Abstract: A polymer composition including a crosslinkable thermoplastic matrix, a crosslinking agent, a blowing agent, and at least one cell opener is provided. A method of producing an open cell polymer foam from the polymer composition is also provided. The method includes heating a foamable precursor under positive pressure to a temperature greater than a decomposition temperature of the crosslinking agent and below a decomposition temperature of the chemical blowing agent to produce a primary foam. Then, the method includes heating the primary foam to a temperature greater than the decomposition temperature of the chemical blowing agent and then allowing the primary foam to cool to a temperature below a softening temperature of the crosslinkable thermoplastic polymer to form the open cell polymer foam. The produced open cell polymer foam has an open cell content of at least 80% immediately following the step of allowing the primary foam to cool.

Abstract: A method for processing an electronic payment transaction includes: storing a data entry including an agreement identifier, a merchant identifier, an issuer identifier, and an interchange rate in a database; receiving a transaction request message associated with an electronic payment transaction between a merchant and a user, the transaction request message including a plurality of data fields including a transaction amount, the merchant identifier, and the issuer identifier; querying the database to retrieve the agreement identifier; and generating an authorization request message and/or a transaction response message including a data field including the agreement identifier and causing settlement of the electronic payment transaction based on the at least one first interchange rate associated with the first agreement identifier.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a system in which a transaction may automatically be subjected to a variable interchange rate based on the entities involve in the transaction. In some embodiments, a target criteria document may be received from a resource provider or an authorization entity. The target criteria may include a variable rate which is particular to two specific entities. The variable rate is then stored at a processing network in relation to the two entities. Upon receiving a request to complete a transaction that involves the two entities, the processing network may automatically adjust an amount of the transaction based on the stored variable rate.