Abstract: An electrically conductive composition comprises a polymeric foam and carbon nanotubes. The composition has a volume resistivity of about 10−3 ohm-cm to about 108 ohm-cm. In another embodiment, an electrically conductive elastomeric composition comprises an elastomer and carbon nanotubes, and has a volume resistivity of about 10−3 ohm-cm to about 103 ohm-cm. The polymeric foams and elastomers retain their desirable physical properties, such as compressibility, flexibility and compression set resistance. They are of particular use as that articles provide electromagnetic shielding and/or electrostatic dissipation, especially for applications involving complicated geometries, such as in computers, personal digital assistants, cell phones, medical diagnostics, and other wireless digital devices, electronic goods such as cassette and digital versatile disk players, as well as in automobiles, ships and aircraft, and the like, where high strength to weight ratios are desirable.

Abstract: A conductive elastomeric foam composite is presented, comprising an elastomer foam and polypyrrole, thiophene, or aniline and derivatives thereof. The foam is manufactured by first diffusing an oxidant into the dense polymer phase of a solvent-swollen foam and then diffusing pyrrole or pyrrole derivative vapor or solution into the dried foam, resulting in an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole at the oxidant site. Only about 5 wt % of conductive polymer is required for observing an insulator to conductor transition. The conductivity of the composite foam can be effectively controlled between 10−7 and 10−1 S/cm by varying either the amount of oxidant used and/or the copolymer composition.

Abstract: A conductive elastomeric foam composite is presented, comprising an elastomer foam and polypyrrole, thiophene, or aniline and derivatives thereof. The foam is manufactured by first diffusing an oxidant into the dense polymer phase of a solvent-swollen foam and then diffusing pyrrole or pyrrole derivative vapor or solution into the dried foam, resulting in an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole at the oxidant site. Only about 5 wt % of conductive polymer is required for observing an insulator to conductor transition. The conductivity of the composite foam can be effectively controlled between 10.sup.-7 and 10.sup.-1 S/cm by varying either the amount of oxidant used and/or the copolymer composition.

Abstract: Improved mold structure and method of molding for mechanically frothed urethane foams is presented. The mold is filled from the bottom via an annular runner which communicates with the mold cavity. The connection between the annular runner and the mold cavity is restricted to create a back pressure in the circumferential runner.