Abstract: An expandable vinyl chloride resin composition that the expansion ratio of a vinyl chloride resin can be greatly increased by the use of thermally decomposable inorganic blowing agents without the use of organic solvent blowing agents, and which comprises 100 parts by weight of a vinyl chloride resin, 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of, as a processing aid, a (meth)acrylic acid ester polymer having a specific viscosity of not less than 0.73 measured at 30° C. with respect to a solution of 0.1 g of the polymer dissolved in 100 ml of chloroform, and not less than 0.3 to less than 2 parts by weight of a thermally decomposable inorganic blowing agent such as sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: Polyvinyl chloride resin compositions and methods of preparation and use thereof for increasing the degree of whiteness in finished polyvinyl chloride foam. The resin compositions contain sulfur compounds selected from sulfonic acid derivatives, sulfinic acid derivatives, and mercapto acetic acid sodium salt, and optionally contain water soluble salts and/or t-butyl hydroperoxide.

Abstract: Polyvinyl chloride resin compositions and methods of preparation and use thereof for increasing the degree of whiteness in finished polyvinyl chloride foam. The resin compositions contain sulfur compounds selected from sulfonic acid derivatives, sulfinic acid derivatives, and mercapto acetic acid sodium salt, and optionally contain water soluble salts and/or t-butyl hydroperoxide.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and articles useful in the production of foams, and, in particular microcellular foams. The systems include a restriction element that reduces the backflow of polymer melt in an extruder while polymeric material is injected into a mold or ejected from a die. The restriction element is positioned upstream of a blowing agent injection port to maintain the solution of polymer and blowing agent in the extruder above a minimum pressure throughout an injection or ejection cycle, and preferably above the critical pressure required for the maintenance of a single-phase solution of polymer and blowing agent. The systems can be used in injection molding, blow molding, or in any other processing techniques that include injection or ejection cycles. In some embodiments, the systems utilize reciprocating screws for injection or ejection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of foaming a polymer comprising the steps of providing a composition comprising said polymer and a zeolite in an amount of 0.3% or more based on the weight of said polymer and extruding said composition. The invention further relates to foamed articles and to the use of zeolites as foaming agents in the foaming of polymers.

Abstract: An expandable vinyl chloride resin composition which can provide foamed articles having a greatly enhanced expansion ratio without remarkably lowering the surface property and strength by the use of thermally decomposable blowing agents without the use of organic solvent blowing agents, and which comprises 100 parts by weight of a vinyl chloride resin, 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of, as a processing aid, a two stage (meth)acrylic ester polymer having a specific viscosity of at least 0.5 (0.1 % chloroform solution, 30° C.) prepared by polymerizing a monomer component containing as a main component a monomer selected from acrylic esters and methacrylic esters excepting methyl methacrylate in the presence of a latex of a methyl methacrylate polymer having a specific viscosity of at least 0.7, 0.3 to 25 parts by weight of a thermally decomposable inorganic blowing agent, 0.01 to 15 parts by weight of a thermally decomposable organic blowing agent and 0 to 20 parts by weight of a filler.

Abstract: The invention concerns nucleating agent systems for foamable polymer compositions, preferably fluoropolymer resins, having foam cell nucleation sites using titanium dioxide based nucleating agents, and foamable polymers comprising the nucleating agents. The nucleating agent systems comprise TiO2, certain inorganic salts, and, optionally, sulfonic acid salts and/or phosphonic acid salts. The invention also concerns foamable composition concentrates and foamed thermoplastic insulation material comprising fluoropolymer and the nucleating agent systems.

Abstract: The invention concerns nucleating agent systems for foamable polymer compositions, preferably fluoropolymer resins, having foam cell nucleation sites using titanium dioxide based nucleating agents, and foamable polymers comprising the nucleating agents. The nucleating agent systems comprise TiO2, certain inorganic salts, and, optionally, sulfonic acid salts and/or phosphonic acid salts. The invention also concerns foamable composition concentrates and foamed thermoplastic insulation material comprising fluoropolymer and the nucleating agent systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to porous polymers incorporating dihydroperfluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates and the like and their production. The invention also relates to the use of polymers derived from dihydroperfluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates and like compounds, in both porous and non-porous forms, as substrates for the attachment and growth of mammalian cells and tissue. The invention also relates to the use of polymers derived from dihydroperfluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates as components of medical devices and prostheses, including implanted devices.

Abstract: Polyvinyl chloride resin compositions and methods of preparation and use thereof for increasing the degree of whiteness in finished polyvinyl chloride foam. The resin compositions contain sulfur compounds selected from sulfonic acid derivatives, sulfinic acid derivatives, and mercapto acetic acid sodium salt, and optionally contain water soluble salts and/or t-butyl hydroperoxide.

Abstract: There is obtained a chlorinated vinyl chloride resin composition from which a siding molded article having good appearance and excellent heat resistance, impact resistance and weatherability is obtained. A chlorinated vinyl chloride resin composition for siding extrusion molding is obtained and a siding molded article is prepared therefrom, said chlorinated vinyl chloride resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a chlorinated vinyl chloride resin and 3 to 20 parts by weight of an acrylic graft rubber copolymer, wherein the acrylic graft rubber copolymer contains 30 to 90% by weight of acrylic hollow rubber particles whose average void ratio is 3 to 90% by volume in a latex state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration reducing grip material that includes a closed-cell poly(vinyl chloride) foam material having a Shore durometer of about 50 to about 70. According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a vibration reducing handle cover for an impact tool.

Abstract: The invention concerns nucleating agent systems for foamable polymer compositions, preferably fluoropolymer resins, having foam cell nucleation sites using titanium dioxide based nucleating agents, and foamable polymers comprising the nucleating agents. The nucleating agent systems comprise TiO2, certain inorganic salts, and, optionally, sulphonic acid and/or phosphonic salts. The invention also concerns foamable composition concentrates and foamed thermoplastic insulation material comprising fluoropolymer agent systems.

Abstract: Structural members for doors and the like can be manufactured from plastic foamed composites containing wood flour by the steps of (1) dry mixing a blend of powders including PVC powder, wood flour, powdered thermal stabilizers, powdered foaming agent and a powdered gelatinization agent, (2) adding the mixed powder to a thermal stirring mixer to obtain a homogeneous dispersion of the several powders (3) transferring the homogeneous dispersion of powders to a cold stirring mixer and stirring at speeds sufficient to avoid agglomeration of the homogeneous dispersion of the several powders and (4) placing the non-agglomerated homogeneous dispersion of the several powders in a feeding hopper of an extrusion machine and extruding shapes for the desired components. The vacuum venting of the extrusion machine can be controlled to achieve components with more desirable surface features. Lubricants can be added to the homogeneous dispersions of the several powders to aid in the extrusion process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium density chlorinated polyvinyl chloride foam and the method of preparing such a foam. The foam having a specific gravity in the range of about 0.3 to about 1.5 comprises chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, a nitrogen containing decomposition type blowing agent, a tin stabilizer, a costabilizer and a high molecular weight process aid.

Abstract: Foamed polymer-fiber composites, building materials and methods of making such building materials are provided by this invention. The composites include about 35-75 wt. % of a polymeric resin, about 25-65 wt. % fiber and have a specific gravity of less than about 1.25 g/cc. The low density is provided by the introduction of a blowing agent or gas into a molten precursor of the composite during thermo forming, such as in an extrusion operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygenator membrane based on organically modified silicic-acid polycondensates into a process for preparation thereof. The oxygenator membrane is obtainable by processing a viscous to resinous liquid by conventional methods to form a membrane, drying this membrane, if desired, and subjecting it to curing induced thermally and/or radiatively and/or chemically. The viscous to resinous liquid is obtained by hydrolytic polycondensation of one or more compounds of the general formula I and/or II and/or III and/or IV and/or of precondensates derived from these compound by hydrolytic condensation and, if desired, of one or more compounds of the general formula V, and, if desired, by addition of one or more monomers and/or oligomers which are capable of undergoing addition copolymerization and/or (poly)addition reaction and/or of one or more curing catalysts.

Abstract: This invention provides a thermoplastic polymer foam having a density of up to 800 kg/m3. The foam is made from a hydrogenated vinyl aromatic polymer that contains pendant cycloaliphatic groups. This polymer is conveniently made by hydrogenating a poly(vinyl aromatic) polymer such as polystyrene or a polystyrene-butadiene block copolymer. A suitable blowing agent is a mixture comprising (a) one or more fluorine-containing carbon compounds and (b) carbon dioxide, nitrogen, an alcohol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a linear or cyclic hydrocarbon having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a ketone, an alkyl ether, an alkyl halide, water or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integral net having a lattice of polymeric material defined by holes traversing the integral net from one surface to the other. The present invention also provides a method for producing an embossed sheet of polymeric material by first contacting a billet of polymeric material with an embossing tool having a plurality of protrusions whereby the embossing tool impresses indentations into the billet to a given depth. Subsequently, the method involves skiving the embossed billet. By this method, an embossed sheet of the polymeric material is removed from the billet, which embossed sheet can be an integral net.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of porous polymers, wherein a polymerizable component comprising at least one free radically polymerizable unsaturated monomer of formula Q—X—A  (1), wherein the variables are defined as described in the claims, is polymerized in the presence of a specific solvent mixture, and the resulting porous polymer, after removal of the solvent, is subjected to an aftertreatment in an acidic or basic medium. The polymers obtainable according to the invention are useful, for example, as substrates for the attachment and growth of mammalian cells and tissue and in particular as materials for the manufacture of biomedical devices and prostheses, including implanted devices.

Abstract: A material for the production by extrusion or molding or calendering of light articles has a chemical formulation comprising at least a thermoplastic polymer. A predetermined amount of polymeric microspheres containing isopentane is added to said at least a thermoplastic polymer. A process for producing said material comprises a first step during which the thermoplastic polymer is mixed to further components (such as thermal stabilizers and/or costabilizers and/or additives) and a second step during which the mixture is granulated in order to obtain a granular compound. At the end of the first step, and advantageously immediately before the beginning of said second step, a predetermined amount of polymeric microspheres containing isopentane is added to the mixture. Said material is used for the production by injection molding or extrusion or calendering of light articles in the shoe industry, particularly of shoe soles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions based on elastomeric polymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropene and optionally tetrafluoroethylene suitable for providing microcellular foamed vulcanized articles by extrusion or compression molding. In the case of the production of extruded articles based on vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropene copolymers, the compositions comprise: the copolymer, bisphenol AF, a quaternary phosphonium or aminophosphonium salt, azodicarbonamide, MgO, Ca(OH)2, zinc stearate and a plasticizer, each of the components being contained in an exactly defined proportion.

Abstract: PVC foam blown with a physical blowing agent comprising a gaseous HFC is provided.

Abstract: A document feed component is presented comprising a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer, a curing agent, and a blowing agent, wherein the document feed component has a dynamic coefficient of friction in the range of about 1.0 to about 3.0, a Shore O hardness in the range of about 2 to about 85, a compression set of less than about 12%, and a resistance to wear of less than about 0.05 g/hr. The elastomer optionally further includes activators, polymerization accelerators, and a filler material. An important feature of the present invention is that the use of a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer does not require the use of processing aids and migratory additives.

Abstract: A microbicidal organic polymer material for use in manufacturing of contact lenses, condoms, surgical sutures and gloves, medical examination devices and similar uses is provided by polymers to which is tightly adsorbed a disinfectant organic dye. Many polymers such as polyvinyl chloride and acrylic polymers show exceptional avidity for a number of microbicides, of acidic, basic, aromatic and/or hydrophobic character such as methylene blue and gentian violet. Consequently, devices constructed of these polymeric materials release no free dye to an aqueous solution. The material is generally a natural or synthetic polymer that releases no particles or fines into wounds or body orifices. Presence of adsorbed disinfectant organic dye allows the polymer to inhibit microbial growth in a number of different situations. Several common microbes are killed by being incubated in the present of an embodiment of the invention which contains a combination of methylene blue and gentian violet.

Abstract: A material for the production by extrusion or molding or calendering of light articles has a chemical formulation comprising at least a thermoplastic polymer. A predetermined amount of polymeric microspheres containing isopentane is added to said at least a thermoplastic polymer. A process for producing said material comprises a first step during which the thermoplastic polymer is mixed to further components (such as thermal stabilizers and/or costabilizers and/or additives) and a second step during which the mixture is granulated in order to obtain a granular compound. At the end of the first step, and advantageously immediately before the beginning of said second step, a predetermined amount of polymeric microspheres containing isopentane is added to the mixture. Said material is used for the production by injection molding or extrusion or calendering of light articles in the shoe industry, particularly of shoe soles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to porous polymers comprising a perfluoropolyether unit, to a process for producing such porous polymers, in particular to a process for polymerising or copolymerising monomers incorporating perfluoropolyethers to form porous polymers, to articles made of or comprising porous polymers comprising a perfluoropolyether unit, such as membranes or ophthalmic devices, and to the use of porous polymers comprising perfluoropolyether units as articles, such as membranes or ophthalmic devices. The perfluoropolyether units are preferably of the formula (PFPE):--OCH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 O(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 O).sub.x (CF.sub.2 O).sub.y CF.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O-- wherein the CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 O and CF.sub.2 O units may be randomly distributed or distributed as blocks throughout the chain and wherein x and y may be the same or different such that the molecular weight of the perfluorinated polyether is in the range of from 242 to 4,000.

Abstract: A laser-sinterable powder product has been prepared having unique properties which allow the powder to be sintered in a selective laser sintering machine to form a sintered part which is near-fully dense. For most purposes, the sintered part is indistinguishable from another part having the same dimensions made by isotropically molding the powder. In addition to being freely flowable at a temperature near its softening temperature, a useful powder is disclosed that has a two-tier distribution in which substantially no primary particles have an average diameter greater than 180 .mu.m, provided further that the number average ratio of particles smaller than 53 .mu.m is greater than 80%, the remaining larger particles being in the size range from 53 .mu.m to 180 .mu.m. A powder with slow recrystallization rates, as evidenced by non-overlapping or slightly overlapping endothermic and exothermic peaks in their differential scanning calorimetry characteristics for scan rates of on the order of 10.degree. C. to 20.

Abstract: A nucleator for foaming comprising a fluororesin powder comprising particles having a particle size of 0.1-0.5 .mu.m in a proportion of at least 50% by number and containing particles having a particle size of not less than 5 .mu.m in a proportion of not more than 40% by number, a foamable composition comprising this nucleator and an organic polymer, a foam made therefrom, and a production method of the foam. The nucleator of the present invention can produce a foam made from an organic polymer improved in expansion ratio, fineness of the cells, uniformity of foaming and the like by the use of an extremely small amount thereof. It is preferably used for forming an insulating foam layer of a high frequency coaxial cable.

Abstract: A document feed component is presented comprising a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer, a curing agent, and a blowing agent. The elastomer optionally further includes activators, polymerization accelerators, and a filler material. An important feature of the present invention is that the use of a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer in accordance with the present invention does not require the use of processing aids and migratory additives. Consequently, the document feed component of this invention has the advantage of not contaminating paper or other media with which they come into contact, even for extended periods of time, while maintaining other advantageous properties, such as a high coefficient of friction, low hardness, low compression set, and excellent resistance to ultraviolet light and ozone. The document feed component of the present invention may be shaped as a roller, wheel, belt, pad or the like.

Abstract: An extrusion profile is formed of foamed plastic, which includes a filler of wood flour or wood fiber. The foamed plastic may include polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride or polystyrene in combination with the wood flour filler.

Abstract: Chemically resistant, strong fluorinated copolymer adsorbent particles for use in carrying out chromatographic separations are prepared by high shear, anaerobic reaction of a di-unsaturated crosslinking agent with a polyfluorinated monomer in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) and a porogen.

Abstract: There are provided foamable, foamable polyvinyl halide resin masses containing: A) 1 to 25 parts relative to 100 parts of polyvinyl halide, of a polymerizate obtainable through the emulsion polymerization of i) up to 20 to not more than 75 parts of methylmethacrylate, ii) 25 to 80 parts of one or more C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkylmethacrylates, iii) 0 to 5 parts of one or more vinyl unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (i) and/or (ii, wherein the components (i)-(iii) together yield 100 parts and are polymerized with up to a further 100 parts of usual additives for emulsion polymerization, wherein the emulsion polymerizate is single stepped and has a viscosity number of >700 cm.sup.3 /g and wherein copolymers are excluded which contain iv) MMA per se, or less than 20 or more than 75 parts of MMA together with either v) one or more acrylic acid esters, and/or vi) ethyl methacrylate, n-butyl-methacrylate, or ethylhexyl methacrylate. The resin mass further includes: B) 0.

Abstract: A polytetrafluoroethylene-containing powder mixture comprising polytetrafluoroethylene particles (A) with a particle size 10 .mu.m or smaller and organic polymer particles (B), thermoplastic resin compositions containing it, and molded articles obtained therefrom. The polytetrafluoroethylene-containing powder mixture provides higher dispersibility for polytetrafluoroethylene in thermoplastic resins, and is effective for improving the molding workability and mechanical properties of thermoplastic resins.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of modified granular PTFE particles is sprayed or cast to form a sheet. The sheet is then dried and the modified granular particles fused together to form an open network of fused interconnected particles that define a tortuous network of voids through the sheet. It has been found that when the modified granular-type PTPE aqueous dispersions are employed, the resulting fused sheets are stronger than when the usual unmodified PTFE homopolymer of the granular-type is used.

Abstract: A document feed component is presented comprising a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer, a curing agent, and a blowing agent. The elastomer optionally further includes activators, polymerization accelerators, and a filler material. An important feature of the present invention is that the use of a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer in accordance with the present invention does not require the use of processing aids and migratory additives. Consequently, the document feed component of this invention has the advantage of not contaminating paper or other media with which they come into contact, even for extended periods of time, while maintaining other advantageous properties, such as a high coefficient of friction, low hardness, low compression set, and excellent resistance to ultraviolet light and ozone. The document feed component of the present invention may be shaped as a roller, wheel, belt, pad or the like.

Abstract: A laser-sinterable powder product has been prepared having unique properties which allow the powder to be sintered in a selective laser sintering machine to form a sintered part which is near-fully dense. For most purposes, the sintered part is indistinguishable from another part having the same dimensions made by isotropically molding the powder. In addition to being freely flowable at a temperature near its softening temperature, a useful powder is disclosed that has a two-tier distribution in which substantially no primary particles have an average diameter greater than 180 .mu.m, provided further that the number average ratio of particles smaller than 53 .mu.m is greater than 80%, the remaining larger particles being in the size range from 53 .mu.m to 180 .mu.m. A powder with slow recrystallization rates, as evidenced by non-overlapping endothermic and exothermic peaks in their differential scanning calorimetry characteristics for scan rates of on the order of 10.degree. C. to 20.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising a hydrophobic, fluoroplastic polymer and an oleophobic fluoropolymer, wherein said composition is both hydrophobic and oleophobic, and wherein the weight ratio of the hydrophobic, fluoroplastic polymer to the oleophobic fluoropolymer in the composition is at least about 10:1. The present invention also provides products prepared from and using such a composition, as well as methods of preparing such a composition and products.

Abstract: The invention disclosed provides a method for producing ultramicrocellular polymer foams at low pressures. A polymer is saturated with a blowing agent at low temperatures and pressures within a short time period, due to retrograde vitrification. The blowing agent may be in the form of a gas or a volatile liquid. Polymer-blowing agent combinations are selected to provide a processing temperature/pressure in the area below the positive slope portion of the retrograde vitrification profile of the glass transition temperature of the polymer versus pressure. The polymer thus saturated has an exceptionally high blowing agent content, and is then foamed to produce materials with small cells and high cell density.

Abstract: An extrusion profile is formed of foamed plastic, which includes a filler of wood flour or wood fiber. The foamed plastic may include polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride or polystyrene in combination with the wood flour filler.

Abstract: This invention relates to porous polyfluoroethylene (PTFE), shaped articles prepared therefrom, and to methods of preparing said articles.

Abstract: Polymethacrylimide foams are prepared by a method, comprising:preparing a mixture consisting of(a) a monomer mixture of 40-60 wt. % methacrylonitrile, 60-40 wt. % methacrylic acid, and, optionally, up to 20 wt. %, based on the sum of methacrylic acid and methacrylonitrile, of other monofunctional, vinyl-unsaturated monomers,(b) 0.5-8 wt. % of a propellant mixture of formamide or monomethyl formamide and a univalent C.sub.3-8 -aliphatic alcohol,(c) a cross-linking agent system, which consists of(c.1) 0.005-5 wt. % of a vinyl-unsaturated compound which can be radically polymerized, with at least two double bonds in the molecule, and(c.2) 1-5 wt. % magnesium oxide, dissolved in the monomer mixture, and at least one radical initiators and optionally at least one additive, shaped in the form of a sheet;polymerizing the monomers in the sheet;subsequently foaming the polymerizate sheet at temperatures from 200-260.degree. C.; and thenheat treating the sheet in two steps, at a first step of 2-6 hours at 100-130.

Abstract: Fabricated articles of fluoropolymer are foamed by heating the articles to a deformable state, pressurizing the heated article with supercritical CO.sub.2, depressurizing the pressurized heated article while still in the foamable state, whereby said CO.sub.2 foams said article, and cooling the resultant foamed article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium density chlorinated polyvinyl chloride foam and the method of preparing such a foam using a blend of chemical blowing agents. The foam having a specific gravity in the range of about 0.3 to about 1.5 comprises chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, a blend of decomposition type blowing agents, a tin stabilizer, an optional impact modifier and an optional high molecular weight process aid.

Abstract: The density of rigid foamed articles made by the thermal decomposition of a blowing agent in a vinyl chloride polymer is reduced by the use of an organotin halide in combination with a mercaptocarboxylic acid ester or a sulfide of such ester or a mixture of the ester and the sulfide to activate the blowing agent.

Abstract: An extrusion profile is formed of foamed plastic, which includes a filler of wood flour or wood fiber. The foamed plastic may include polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride or polystyrene in combination with the wood flour filler.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a crystalline microporous polymer and process for preparing a low density microporous polymer comprising, providing a mixture of a polymer and a polymer solvent, the mixture capable of achieving a supercritical condition; applying pressure, at a temperature sufficient for the mixture to attain a super critical condition; cooling the supercritical solution that results and precipitating a microporous crystalline polymer product.

Abstract: This invention relates to porous polyfluoroethylene (PTFE), shaped articles prepared therefrom, and to methods of preparing said articles.

Abstract: An object is to provide a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) porous composite film which has substantially no defect portion.There is provided the PTFE porous composite film by stretching a composite along its width direction which composite is composed of at least two overlapped films longitudinally stretched at a temperature not higher than a melting point of a sintered PTFE material, each film being obtained by paste-extruding and semi-sintering thereafter a PTFE produced by emulsion polymerization.

Abstract: Fabricated articles of fluoropolymer are foamed by heating the articles to a deformable state, pressurizing the heated article with supercritical CO.sub.2, depressurizing the pressurized heated article while still in the foamable state, whereby said CO.sub.2 foams said article, and cooling the resultant foamed article.