A coating created entirely from plant-derived ingredients is disclosed. Illustrative embodiments of the coating may be particularly well suited for use on leather-like materials created from epoxidized natural rubber-based formulations. Illustrative embodiments of the coating created may be comprised of substantially the reaction product between epoxidized vegetable oil and a polyfunctional naturally occurring acid (such as citric acid). Illustrative embodiments this reaction product may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.

A thermoset material containing -hydroxyesters wherein said thermoset material is subject to a mechano-chemical process to regenerate an epoxide and a carboxylic acid functionality. A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.

A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.

Provided is a composite sheet that is particularly useful as an AQDL component in absorbent articles. The composite sheet includes a fluid acquisition component and an airlaid component. The airlaid component may include one or more airlaid layers that are successively formed overlying each other. Each of the airlaid layers are adjacent to, and in direct contact with, immediately adjacent layers of the airlaid component so that adjacent layers are in fluid communication with respect to each other. The fluid acquisition component includes a nonwoven fabric comprising a carded nonwoven fabric comprised of a plurality of staple fibers that are air through bonded to each other to form a coherent nonwoven fabric. The airlaid layer(s) include a blend of cellulose and non-cellulose staple fibers. The staple fibers may be bicomponent fibers having a polyethyelene sheath and a polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate core, and mixtures of such fibers.

Waterproof engineered floor and wall planks have a veneer layer bonded with a plastic composite core, and an underlayer, preferably an underlayer of cork.

Exemplary embodiments relate to various improvements in soft robotic actuators, and techniques for manufacturing the improvements. For example, techniques for manufacturing a rigidizing layer for reinforcing a soft robotic actuator is provided. In another embodiment, a soft robotic actuator having integrated sensors is described. A flexible electroadhesive pad for achieving a conformal grip is also described. Still further, exemplary embodiments provide hydraulically-actuated soft robotic grippers, which allows for a reduction in the size of the actuation system and improved underwater operation.

Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.

The present invention relates to a process for adhering a textile material to an elastomer, the process comprising the steps of pretreating the textile material with at least one polyester of an --unsaturated carboxylic acid, contacting the pretreated textile material with an unvulcanized elastomer, and vulcanizing the product obtained. The present invention additionally encompasses an elastomer article obtainable by this process and also the use of a polyester of an --unsaturated carboxylic acid for improving the adhesion of a textile material to an elastomer.

A thermoplastic elastomer compound includes hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer having a polyisoprene soft block, styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer, tackifier having a softening point of at least about 80 C. according to ASTM 6493, and, optionally, one or more additional thermoplastic elastomers. The compound has a Compound Tan Delta Peak Temperature (at 10 Hz) of at least 10 C. and a Compound Tan Delta Peak Height (at 10 Hz) of at least 0.85 if no thermoplastic polyurethane is present and at least 0.60 if additional thermoplastic elastomer is present and includes thermoplastic polyurethane. The thermoplastic elastomer compound exhibits superior damping properties across a broad range of temperatures, including at or above room temperature, and across a broad range of vibrational frequencies. The compound in sheet form can be used as a layer in an article of a structure susceptible to forceful impact of any item.

Provided is a laminate for a non-aqueous secondary battery that, in transfer of a functional layer onto a substrate for a non-aqueous secondary battery, enables easy peeling of the functional layer from a releasable substrate while also enabling good adhesion of the functional layer to the substrate for a non-aqueous secondary battery. The laminate for a non-aqueous secondary battery includes a releasable substrate and a functional layer containing a binder. The functional layer is formed in a dotted form on a surface A at one side of the releasable substrate.