A processing aid for foam molding comprising a copolymer obtained by the polymerization of 30 to 90% by weight of methyl methacrylate, 10 to 70% by weight total of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of butyl methacrylate (BMA), pentyl methacrylate (PMA) and hexyl methacrylate (HMA), and 0 to 20% by weight of other copolymerizable monomers, the copolymer having a reduced viscosity measured according to ASTM D2857 at 1 mg/mL in chloroform at 25° C. of greater than 8 dL/g is provided.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a polyolefin composition and processes suitable for use in forming a lid for a hot food or beverage container that has a stiffness comparable to a similar lid made using high impact polystyrene and a density less than water at 23° C.

There is provided a porous polyimide film in which the pore distribution width A represented by the following formula is 1.15 or less, the average pore diameter is within a range of 0.50 μm to 3.0 μm, and the air permeation speed is 30 seconds or less:
A=(D.sub.84/D.sub.16).sup.1/2 wherein D.sub.16 is the pore diameter at 16% cumulation from the small diameter side of pores, and D.sub.84 is the pore diameter at 84% cumulation from the small diameter side of pores.

A novel material for producing auxetic foams is disclosed. The material comprises a multiphase, multicomponent polymer foam with a filler polymer having a carefully selected glass transition temperature. Novel methods for producing auxetic foams from the material are also disclosed that consistently, reliably and quickly produce auxetic polyurethane foam at about room temperature (25° C.). This technology overcomes challenging issues in the large-scale production of auxetic PU foams, such as unfavorable heat-transmission problem and harmful organic solvents.

A composition comprising the reaction product of a polypropylene comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, and having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) greater than 6, a branching index (g′.sub.vis) of at least 0.97, and a melt strength greater than 10 cN determined using an extensional rheometer at 190° C.; and within the range from 0.01 to 3 wt % of at least one organic peroxide, by weight of the polypropylene and organic peroxide. Such hyperbranched polypropylenes are useful in films, foamed articles, and thermoformed articles.

A composition comprising the reaction product of a polypropylene comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, and having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) greater than 6, a branching index (g′.sub.vis) of at least 0.97, and a melt strength greater than 10 cN determined using an extensional rheometer at 190° C.; and within the range from 0.01 to 3 wt % of at least one organic peroxide, by weight of the polypropylene and organic peroxide. Such hyperbranched polypropylenes are useful in films, foamed articles, and thermoformed articles.

Expandable, blowing agent-containing pellets based on high temperature thermoplastics having a glass transition temperature according to ISO 11357-2-1999 of at least 180° C., wherein the expandable, blowing agent-containing pellets comprise at least one nucleating agent and have a poured density according to DIN ISO 697:1982 in the range from 400 to 900 kg/m.sup.3 and a mass in the range from 1 to 5 mg/pellet, processes for production thereof and foam particles obtainable therefrom having a glass transition temperature according to ISO 11357-2-1999 of at least 180° C., wherein the expanded foam particles comprise at least one nucleating agent and have a poured density according to DIN ISO 697:1982 in the range from 10 to 200 kg/m.sup.3, and particle foams obtainable therefrom and the use thereof for producing components for aviation.

The present invention can provide a fiber-reinforced expanded particle molded article having a reinforcing material fused and integrated with the surface of an expanded molded article, wherein the reinforcing material is a fabric or a braided product produced by weaving a linear composite material produced by melting and integrating a thermoplastic fiber comprising a low-melting component fiber and a high-melting component fiber, as two or more threads selected from the group consisting of a warp, a weft and a slant thread, the fiber-reinforced expanded particle molded article exhibiting an excellent reinforcing effect; and a method for economically producing the molded article by in-mold molding with a small number of steps.

The present invention relates to a porous film including polyethylene and pore-forming particles, wherein the porous film has a structure including lamella and fibril, and the average size of pores located inside the porous film is larger than the average size of pores located on the surface of the porous film; a separator including the same; and an electrochemical cell.

Inorganic infrared attenuation agent blends have been developed to improve the thermal insulation properties of polymeric foams such as polystyrene low density foams. The inorganic infrared attenuation agent blends can include two or more metal oxides such as silicon dioxide, manganese (IV) oxide, iron (III) oxide, magnesium oxide, bismuth (III) oxide, cobalt oxide, zirconium (IV) oxide, molybdenum (III) oxide, titanium oxide, and calcium oxide. In some preferred embodiments, the inorganic infrared attenuation agent blends can include four or more of these metal oxides.