Combinations of open cell flexible foams with polyurethane gel particles, and methods of making the combinations are described using a variety of procedures. The open cell flexible foam may partially or wholly comprise polyurethane foam and latex foam.

Absorbent articles are described comprising a first absorbent layer comprising a polymeric foam. In one embodiment, the polyurethane foam comprises the reaction product of a polymeric polyisocyanate component having an equivalent weight of no greater than 250 g/equivalent; and a polyol component. The polyol component comprises one or more polyether polyols such that the polyol component comprises an average equivalent weight ranging from 500 to 2000 g/equivalent; an ethylene oxide content ranging from 15-30 wt.-%; a secondary hydroxyl content of at least 55 wt.-% and less than 80 wt.-% of the total hydroxyl content of the polyol component; and less than 5 wt-% water. Also described are various composites comprising the polyurethane foam described herein in combination with another substrate such as a second absorbent layer, a fluid impervious backsheet, and/or a fluid pervious topsheet.

Methods, compositions, apparatuses, and systems are provided for a hybrid thermoplastic gel or sealant. The methods comprise providing (a) a base polymer having at least one functional group capable of crosslinking, (b) a functionalized extender, and (c) heat, and reacting the base polymer and functionalized extender in the presence of the heat to form the hybrid thermoplastic gel. The gel composition may comprise 5-40 wt % of a base polymer, 60-95 wt % of a functionalized extender, and 0-10 wt % of a crosslinker. A closure or interconnect system may comprise a housing, a cable, and a hybrid thermoplastic gel or sealant. A telecommunications apparatus may comprise a telecommunications component and a sealant that forms a seal with the telecommunications component. The sealant may comprise a sealant material having a first range of elongation followed by a second range of elongation.

Provided are: a silicone gel composition providing a silicone gel cured product having excellent heat resistance at high temperatures; and a cured product (silicone gel) thereof.

This silicone gel composition is an addition reaction-curable silicone gel composition containing, with respect to the total (mass) of the composition, 1-1,000 ppm of a niobium carboxylate and/or nickel carboxylate represented by the following formula (3).

(R.sup.3COO).sub.fM(3)

(In the formula, R.sup.3 is a homogeneous or heterogeneous monovalent hydrocarbon group, M is at least one metal selected from among nickel and niobium, and f is 2 when M is nickel and 4 or 5 when M is niobium.)

A reaction system for forming polyurethane elastomers includes a cardanol modified epoxy polyol. In particular, the reaction system has an isocyanate-reactive component that includes the cardanol-modified epoxy polyol and an isocyanate component that includes at least one polyisocyanate. The cardanol-modified epoxy polyol is a reaction product of an epoxy component and an epoxy-reactive component at a ratio of epoxy groups to epoxy reactive groups from 1:1 to 1:5, and the epoxy-reactive component includes a cashew nutshell liquid having a cardanol content of at least 85 wt %, based on a total weight of the cashew nutshell liquid.

A well treatment composition for use in a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir comprising a reversible aminal gel composition is disclosed. The reversible aminal gel composition includes a liquid precursor composition. The liquid precursor composition is operable to remain in a liquid state at about room temperature. The liquid precursor composition comprises an organic amine composition; an aldehyde composition; a polar aprotic organic solvent; and a metal salt composition with valence 3, 4, or 5. The liquid precursor composition transitions from the liquid state to a gel state responsive to an increase in temperature in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir. The gel state is stable in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir at a temperature similar to a temperature of the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir, and the gel state is operable to return to the liquid state responsive to a change in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir selected from the group consisting of: a decrease in pH in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir and an addition of excess metal salt composition in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir.

A gel having improved thermal stability is the hydrosilylation reaction product of (A) an organopolysiloxane having an average of at least 0.1 silicon-bonded alkenyl group per molecule and (B) a cross-linker having an average of at least 2 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule. (A) and (B) react via hydrosilylation in the presence of (C) a hydrosilylation catalyst and (D) a heated reaction product of iron acetylacetonate. The iron acetylacetonate is present prior to heating in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 30 weight percent based on a total weight of (A) and (B). The gel is formed using a method that includes the steps of (I) heating the iron acetylacetonate to form the (D) heated reaction product of the iron acetylacetonate and (II) combining (A), (B), (C) and (D) to effect the hydrosilylation reaction of (A) and (B) in the presence of (C) and (D) to form the gel.

Functionalized isocyanate based organic aerogel/xerogel/cryogel comprising: a cross-linked porous network structure made of polyurethane and/or polyisocyanurate and/or polyurea, comprising on their pore surface before functionalization reactive groups (B) and functionalization molecules having a solubility in water <10 g/L at 20? C. chemically attached to the pore surface of the cross-linked porous network structure wherein said molecules have at least one reactive group (A) being capable of binding to said pore surface (by reaction with groups (B)) and at least one functional group (C) providing the pore surface with the desired functionalization.

Disclosed is encapsulated active material product comprising: an active material encapsulated in a sol-gel derived material, the sol-gel derived material including a plurality of alkylsiloxy substituents and the sol-gel derived material obtained from:

(a) at least one first alkoxysilane precursor having the formula:

(RO).sub.3Si(CH.sub.2).sub.nAr(CH.sub.2).sub.mSi(OR).sub.3 (1)

where n and m are individually an integer from 1 to 8, Ar is a single-, fused-, or poly-aromatic ring, and each R is independently a C.sub.1 to C.sub.5 alkyl group and

(b) optionally, at least one second precursor having the formula:

##STR00001##

where x is 1, 2, 3 or 4; y is 0, 1, 2, 3; z is 0, 1; the total of x+y+z is 4; each R is independently an organic functional group; each an R is independently a C.sub.1 to C.sub.5 alkyl group and R is an organic bridging group, where the sol-gel derived material is the volume of acetone per mass of the dry sol-gel derived composition, when placed in excess acetone and the sol-gel derived material swellable to at least five times its dry mass, when placed in excess acetone, and where the amount of active material encapsulated by the porous sol-gel composition is from about 150 to about 1100% w/w.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel and polyurethane (PU)ZPVA gel and gel beads, methods for making gel and gel beads with immobilized substances such as microorganisms, cells, enzymes, and/or other materials, methods for using gel and gel beads in various applications (e.g., wastewater treatment), and apparatus for manufacturing such gel and gel beads, are described.