Abstract: The invention relates to a composition forming an insulating layer, which composition contains a binder, which is based on a compound having electron-deficient carbon multiple bonds and a carbanion-forming compound. By means of the composition according to the invention, the expansion rate of which is relatively high, coatings having the layer thickness required for the particular fire resistance time can be applied easily and quickly, wherein the layer thickness can be reduced to a minimum and nevertheless a great insulating effect can be achieved. The composition according to the invention is suitable especially for fire protection, in particular as a coating of steel components, such as supports, beams and truss members, for increasing the fire resistance time.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and has a voided structure and low density is provided. To achieve such a structure, the renewable polyester is blended with a polymeric toughening additive to form a precursor material in which the toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. The precursor material is thereafter stretched or drawn at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the polyester (i.e., “cold drawn”). This creates a network of voids located adjacent to the discrete domains, which as a result of their proximal location, can form a bridge between the boundaries of the voids and act as internal structural “hinges” that help stabilize the network and increase its ability to dissipate energy. The present inventors have also discovered that the voids can be distributed in a substantially homogeneous fashion throughout the composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elastomer synthesized by a reacting epoxidized vegetable oil with carboxylic acid to form the elastomer compound. More specifically, disclosed herein is an elastomer compound having a polyester component. The method for making the elastomer comprises mixing a polybasic acid with an alcohol solvent to form a solution, reacting said solution having carboxylic groups with epoxidized vegetable oil, and heating the solution at a range of approximately 50° C. to 80° C., wherein an amorphous polyester elastomer is formed. Also disclosed is an elastomer foam product formed by a reacting epoxidized vegetable oil with carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A film that is formed from a thermoplastic composition is provided. The thermoplastic composition contains a rigid renewable polyester and a polymeric toughening additive. The toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. An increase in deformation force and elongational strain causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This can result in the formation of a plurality of voids adjacent to the discrete domains that can help to dissipate energy under load and increase tensile elongation. To even further increase the ability of the film to dissipate energy in this manner, the present inventors have discovered that an interphase modifier may be employed that reduces the degree of friction between the toughening additive and renewable polyester and thus reduces the stiffness (tensile modulus) of the film.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and a polymeric toughening additive is provided. The toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. An increase in the deformation force and elongational strain causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This can result in the formation of a plurality of voids adjacent to the discrete domains that can help to dissipate energy under load and increase impact strength. To even further increase the ability of the composition to dissipate energy in this manner, an interphase modifier may be employed that reduces the degree of friction between the toughening additive and renewable polyester and thus enhances the degree and uniformity of debonding.

Abstract: Biomedical and tissue engineering devices, such as surgical sutures and microporous scaffolds, respectively, which undergo swelling and increase in dimensions when placed in aqueous environments such as living tissues, are produced by the melt-spinning or electrostatic spinning into strong monofilament and multifilament yarns or microfibrous fabrics, respectively. Such devices are formed from especially high molecular weight crystalline polyether-esters having a minimum inherent viscosity of 0.8 dL/g and heat of fusion of at least 5 J/g, wherein the polyether-esters are made by grafting to a polyester component a polyether glycol component having a minimum molecular weight of about 11 kDa with at least one cyclic monomer.

Abstract: A composition containing poly(lactic acid), at least one bacteriocin (e.g., nisin, generally in the form of Nisaplin®), and at least one plasticizer (e.g., lactic acid, lactide, triacetin, glycerol triacetate), and optionally at least one pore forming agent. A method of making the composition, involving mixing about 100% of the total of the poly(lactic acid), about 50% to about 90% of the total of the at least one plasticizer, and optionally at least one pore forming agent at a first temperature of about 150° to about 170° C. to form a mixture, cooling the mixture to a second temperature of about 115° to about 125° C., adding at least one bacteriocin and about 10% to about 50% of the total of the at least one plasticizer and the remainder of the total of the poly(lactic acid) to the mixture and mixing to form the composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing flexible polyurethane foams by reacting a) polyisocyanates with b) compounds having at least two hydrogen atoms which are reactive toward isocyanate groups in the presence of c) blowing agents, wherein the component b) comprises at least one polyether carbonate polyol bi) which can be prepared by addition of carbon dioxide and alkylene oxides onto H-functional starter substances using DMC catalysts and has a functionality of at least 2, a hydroxyl number in the range from 10 to 500 mg KOH/g and a content of incorporated carbon dioxide in the form of carbonate units of at least 2% by weight.

Abstract: A monolith separation medium comprising a skeletal phase and continuous pores forming a three-dimensional network structure, which has a functional group enabling the introduction of a new functional group on the surface of the skeletal phase. The skeletal phase has an average diameter of a submicron to micrometer size and is in a co-continuous structure of the non-particle-aggregation type. It is composed of an addition polymer of 1,3-bis(N,N?-diglycidylaminomethyl)cyclohexane as an epoxy compound with a bifunctional or higher amine compound, is rich in organic matters and is free from any aromatic-origin carbon atom. Thus, it is an organic polymer monolith separation medium of the non-particle-aggregation type.

Abstract: An article of furniture includes a carbon-negative bio-plastic and a non-hazardous blowing agent for expanding the bio-plastic in a mold to produce the article of furniture having a negative carbon footprint.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flame-retardant coating which forms an insulating layer and is based on substances which carbonize and which form a foam layer in the event of a fire, on film-forming binders, on blowing agents and on customary auxiliaries and additives, wherein the blowing agent and foam layer forming substance present comprises melamine polyphosphate. The novel flame-retardant coating which forms an insulating layer is particularly stable under tropical conditions (at up to 100% rel. humidity, about 75° C.), i.e. it releases only an extremely small amount of NH3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flame-retardant coating which forms an insulating layer and is based on substances which carbonize and form a foam layer in the event of a fire, on film-forming binders, on blowing agents and on customary auxiliaries and additives, wherein the blowing agent present comprises melamine polyphosphate. The novel flame-retardant coating which forms an insulating layer is particularly stable under tropical conditions (up to 100% rel. humidity, about 75° C.), i.e. it releases only an extremely small amount of NH3.

Abstract: Rigid polyurethanes are obtained by reacting (1) a polyisocyanate with (2) a polyol mixture made up of(a) an OH-functional polyester based on a C.sub.9-22 fatty acid with a molecular weight of from about 260 to about 2,000,(b) a non-functional oligomeric polyolefin with a molecular weight of from about 700 to about 6,000 and optionally(c) an at least difunctional polyol and/or polyamine with a molecular weight of from about 62 to about 8,000 (preferably from about 62 to about 400) which is different from (a),optionally in the presence of (3) a blowing agent such as water and (4) an auxiliary agent and/or additive of the type typically used in polyurethane chemistry.

Abstract: The present invention aims to improve soundproof and heat insulating properties of a foamed plastic by reducing internal cells pressure inside foamed resins. A base polymer such as a polyester-based polyol and a volatile foaming agent having an conjugate unsaturated group (i.e., conjugate double carbon bonds and/or triple carbon bonds) such as chloroprene (bp. 51.degree. C.) and calcium stearate were blended and then mixed with a hardening agent such as hexamethylene diisocyanate. The volatile foaming agent existing in open cells of the foamed plastic sealed in the Al laminated film and between the film and the foamed plastic, i.e., gap, possesses an unsaturated group, such as isoprene. Thus polymerization may occur by irradiating with electron rays, and the inside of the foams and the gap region may be reduced in pressure while the bag of the laminated film retains its shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to expandable, halogen-free, flame-retardant coating compositions comprising epoxy resins, polyphosphoric esters and a curing agent, which composition comprises from 75 to 95 parts by weight of epoxy resin and from 5 to 25 parts by weight of polyphosphoric ester and wherein the overall weight ratio of epoxy resin and polyphosphoric ester to curing agent is (1.1 to 10) to 1. The invention likewise relates to a process for preparing such expandable, halogen-free coating flame-retardant, compositions comprising epoxy resins and polyphosphoric esters and a curing agent, and to their use, in particular as an intumescent coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to an expandable, halogen-free, flame-retardant coating composition comprising epoxy resins, polyphosphoric/polyphosphonic esters and a curing agent, which composition comprises from 75 to 95 parts by weight of epoxy resin and from 5 to 25 parts by weight of polyphosphoric/polyphosphonic ester and wherein the overall weight ratio of epoxy resin and polyphosphoric/polyphosphonic ester to curing agent is (1.1 to 10) to 1. The invention likewise relates to a process for preparing such coating compositions and to their use.

Abstract: Polymeric foams with novel chemical compositions are prepared by the condensation of specially-synthesized precursors, which contain (in addition to carbon and hydrogen) one or more of the following elements: oxygen, fluorine, nitrogen (in structures with stable chemical bonds), silicon, boron, phosphorus (in high oxidation states), and certain metals (and/or their oxides and hydroxides). Upon mixing in the proper proportions and/or heating these precursors react rapidly to generate polymeric networks, consisting of heterocyclic crosslink centers, connected with heterochain segments; hydrogen is largely eliminated or replaced by fluorine. These structures possess inherent nonflammability and high thermoxidative stability. Foaming is effected by the gaseous by-products of the condensation reactions, as well as by the addition of foaming agents. The resulting foam products can be formulated to have a wide range of densities and flexibilities.

Abstract: A breathable, hydrolyzable, porous film having long-term stability in mechanical properties which is obtained by the process comprising adding from 40 to 250 parts by weight of a finely-powdered filler having an average particle size of from 0.3 to 4 .mu.m to 100 parts by weight of a polylactic acid-based resin composition comprising from 80 to 95% by weight of polylactic acid or a lactic acid-hydroxycarboxylic acid copolymer and from 5 to 20% by weight of a plasticizer comprising a citric acid ester, melting and film-forming the resultant mixture, and successively stretching the thus-obtained film 1.1 times or more at least in the direction of the axis; and which is consequently useful as a material for leakproof films of sanitary materials such as a paper diaper and packaging materials, and does not accumulate as wastes because of hydrolyzability in the natural environment in the case of being abandoned after use.

Abstract: Organic amides, solutions of polymers thereof, which polymers are subject to hydrolysis and degradation in the presence of amines, and polymers isolated therefrom are stabilized by the presence of aromatic sulfonic acid esters of aliphatic, arylaliphatic and alicyclic alcohols and polyols.

Abstract: Highly useful novel microcellular polymeric structures, especially films and fibers, are prepared from certain solid polymers. Aromatic polysulfones, polyimides, polyhydantoins, polyamides and polyparabanic acid are the preferred ones for the novel structures of the invention.

Abstract: Fluid, stable polymer-polyols are provided which consist of an organic polyol medium and an interpolymer of a minor amount of polymerized ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride, such as maleic acid anhydride, and a major amount of at least one different polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomer, the interpolymer being in the form of particles that are stably dispersed in the polyol. Polyurethane foams produced from these polymer/polyols display improved load bearing and compression set when compared with polymer/polyols produced in a similar manner without the ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride; elastomers so produced have improved tensile modulus and tear properties.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a process for the preparation of modified polyisocyanates which contain sulfonic acid alkyl ester groups and in which the isocyanate groups may be at least partly in the dimerized form, comprising: reacting isocyanatoaryl sulfonic acids having at least two isocyanate groups and wherein the isocyanate groups may be at least partly in the dimerized form, optionally as mixtures with mono and/or polyisocyanates which are free from sulfonic acid groups, with di- and/or tetrahydrofurans at 0.degree. to 190.degree. C., wherein the equivalent ratio of isocyanate groups, including any isocyanate groups present in the dimerized form, to sulfonic acid groups is greater than 1 and the equivalent ratio of di- and tetrahydrofuran groups to sulfonic acid groups is from 0.1:1 to 10:1.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a process for the preparation of modified polyisocyanates which contain sulfonic acid alkyl ester groups and in which the isocyanate groups may be at least partly in the dimerized form, comprising: reacting isocyanatoaryl sulfonic acids having at least two isocyanate groups and wherein the isocyanate groups may be at least partly in the dimerized form, optionally as mixtures with mono and/or polyisocyanates which are free from sulfonic acid groups, with lactones at 0.degree. to 190.degree. C., wherein at least one of said lactones is a 6 to 9 membered ring lactone and the equivalent ratio of isocyanate groups, including any isocyanate groups present in the dimerized form, to sulfonic acid groups is greater than 1 and the equivalent ratio of lactone groups to sulfonic acid groups is from 0.1:1 to 10:1.