-absorbing, expanded, crosslinked polymer obtainable by (I) foaming a polymerizable aqueous mixture which comprises (a) monoethylenically unsaturated monomers which contain acidic groups and are optionally neutralized, (b) optionally other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, (c) crosslinkers, (d) initiators, (e) 0.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of expanded polyvinylarene particles in which polyvinylarene particles pre-expanded to an apparent density do ranging between 600 and 200 kg/m3 are impregnated by an inorganic gas, and the impregnated particles thus obtained are expanded to an apparent density of at least three times lower than do.

Abstract: A foam and pre-foam production process, and a foam and a pre-foam is described. The process comprises the steps of: forming a pre-foam composition comprising oil(s), thermoplastic elastomer(s) and heat expandable thermoplastic particles encapsulating heat expandable gas or liquified gas, the said particles being present in an amount which provides the required foam cell density. A heat treating step for the said composition to cause the particles to expand and produce a foam from the said composition is also described.

Abstract: A two part system for producing structural reinforcing adhesives is provided wherein one component containing epoxy resin is combined with a second component containing a specified curative system. An aliphatic polyamine, an amidoamine, an alcohol and an adduct of a polyamine and an epoxide are present in the curative system. When a thermally activated blowing agent is utilized, the resulting foam is remarkably uniform in cell structure and has improved strength and modulus. Hollow inorganic microspheres are employed to reduce the density of the thermoset produced from the two part system.

Abstract: The invention relates to expandable olefin bead polymers which comprise a blowing agent with a boiling point of from −5 to 150° C., selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkanols, ketones, ethers and esters. The particles are unfoamed and have a bulk density above 500 g/l, and can be foamed to a bulk density below 200 g/l after storage for one hour at room temperature in free contact with the atmosphere. They are prepared by impregnating polyolefin pellets in suspension in a pressure vessel with the blowing agent, cooling the batch below 100° C., reducing the pressure and isolating the particles.

Abstract: A low-temperature foam compositions and that are produced from an epoxy compound and an acid source can be substantially free of polyurethane or isocyanate chemistry. The disclosed compositions and precursors thereof reduce, if not eliminate, the presence of conventional undesirable compounds and by-products thereof.

Abstract: This application relates to microporous, open-celled polymeric foam materials with physical characteristics that make them suitable for a variety of uses produced from high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). This application particularly relates to oxidatively stable emulsifiers used to stabilize the HIPE and the foams produced from such HIPEs.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, compositions and methods are provided in which the mechanical strength and durability of a precursor material having a plurality of pores is increased by a) providing a precursor material; b) treating the precursor material to form a nanoporous aerogel, preferably by using a supercritical drying process; c) providing a blending material having a reinforcing component and a volatile component; d) combining the nanoporous aerogel and the blending material to form an amalgamation layer; and e) treating the amalgamation layer to increase the mechanical strength of the layer by a substantial amount, and to ultimately form a low dielectric material that can be utilized in various applications.

Abstract: A process for preparing expandable particulate styrene polymers wherein from 5 to 50% by weight of expanded graphite and also, if desired, from 2 to 20% by weight of a phosphorus compound, are present as flame retardants, by suspension polymerization of styrene in the presence of the flame retardants.