Abstract: A polymeric sponge includes cellulose fibers imbedded therein. The sponge is made by mixing water and cellulose fibers with a water-catalyzing prepolymer for chemical reaction thereof. The mixture is cured and granulated to size. The cellulose fibers enhance both the manufacturing process and the resulting sponge for increasing strength, durability, and performance thereof.

Abstract: A method of making a molecularly imprinted porous structure makes use of a surfactant analog of the molecule to be imprinted that has the imprint molecule portion serving as the surfactant headgroup. The surfactant analog is allowed to self-assemble in a mixture to create at least one supramolecular structure having exposed imprint groups. The imprinted porous structure is formed by adding reactive monomers to the mixture and allowing the monomers to polymerize, with the supramolecular structure serving as a template. The resulting solid structure has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the supramolecular structure and has cavities that are the mirror image of the imprint group. Similarly, molecularly imprinted particles may be made by using the surfactant to create a water-in-oil microemulsion wherein the imprint groups are exposed to the water phase.

Abstract: The polyisocyanate polyaddition products comprise hydrophobic compounds plus at least one further compound selected from the group consisting of: (i) organic, cyclic compounds having a molecular weight of from 200 to 3000 g/mol, (ii) salts of metals of transition groups I, II and/or VIII, (iii) organic and/or inorganic acid anhydrides, (iv) cyclic sulfonic esters and/or sulfones, (v) lactones, lactams and/or cyclic esters and/or (vi) &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acids, &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives, &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated ketones and/or &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated aldehydes.

Abstract: An improved material comprising the reaction product of an A-side having an isocyanate and a B-side having a cross-linker comprising a multifunctional alcohol, a vegetable oil, preferably a blown/oxidized vegetable oil, most preferably a blown/oxidized soybean oil, and a catalyst and the method of producing the same.

Abstract: A method of making a molecularly imprinted porous structure makes use of a surfactant analog of the molecule to be imprinted that has the imprint molecule portion serving as the surfactant headgroup. The surfactant analog is allowed to self-assemble in a mixture to create at least one supramolecular structure having exposed imprint groups. The imprinted porous structure is formed by adding reactive monomers to the mixture and allowing the monomers to polymerize, with the supramolecular structure serving as a template. The resulting solid structure has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the supramolecular structure and has cavities that are the mirror image of the imprint group. Similarly, molecularly imprinted particles may be made by using the surfactant to create a water-in-oil microemulsion wherein the imprint groups are exposed to the water phase.

Abstract: A method of making a molecularly imprinted porous structure makes use of a surfactant analog of the molecule to be imprinted that has the imprint molecule portion serving as the surfactant headgroup. The surfactant analog is allowed to self-assemble in a mixture to create at least one supramolecular structure having exposed imprint groups. The imprinted porous structure is formed by adding reactive monomers to the mixture and allowing the monomers to polymerize, with the supramolecular structure serving as a template. The resulting solid structure has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the supramolecular structure and has cavities that are the mirror image of the imprint group. Similarly, molecularly imprinted particles may be made by using the surfactant to create a water-in-oil microemulsion wherein the imprint groups are exposed to the water phase.

Abstract: A superporous hydrogel composite is formed by polymerizing one or more ethylenically-unsaturated monomers, and a multiolefinic crosslinking agent, in the presence of particles of a disintegrant and a blowing agent. The disintegrant, which rapidly absorbs water, serves to greatly increase the mechanical strength of the superporous hydrogel and significantly shorten the time required to absorb water and swell. Superporous hydrogel composites prepared by this method have an average pore size in the range of 10 &mgr;m to 3,000 &mgr;m. Preferred particles of disintegrant include natural and synthetic charged polymers, such as crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, crosslinked sodium starch glycolate, and crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone. The blowing agent is preferably a compound that releases gas bubbles upon acidification, such as NaHCO3. Improved hydrogel composites formed without a blowing agent are also provided.

Abstract: Foam forming techniques are capable of permitting foaming of biodegradable resin to be positively and uniformly accomplished to provide a biodegradable resin foam with satisfactory quality. The biodegradable resin foam is made of biodegradable resin a main biodegradable resin ingredient of 100° C. or more in melting point and a low-melting biodegradable resin ingredient of 100° C. or less in melting point. The biodegradable resin foam is produced by placing a starting material of at least biodegradable resin and a substantial amount of moisture in a heated and pressurized environment, releasing the starting material from the environment to foam the biodegradable resin, and subjecting the foamed resin to forming by a forming mold. An apparatus for producing the foamed biodegradable resin foam includes a pressure adjusting chamber, an air-permeable forming mold, a pressure reducing tank and an injection machine.

Abstract: An improved cellular plastic material comprises a urethane foam that is the reaction product of soy oil, an isocyanate, and a cross linker. The soy oil replaces the polyol typically generally required in the production of urethanes. Because the replaced polyol is a petrochemical, use of a renewable and environmentally friendly material such as soy oil is most advantageous. Further, plastic materials of many final qualities may be formed using a single vegetable oil. In addition to cellular foams, solid plastic elastomers may be formed.