Abstract: A method for producing styrene-modified polyethylene-based resin beads, including the steps of: dispersing 100 parts by weight of polyethylene-based resin beads which contain an inorganic nucleating agent and have a melting point of 95° C. to 115° C., 20 parts by weight or more and less than 300 parts by weight of a styrene-based monomer and a polymerization initiator into an aqueous suspension containing a dispersant; impregnating the polyethylene-based resin beads with the styrene-based monomer under heating the resulting dispersion at such a temperature that the styrene-based monomer does not substantially polymerize; and performing polymerization of the styrene-based monomer at a temperature of (T)° C. to (T+25)° C. (where T° C. is a melting point of the polyethylene-based resin beads.

Abstract: An improved adhesive composition having increased insulative properties is provided. The adhesive composition having improved insulative properties includes a starch component; an alkaline component; sodium tetraborate; water; and a plurality of expandable microspheres. Products having improved insulation capabilities and methods of making the products having improved insulation capabilities are also provided. The present adhesive and products including the adhesive is environmentally friendly.

Abstract: Composite laminated article having: a first layer of a fiber-reinforced resin, a second layer of a closed cell foam of a thermoplastic material, and a third layer of a fiber-reinforced resin, the resin of the first and third layers respectively adhering a surface of the first and third layers to a respective surface of the second layer to form a sandwich construction of the first, second and third layers, wherein the closed cell foam comprises a plurality of expanded beads mutually welded together, each bead comprising a plurality of closed cells, wherein in each bead the closed cell foam has an average cell size of from 15 to 75 microns, at least 50% of the beads comprise first beads having a uniform cell size in which the maximum cell size is 100 microns and at most 50% of the beads comprise second beads having a non-uniform cell size in which the majority of cells have a maximum cell size of 100 microns and a minority of cells have a maximum cell size from more than 100 microns to up to 660 microns.

Abstract: Expandable microspheres formed by suspension polymerization using a shot growth method are provided. The microspheres are formed of a continuous, gas impermeable shell surrounding a blowing agent. The shell includes a first polymer layer formed from primary monomers and a second layer that includes a chemically reactive monomer or a high Tg monomer. To form the microspheres, the primary monomers are polymerized in a reaction vessel to an approximate 90% polymerization, at which time a secondary monomer that is either a monomer having a Tg of at least 85° C. or a chemically reactive monomer, is added to the reaction vessel to drive the polymerization reaction to completion. The outer layer thus contains either a larger amount of the high Tg monomer or a chemically reactive monomer that possesses the ability to covalently bond a cationic species. The microspheres may be used in papermaking processes to increase the paper bulk.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing expandable styrene polymers which comprises the steps of: (a) adding an aqueous phase comprising a suspension stabilizer and an organic phase comprising styrene and an initiator to a reactor, (b) commencing the addition of a blowing agent at a styrene conversion in the range from 40 to 70% and adding the blowing agent over a period ranging from 30 to 60 minutes, (c) adding a stabilizer to stabilize the bead size distribution of the expandable styrene polymer at a styrene conversion in the range from 65 to 99%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for forming a porous poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) scaffold using a pore-forming agent, comprising: mixing PVA with the pore-forming agent to form micropores in the PVA scaffold and using an easily decomposable pore-forming agent after the formation of the pores to improve convenience and reduce the processing time in manufacturing the porous PVA scaffold as well as to enable a pore size and porosity to be selected. A process for forming a porous PVA scaffold using a pore-forming agent according to the present invention includes heating to melt the PVA, cooling the melted PVA and mixing the PVA with a heat-decomposable pore-forming agent, repeating the freezing/thawing of the mixed PVA to cure the PVA mixture, and stirring the cured PVA mixture with a hydrochloric acid solution at a high temperature of 65° C. or more to produce foam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermally expandable microcapsule that is excellent in heat resistance and durability.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for converting expanded polystyrene into a rigid material are disclosed herein. The methods of modifying EPS herein generally include placing EPS workload into a pressurized chamber and applying heat and pressure through a gas. The application of heat and pressure is held for a determined amount of time, the pressure of the internal chamber is then lowered below atmospheric pressure and a hot or cool step is administered. The resulting CPS product can be modified in a multiple number of ways depending on the desired end product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermally expandable microcapsule that is excellent in heat resistance and durability and exhibits an excellent foaming property in a wide temperature range from low temperatures to high temperatures. The present invention is a thermally expandable microcapsule, which comprises a shell containing a copolymer, and a volatile liquid as a core agent included in the shell, the copolymer being obtainable by polymerization of a monomer mixture containing a monomer A and a monomer B, the monomer A being at least one selected from the group consisting of a nitrile group-containing acrylic monomer and an amide group-containing acrylic monomer, the monomer B being at least one selected from the group consisting of a carboxyl group-containing acrylic monomer and an ester group-containing acrylic monomer, a total amount of the monomer A and the monomer B accounting for 70% by weight or more of the monomer mixture, and a weight ratio of the monomer A and the monomer B being 5:5 to 9:1.

Abstract: Improved polypropylene resin foamed beads that without detriment to the excellence in properties, such as compression properties and heat resistance, characterizing the polypropylene resin foamed beads, can provide a polypropylene resin foamed bead molded article with equal properties by an molding conducted at low heating temperature. There are disclosed polypropylene resin foamed beads composed of a polypropylene resin of 115 to 135° C. melting point and 500 MPa or higher Olsen flexural modulus. The amount of ash at the surface of the foamed beads is 3000 wt. ppm or less (including 0). With respect to the foamed beads, in the first DSC curve obtained by heating 1 to 3 mg of polypropylene resin foamed beads from room temperature to 200° C. at a temperature elevation rate of 10° C.

Abstract: Expandable microspheres formed by suspension polymerization using a shot growth method are provided. The microspheres are formed of a continuous, gas impermeable shell surrounding a blowing agent. The shell includes a first polymer layer formed from primary monomers and a second layer that includes a chemically reactive monomer or a high Tg monomer. To form the microspheres, the primary monomers are polymerized in a reaction vessel to an approximate 90% polymerization, at which time a secondary monomer that is either a monomer having a Tg of at least 85° C. or a chemically reactive monomer, is added to the reaction vessel to drive the polymerization reaction to completion. The outer layer thus contains either a larger amount of the high Tg monomer or a chemically reactive monomer that possesses the ability to covalently bond a cationic species. The microspheres may be used in papermaking processes to increase the paper bulk.

Abstract: A method that produces heat-expandable microspheres includes the use of a shell of thermoplastic resin and a non-fluorine blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The method includes a step of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component, the blowing agent, and a polymerization initiator containing a peroxydicarbonate in an aqueous dispersing medium to polymerize the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture. The resultant heat-expandable microspheres have a shell which is less apt to become thinner than its theoretical value, contain minimum amount of resin particle inside their shell, and have excellent heat-expanding performance.

Abstract: A polymer expanded particle and an expanded toner having small pores, and a production method thereof are provided. A polymer expanded particle comprises micropores having an average pore diameter of less than 50 ?m. An expanded toner comprises micropores having an average pore diameter of 1 ?m to less than 3 ?m, wherein volume average particle diameter is 5 ?m to less than 15 ?m. A method for producing a polymer expanded particle comprises a first step for mixing specific polymer particles with high pressure gas or supercritical fluid, to prepare a mixture, a second step for impregnating with the high pressure gas or the supercritical fluid to the inside of the polymer particles, and a third step for reducing pressure and temperature of the mixture, to form the polymer expanded particle, wherein the pressure and temperature in the third step is reduced for 5 minutes or less from a state of 20 MPa or greater and 60° C. or greater to a state of less than 1 MPa and less than 30° C., respectively.

Abstract: A styrene-modified polypropylene type resin particle of the present invention includes: a polypropylene type resin and a polystyrene type resin, wherein the polystyrene type resin is included at 30 parts by weight or more but less than 600 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polypropylene type resin, and polystyrene type resin particles having a longitudinal diameter of 5 ?m or less are dispersed in the polypropylene type resin.

Abstract: A method that heat-expandable microspheres includes the use of a shell of thermoplastic resin and a non-fluorine blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The method includes, a step of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component, the blowing agent, and a polymerization initiator containing a peroxydicarbonate in an aqueous dispersing medium to polymerize the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture. The resultant heat-expandable microsphres have a shell which is less apt to become thinner than its theoretical value, contain minimum amount of resin particle inside their shell, and have excellent heat-expanding performance.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres include a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin, have a maximum expanding ratio not lower than 50 times, and are thermally expanded into hollow particulates having a repeated-compression durability not lower than 75 percent. The method of producing the heat-expandable microspheres includes the steps of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component and the blowing agent in an aqueous dispersing medium containing a specific water-soluble compound and polymerizing the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture.

Abstract: A polyethylene resin expanded particle has an expansion ratio of not less than 10 times and not more than 50 times, and in a DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the polyethylene resin expanded particle (i) shows two melting peaks, the two melting peaks being a low-temperature side melting peak and a high-temperature side melting peak, and (ii) further has a shoulder in a region not less than 100° C. and not more than the low-temperature side melting peak temperature, the shoulder having a shoulder ratio which is not less than 0.2% and not more than 3%.

Abstract: Method of forming a composition comprising impregnated polylactic acid (PLA) resin beads, by impregnating PLA resin beads with CO2. The method is carried out by contacting the beads with liquid CO2, and holding the impregnated beads at a temperature and pressure that prevents the beads from foaming while allowing the level of impregnated CO2 to reduce to about 4 to 20 weight % relative to the total weight of the beads and CO2.

Abstract: Use of a phosphorus compound of the formula (I) as flame retardant, where the definitions of the symbols in the formula (I) are as follows: A is one of the following groups: Y is —P(?X2)SR3R4, H, a straight-chain or branched C1-C12-alkyl group, C5-C6-cycloalkyl, C6-C12-aryl, or benzyl, where the four last-mentioned groups are unsubstituted or have substitution by one or more radicals from the group of C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-alkenyl; R1, R2, R3, and R4 are identical or different and are hydrogen, OH, C1-C16-alkyl, C1-C16-alkenyl, C1-C16-alkoxy, C1-C16-alkenoxy, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, C3-C10-cycloalkoxy, C6-C10-aryl, C6-C10-aryloxy, C6-C10-aryl-C1-C16-alkyl, C6-C10-aryl-C1-C16-alkoxy, SR9 COR10, COOR11, CONR12R13 or two radicals R1, R2, R3, or R4 form, together with the phosphorus atom to which they are bonded, or the P—O-A-O—P group, a ring system; R5, R6, R7, and R8 are identical or different and are H, C1-C16-alkyl, C1-C16-alkenyl, C1-C16-alkoxy, C1-C16-alkenoxy; R9, R10, R11, R12, R13 are identical or

Abstract: A process for the preparation of thermoplastic auxetic foams comprising the steps of: a) taking conventional thermoplastic foam; b) subjecting said foam to at least one process cycle wherein the foam is biaxially compressed and heated; c) optionally subjecting the foam to at least one process cycle wherein the biaxial compression is removed and the foam mechanically agitated prior to reapplying biaxial compression and heating; d) cooling said foam to a temperature below the softening temperature of said foam; and e) removing said compression and heat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a particulate expandable polylactic acid which functions as a starting material for producing foamed moulded products. The present particulate expandable polylactic acid is provided with a coating so as to improve the fusion properties. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a particulate expandable polylactic acid as well as to a method for producing a foamed moulded product and to the moulded product obtained thereby.

Abstract: Expandable particle composite material suitable for the preparation of expanded materials having a density lower than 40 g/l and a content of closed cells of at least 60%, including heterophase cavities and/or heterophase domains, whose matrix is a synthetic thermoplastic resin having at least 60% by weight of a vinyl aromatic polymer and in which an expanding system is contained, together with a heterogeneously distributed graphite material, having a graphitization degree, calculated by means of the Maire and Mering formula, of at least 0.2.

Abstract: Biodegradable aliphatic/aromatic copolyester comprising: A) an acid component comprising repeating units of: 1) 53 to 54 mol % of an aromatic carboxylic acid; 2) 47 to 36 mol % of an aliphatic acid at least 50% of which is azelaic acid; B) a diol component selected from the group consisting of C3, C4 and C6 diols said AAPE being disintegrated according to the Standard ISO 20200 in 90 days.

Abstract: Biodegradable aliphatic/aromatic copolyester comprising 50 to 60 mol % of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and 40 to 50 mol % of an aliphatic acid, at least 90% of which is a long-chain dicarboxylic acid (LCDA) of natural origin selected from azelaic acid, sebacic acid, brassylic acid or mixtures thereof; and a diol component.

Abstract: To provide a water absorbing agent which is excellent in balance between absorbency and liquid permeability against pressure and is excellent in flowability at the time of moisture absorption. The water absorbing agent comprises water absorbent resin particles and an organic surface additive, wherein: the organic surface additive having (i) a reactive group for a functional group of a surface of each water absorbent resin particle and (ii) a hydrophobic group exists on the surface of the water absorbent resin particle, and the hydrophobic group has a hydrocarbon group whose carbon number is 8 or more, and a ratio of an oxyalkylene group in a molecular mass of the organic surface additive is 0 or more and 25 mass % or less.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres include a shell of thermoplastic resin and core material encapsulated in the shell. The core material include a blowing agent having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and a gas migration inhibitor having a boiling point higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The ratio of the gas migration inhibitor to the core material is at least 1 weight percent and below 30 weight percent. The average particle size of the heat-expandable microspheres ranges from 1 to 100 micrometers.

Abstract: A coating for paperboard comprises an aqueous dispersion of a hollow core binder comprising a first polymer that, when dry, has at least one void, the first polymer being substantially encapsulated by at least one second polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from more than ?15° C. and up to and including 30° C., wherein the weight ratio of the said second polymer to the said first polymer ranges from 1:1 to 4:1. One or both of the first polymer and the second polymer may be formed from, as polymerized units, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The hollow core binder allows for glossy, bright and smooth paperboard coatings while reducing the amount of binder and opacifying pigment necessary to achieve such coating properties. The present invention also provides coated paperboard articles, as well as paper and paperboard that is made from a mixture of pulp with the inventive hollow core binder.

Abstract: A rock dusting composition composed of rock dust, e.g., limestone or other mineral dust, water, pumping aid, and polymer, e.g., acrylamide homopolymers, acrylamide copolymers, and combinations thereof, and a method for applying the composition to the surface of a mine. The composition has a water content and a polymer content sufficient to allow the polymer to (i) disperse water molecules within the composition and, upon drying of the composition, (ii) dissipate forming void spaces in the dried composition. The composition is useful for suppressing propagation of a flame and/or fire caused by ignition of coal dust and/or gas within a coal mine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the production of porous particles that involves extracting an organic solvent from a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion. In accordance with the method of the invention, a first aqueous solution including a porosity-promoting agent is emulsified into an organic solution including a therapeutic constituent and, optionally, a matrix material to form a water-in-oil emulsion. The water-in-oil emulsion is then emulsified into a second aqueous solution including a surfactant to form the water-in-oil-in-water emulsion. Extraction of the organic solvent from the water-in-oil-in-water emulsion, such as by supercritical fluid extraction, causes the therapeutic constituent and optional matrix material to precipitate and thus form an aqueous suspension of porous particles. The aqueous suspension can be centrifuged, filtered and lyophilized to obtain dry porous particles suitable for use in the deep lung delivery of drugs and other therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Alkenyl aromatic polymer foam comprising a polymer matrix containing one or more polymer and defining a plurality of cells having an average cell size wherein: (a) the alkenyl aromatic polymer foam has: —(i) an average cell size that is in a range of 0.02 and 5 millimeters; —(ii) a density of 64 kilograms per cubic meter or less; —(iii) an open cell content less than 30 percent; and —(iv) a cell size variation of 30% or less; and wherein the foam further comprises one or more fluorinated alkene blowing agent at a concentration of 0.03 moles or more and 0.3 moles or less per 100 grams of polymer foam.

Abstract: The invention relates to an active ingredient composition which has a high content in thermosensitive foaming agents and one or more polyolefin resins, the portion which is larger in quantity being a metallocene and optionally the remaining resins being polar or nonpolar nonmetallocene polyolefin resins. All polyolefin resins add up to at least 10% by weight of the formulation and have a melting point between 80 and 170° C. The reduced dust active ingredient composition according to the invention is used for the masterbatch production of foamed plastics.

Abstract: Foamed polyolefin resin beads having antistatic properties obtained by a process, which includes dispersing polyolefin resin beads into an aqueous medium, injecting a blowing agent, stirring and allowing the polyolefin resin beads to foam and expand. The polyolefin resin beads are composite resin beads comprising a core layer of a core layer polyolefin resin and a covering layer of a covering layer polyolefin resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of the largest possible spherical, monodisperse polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) seed particles in the micron range by dispersion polymerisation. The particles obtained in this way represent novel starting materials for the production of macroporous polymer particles, which can in turn be employed in preparative and analytical chromatography for protein preparation. They can also be employed as base material for further reactions. The novel process for the polymerisation of N-vinylpyrrolidone, which is inexpensive to carry out, gives particles having optimised quantities, such as monodispersity, sphericity and particle diameter, which can be employed in further reactions and have advantageous, in particular improved, properties for use in chromatographic separation methods.

Abstract: Expandable composite resin particles for long-term storage, comprising 500 to 5000 ppm of water and 7.5 to 11.0% by weight of pentane in composite resin of polyolefin-based resin and polystyrene-based resin.

Abstract: Process for improving the insulating capacity of expanded vinyl aromatic which includes: 1) preparing beads of expandable vinyl aromatic polymers containing 1-10% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer, of an expanding agent englobed in the polymeric matrix, and 0.01-25% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer, of an athermanous additive comprising carbon black homogeneously distributed in the polymeric matrix; 2) treating the surface of the beads, before deposition of the coating, with a liquid lubricating agent; and 3) thermally treating the beads with hot air at a temperature ranging from 30 to 60° C.

Abstract: A functional TFE copolymer fine powder is described, wherein the TFE copolymer is a polymer of TFE and at least one functional comonomer, and wherein the TFE copolymer has functional groups that are pendant to the polymer chain. The functional TFE copolymer fine powder resin is paste extrudable and expandable. Methods for making the functional TFE copolymer are also described. The expanded functional TFE copolymer material may be post-reacted after expansion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an expanded polypropylene copolymer resin particle whose base resin is a polypropylene random copolymer resin having a melting point of not more than 145° C., the base resin having a H/W ratio of not more than 8 where H (%) is a maximum height of an elution peak and W (° C.) is a peak width at half a height of the peak in an elution curve obtained from a differential value of eluted content measured by cross fractionation chromatography, and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and a number-average molecular weight (Mn) being not less than 3.5 in a molecular weight distribution measurement of a whole of eluted components. With such an expanded polypropylene copolymer resin particle, it is possible to provide expanded polypropylene copolymer resin particles which are capable of producing an in-mold expansion-molded article with a low molding heating vapor pressure, and which causes few deformation or shrinkage of an obtained in-mold expansion-molded article (i.e.

Abstract: A flexible heat-insulated conduit is described, made up of at least one medium-carrying internal tube, an external tube surrounding the at least one internal tube, and a heat-insulating layer based on polyurethane foam or polyisocyanurate foam and located between the at least one internal tube and the external tube, in which 0.1 to 7.5% by weight of hollow spheres are added into the foam, the hollow spheres comprising a casing made of a thermoplastic and being filled with a medium that brings about an inflation of the casing at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for easily and economically producing an expansion-molded polypropylene-based resin article stably with a high porosity, that has continuous voids and that can be used as materials such as a sound absorbing material and a draining material. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for producing an expansion-molded polypropylene-based resin article, in which a mold is filled with expanded polypropylene-based resin particles, and the expanded particles are heated and fused using water vapor, and then cooled, wherein expanded polypropylene-based resin particles are used in which a polypropylene-based resin having a melt index (MI) of not less than 0.1 g/10 minutes and not more than 9 g/10 minutes is used as a base resin, a cell size is not more than 150 ?m, two melting peaks are present on a DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry, and ?/(?+?) is not less than 0.35 and not more than 0.

Abstract: Hollow thermoexpandable particles or microspheres are provided that contain hydrocarbon blowing agents and have a shell polymer that can be softened at the onset of the expansion temperature and solidified at a higher temperature (thermoset) in an expanded state. Preferably, the microspheres have a shell of thermally expandable and thermally crosslinkable polymer and a hollow interior that contains a hydrocarbon liquid that boils at a temperature below the heat activated crosslinking temperature of the polymer shell. The crosslinking of the shell polymer during or after expansion, which is heat activated at an elevated temperature, can solidify the shell polymer and, then, maintain the expanded volume of the microspheres. The thermoexpandable thermoset polymer particles are useful in insulation, packaging, for making foam materials such as polyurethane or polyisocyanurate rigid foams.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pre-expanded particulate polyolefin-based resin capable of easily attaining satisfactory secondary expandability, satisfactory surface appearance, and satisfactory dimensional stability even when it is intended to obtain an in-mold expansion molded article having a thin-wall shape. The present invention provides a pre-expanded particulate polypropylene-based resin including a polypropylene-based resin X as a base resin, where the resin X includes a resin mixture of at least a polypropylene-based resin A having a melting point of 140° C. or lower and a polypropylene-based resin B having a melting point of 145° C. or higher, and the resin mixture is modified by an organic peroxide so as to have a melt index of 5 g/10 min or more and less than 20 g/10 min.

Abstract: Expanded polystyrene, foamed articles and methods of making the same are described herein. The expanded polystyrene generally includes polystyrene selected from expandable polystyrene and extrusion polystyrene, the polystyrene exhibiting a molecular weight of from about 130,000 Daltons to about 220,000 Daltons; a melt flow index of from about 20 to about 30 and a density of from about 0.1 lb/ft3 to about 10 lb/ft3; and wherein the expanded polystyrene exhibits a density of from about 0.1 lb/ft3 to about 10 lb/ft3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a particulate expandable polystyrene (EPS) that can be processed into a foam with a fine cell structure and a low density and contains a material for increasing the thermal insulation value, to improve the thermal insulation value hereof. The present invention also relates to a method for the production of a particulate expandable polystyrene (EPS) and to a foam material based on polystyrene.

Abstract: The object is to provide a molded product of foamed particles obtained by charging biodegradable resin foamed particles which are of vegetable origin and excellent in environmental compatibility into a mold, followed by heat molding, which molded product is not accompanied by post shrinkage after the molding with a wide range of variation of processing in the molding. Further, P3HA resin foamed particles being composed of a resin composition that comprises an isocyanate compound, and a polymer, poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate), having a recurring unit represented by the general formula (1): [—O—CHR—CH2—CO—]??(1) (wherein R represents an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 15) produced by a microorganism are provided.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least one expandable styrene polymer component and at least one cyclohexanecarboxylic ester and also optionally further components can be processed to mechanically robust foam materials.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of foamed thermoplastic polyurethanes characterised in that the foaming of the thermoplastic polyurethane is carried out in the presence of thermally expandable microspheres.

Abstract: A pre-expanded polypropylene resin particle can be produced in the following manner: a polypropylene resin particle produced by an under water cut method, water, a dispersing agent, and a foaming agent are charged in a pressure-resistant container, the resulting mixture is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature of the polypropylene resin particle to allow the polypropylene resin particle to be impregnated with the foaming agent under pressure, and the resulting product is released into the atmosphere having a pressure lower than the pressure of the inside of the pressure-resistant container. As the polypropylene resin composition, a composition is used which comprises 100 parts by weight of a polypropylene resin and 1 to 20 parts by weight of a polyethylene resin having a melt viscosity of 10 to 2000 mPa·s at 140° C.

Abstract: Provided are polypropylene resin pre-foamed particles including, as base resin, polypropylene resin that satisfies the following requirements (a) through (c): (a) in cross fractionation chromatography, an amount of components eluted at a temperature of not more than 40° C. is not more than 2.0% by weight; (b) a melting point is not less than 100° C. but not more than 160° C.; and (c) propylene monomer units are present in an amount of not less than 90 mol % but not more than 100 mol %, and olefin units each having a carbon number of 2 or 4 or more are present in an amount of not less than 0 mol % but not more than 10 mol %. The polypropylene resin pre-foamed particles can be molded by in-mold foaming molding at a not high molding heating steam pressure, and a polypropylene resin in-mold foaming molded product excellent in dimensional stability at high temperatures can be prepared from the polypropylene resin pre-foamed particles.

Abstract: A thermally foamable microsphere having a structure that a foaming agent is encapsulated in an outer shell formed from a polymer, wherein the foaming agent contains isododecane, and a production process of the thermally foamable microsphere by a suspension polymerization process using a polymerizable monomer and a foaming agent containing dodecane.

Abstract: Porous, permeable particles of meta-aramid can be chlorinated or brominated to produce antimicrobial and detoxifying particles for use in applications such as, but not limited to, nonwoven webs, paper, textiles, absorbent articles, healthcare products, paints, filter materials, powder coatings, clear coatings, molded plastic articles, binders for fibrous materials, and the like. The particles can be charged with halogen before or after incorporation into the application medium. The particles can contain blends of meta-aramid with other polymers such as, but not limited to, cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyurethane, and the like. The particles will be effective at inactivation of pathogenic and odor-causing microorganisms and toxic chemical agents. The particles, which contain N-halamine units, have unexpected resistance to ultraviolet light degradation.