Abstract: The invention provides a sterile freeze-dried sponge, wherein at least 80% by weight of the sponge consists of collagen and oxidized regenerated cellulose in the weight ratio 60:40 to 40:60, wherein the sponge has a dry tensile strength of more than 3N and/or a wet tensile strength of more than 1 N. Preferably, the collagen has a degree of denaturation less than 20% and the sponge is substantially free of chemical cross-links. The invention also provides methods for the manufacture of sponges according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing styrene polymers comprising water as sole blowing agent, by polymerizing styrene in aqueous suspension. The polymerization is carried out in the presence of from 5 to 30% by weight of recycled EPS material dissolved in styrene and comprising customary coating agents deriving from production of the EPS.

Abstract: A thermosetting plastic foam solid formed from the reaction product of: (a) either polyisocyanate or isocyanate-based foam; (b) a polyol-based foam; (c) a catalyst which is capable of promoting the thermosetting reaction between the polyisocyanate or isocyanate-based foam and the polyol-based foam; and (d) a blowing agent which comprises a high purity cyclopentane product, wherein the high purity cyclopentane product is about 95% or greater pure cyclopentane, and, optionally, (e) water and/or (f) liquid flame retardant.

Abstract: Foamed beads of polyester resin having rheological and crystallizability characteristics suitable for the preparation of foamed articles by sintering beads in a mold heated with superheated steam or with inert gas or air.

Abstract: Aqueous spray-resistant and pourable foams (S), produced by mechanical foaming of corresponding aqueous compositions (W), wherein the aqueous phase contains (A) a curable polymer system, which consists of (U) an ionomeric polyurethane or a mixture of ionomeric polyurethanes and optionally (P) one or more further polymers curable at least together with (U), and (B) at least one foam-stabilizer and the liter-weight of (S) at 20° C. and normal pressure is in the range of 400 to 700 g, are eminently suitable for foam-coating of corresponding substrates, in particular of leather.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of expanded olefinic thermoplastic elastomer product having good external appearance, flexibility and heat resistance. This process features using, as raw materials, a particular olefinic thermoplastic elastomer and carbon dioxide as a blowing agent.

Abstract: The evaporative casting of molten metals has been shown to produce castings having smooth surfaces with significantly less signs of carbon deposits thereon by using an expandable vinyl aromatic polymer containing a bromine-attached aliphatic or aromatic flame retardant.

Abstract: A silicone rubber sponge composition, a silicone rubber sponge, and a process for production thereof. The silicone rubber sponge composition, comprises (A) 100 parts by weight organopolysiloxane gum described by average structural unit RaSiO(4−a)/2, where R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group or haloalkyl and a is 1.8 to 2.3 and having a viscosity at 25° C. of 1,000,000 mPa·s or above, (B) 1 to 400 parts by weight inorganic filler, (C) 0.01 to 50 parts by weight hollow thermoplastic resin particles, (D) 0.1 to 10 parts by weight thermally decomposable blowing agent, and (E) a curing agent in an amount sufficient to cure the composition.

Abstract: A silicone rubber sponge composition, a silicone rubber sponge, and a process for making the silicone rubber sponge. The silicone rubber sponge composition comprises (A) 100 parts by weight organopolysiloxane gum described by average structural unit RaSiO(4−a)/2, where R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group or haloalkyl and a is 1.8 to 2.3 and having a viscosity of 1,000,000 mPa·s or above at 25° C., (B) 1 to 400 parts by weight inorganic filler, (C) 0.01 to 50 parts by weight hollow thermoplastic resin particles, (D) 0.1 to 10 parts by weight liquid compound with a boiling point above room temperature, and (E) a curing agent in an amount sufficient to cure the composition.

Abstract: An expandable synthetic resin composition capable of providing a synthetic resin foam excellent in both heat distortion resistance and mechanical strength, as well as such a synthetic resin foam, are provided. An expandable synthetic resin composition incorporating a thermoplastic resin, a liquid crystal resin and a heat-decomposable foaming agent, as well as a synthetic resin foam which incorporates a thermoplastic resin and a liquid crystal resin dispersed in the thermoplastic resin and exhibits an expansion ratio of 1.1-50, are provided.

Abstract: Method and composition for making an expanded polyethylene material by forming a foamable melt of polyethylene, a nucleating agent, a material which retards migration of alkanes, and a blowing agent which comprises 10 to 100 mole percent ethane. In one disclosed embodiment, the melt is passed through an annular extrusion die to form an elongated tube of extruded material which is then expanded, slit lengthwise and laid flat to form a sheet of the expanded material.

Abstract: The invention comprises a fully continuous process for shaping a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) with a polymerizable continuous phase into dry foam, comprising 1) providing a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) comprising (a) at least 70 percent by volume of an eternal phase comprising one or more polymerizable monomer; (b) a surfactant in an amount effective to produce a high internal phase emulsion; and (c) an internal phase; 20 depositing the emulsion onto a lower moving support substrate; 3) leveling the emulsion to a desired thickness above the support substrate; 4) polymerizing the monomers by running the emulsion and the lower moving support substrate through a heating zone for a time sufficient to polymerize at least 75% of the monomer in the HIPE by the end of the heating zone; and 5) drying the polymerized HIPE in a drying zone for a time sufficient to produce a foam having greater than 50% of the internal phase removed.

Abstract: A silicone rubber sponge composition, a silicone rubber sponge, and a process for making a silicone rubber sponge. The silicone rubber sponge composition comprises (A) 100 parts by weight of an organopolysiloxane gum described by average structural unit RaSiO(4−a)/2, where R is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical or haloalkyl and a is 1.95 to 2.05, (B) 1 to 400 parts by weight of an inorganic filler, (C) 0.01 to 50 parts by weight hollow thermoplastic resin particles (D) a mixture of (a) water-soluble silicone and (b) water in an amount such that the water in the mixture is equivalent to 0.01 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of component (A), and (E) a curing agent in an amount sufficient to cure the composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of expanded polystyrene particles in which polystyrene beads containing water as the sole expanding agent are expanded. The process involves the following stages: A) the polystyrene beads are pre-expanded at temperatures above 100° C., B) the pre-expanded particles are dried in dry air at temperatures between 20° and 95° C. over a period of from 1 to 10 hours, C) the dried expanded particles are further expanded with steam at temperatures ranging from 100° to 140° C., and D) the stages b and c are repeated as often as is necessary to achieve the desired bulk density.

Abstract: The present invention is a low-specific-gravity liquid silicone rubber composition comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of diorganopolysiloxane which is liquid at room temperature and contains at least two silicon-bonded alkenyl groups in each molecule, (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane which has at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in each molecule at a mole ratio of silicone-bonded hydrogen atoms contained in this component (B) to silicon-bonded alkenyl groups contained in component (A) within a range of 0.3:1 to 5:1, (C) a platinum catalyst providing metallic platinum atoms in an amount of 0.1 to 500 parts by weight per 1,000,000 parts by weight of component (A) (D) 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of gas-filled hollow particles having shells made of a non-silicone thermoplastic resin, and (E) 0.05 to 10 parts by weight of gas-filled hollow particles having shells made of a thermoplastic silicone resin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sustained release composition and methods of forming and using said composition for the sustained release of biologically active agent. The sustained release compositions of the invention comprise a biocompatible polymer and a biologically active agent characterized by a porous center and a less porous outer layer wherein the center and outer layer consist of essentially the same materials. The sustained release compositions can be prepared by annealing at least a substantial portion of the exterior surface of a polymer/active agent matrix. The compositions which have been annealed exhibit a decrease in the release of agent over the first 24 hours following administration (i.e., reduced burst) and as a result can show an increase in the duration of sustained release thereby providing increased therapeutic benefits.

Abstract: Biodegradable polyether esters P1 obtainable by reacting a mixture essentially comprising (a1) a mixture essentially comprising 20-95 mol % of adipic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof, 5-80 mol % of terephthalic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof, and 0-5 mol % of a compound containing sulfonate groups, where the total of the individual mole percentages is 100 mol %, and (a2) a mixture of dihydroxy compounds essentially comprising (a21) from 15 to 99.8 mol % of a dihydroxy compound selected from the group consisting of C2-C6-alkanediols and C5-C10-cycloalkanediols, (a22) from 85 to 0.2 mol % of a dihydroxy compound containing ether functionalities of the formula I HO—[(CH2)n—O]m—H  I where n is 2, 3 or 4 and m is an integer from 2 to 250, or mixtures thereof, where the molar ratio of (a1) to (a2) is chosen in the range from 0.4:1 to 1.

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: Semi-crystalline microcellular foams that include a midlevel amount of nucleating agent, and methods of their production, are provided. The microcellular foams can be produced in typical polymer processing techniques such as extrusion, injection molding and blow molding. The foams exhibit excellent mechanical properties and can be formed over a broad range of density into a number of different foam articles.

Abstract: Stable foam caulk, sealant and insulation compositions are disclosed. These compositions comprise aqueous emulsions of film forming polymers in combination with microfibers. The preferred film forming polymers and the microfibers include functional groups capable of forming bonds, particularly hydrogen bonds, between these components. In another aspect of the invention, the compositions include a high temperature foam stabilizer, such as a high molecular weight fatty alcohols, having melting points greater than about 110° F.