A foamable composition including a polypropylene-based copolymer and a polyolefin is disclosed. The composition can be used to make a stiff foam with a high closed-cell content. Methods for producing the composition and the foam are provided.

Embodiments of the present invention encompass methods of forming a foamed polyolefin and articles and materials of the foamed polyolefin. The foamed materials and articles may be used in applications requiring thermal insulation.

Examples include a device including a nanovoided polymer element having a first surface and a second surface, a first plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface, a second plurality of electrodes disposed on the second surface, and a control circuit configured to apply an electrical potential between one or more of the first plurality of electrodes and one or more of the second plurality of electrodes to induce a physical deformation of the nanovoided polymer element.

Co-curable epoxy-based composite materials coated with co-curable polyurethane-based coating materials to form co-curable and co-cured polyurethane coated epoxy-based composite materials, with the polyurethane-based coating materials comprising UV-stabilizer agents and cure control agents are disclosed, along with components and large structures comprising the co-cured materials.

An oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose material is disclosed herein, for nanocellulose sponges and other applications. The oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose material comprises lignin-coated cellulose nanofibrils and/or lignin-coated cellulose nanocrystals. In various embodiments, the nanocellulose material is in the form of a 2D coating or layer, or a 3D object (e.g., foam or aerogel). The nanocellulose material may be disposed onto a scaffold. A process is provided for producing an oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose object, comprising fractionating a biomass feedstock with an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a lignin-containing liquor; mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form cellulose fibrils and/or cellulose crystals; generating a nanocellulose object from the intermediate nanocellulose material; exposing the nanocellulose object to the lignin-containing liquor to allow lignin to deposit onto a surface of the nanocellulose object; and recovering the oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose object.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a high energy return foam having improved abrasion resistance. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness and an improved abrasion resistance. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.

The invention provides a stabilising composition for a polyol and/or a polyurethane, comprising: a) a first derivatised phenolic antioxidant having a molecular weight of at least about 400 g/mol and a melting point of less than about 100° C.; b) a second derivatised phenolic antioxidant having lower steric hindrance than the first derivatised phenolic antioxidant, which is a solid at ambient conditions; and c) a secondary antioxidant comprising a phosphite and/or a thioester,
and also disclosed is a fire retardant blend comprising the stabilising composition and a fire retardant.

The present application relates to a supercritical fluid injection foaming polylactide foam material and a preparation method therefor. The method includes: first obtaining a surface-modified cellulose nanofiber aqueous solution; then melting and blending the cellulose nanofiber aqueous solution and a polylactide twice; passing same through extrusion, cooling under water, and granulation so as to obtain a polylactide/cellulose nanofiber composite material; then plasticizing and melting the polylactide/cellulose nanofiber composite material in a microporous foaming injection molding machine; uniformly mixing same with a supercritical fluid foaming agent in the injection molding machine; injecting same into a mold cavity; and subjecting the resultant to post-treatment so as to obtain a polylactide foam material. The polylactide foam material has a sandwich structure, in which two outer surface layers are solid layers that do not contain any foam, and the sandwiched layer is a foam layer having a cellular structure.

A mixture contains at least one polyether block amide (PEBA) and at least one poly(meth)acrylate, selected from poly(meth)acrylimides, poly-alkyl(meth)acrylates, and mixtures thereof. The mass ratio of PEBA to poly(meth)acrylate is 95:5 to 60:40. The polyalkyl(meth)acrylate contains 80% by weight to 99% by weight of methyl methacrylate (MMA) units and 1% by weight to 20% by weight of C1-C10-alkyl acrylate units, based on the total weight of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate. The mixture can be processed to give foamed mouldings. The mouldings can he used in footwear soles, stud material, insulation or insulating material, damping components, lightweight components, or in a sandwich structure.

Provided herein is a method of producing a polyurethane foam. The method includes dispersing turbostratic graphene in a polymerization solution. The polymerization solution includes a first component for polymerization into a polymer. The method includes adding a second component for polymerizing with the first component to chemically convert the polymerization solution into a polyurethane foam. Provided herein is also a polyurethane foam which includes a turbostratic graphene and a polymer formed from the polymerization of a polyol with an isocyanate. Provided herein is also a turbostratic graphene dispersion which includes a turbostratic graphene and a solvent for dispersing the turbostratic graphene.