Provided is a unique class of foam materials characterized by regions of material unidirectionality. The foam materials are configured for a great variety of end-use applications as core materials or as materials in construction of multilayered structures. The novel and ingenious process for making the composite materials of the invention, permits modifying the foam materials to suite any specific end use.

Disclosed is a porous structure including water-soluble chitosan; and a carboxymethyl cellulose-based compound, wherein a weight ratio of the water-soluble chitosan and the carboxymethyl cellulose-based compound is from 65:35 to 25:75, and a process for preparing the same.

A method of using an amine compound including at least one amine functional group, wherein the amine functional group(s) comprise primary and/or secondary amine functional groups, to reduce the level of furfural and/or hydroxymethylfurfural in a carbohydrate-based binder or binder composition and/or escaping in the course of preparation, cross-linking and/or curing of carbohydrate-based binders, is provided. The carbohydrate-based binder is obtained from a carbohydrate-based binder composition comprising a carbohydrate component, a cross-linker and optionally one or more reaction products of the carbohydrate component and the cross-linker, wherein the cross-linker is selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts of inorganic acid, carboxylic acids, salts, ester and anhydride derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.

This invention concerns a novel method to produce thermosets such as epoxies and polyurethanes comprising nano-cellulose. The method comprises contacting primarily water-bourne dispersed nano-cellulose with liquid thermoset precursors, specifically epoxy or amine in the case of epoxies, or glycols or similar in the case of polyurethanes. Nano-cellulose transfers to the organic phase, and water is removed at temperatures below 100 C. Thereafter the organic phase comprising nano-cellulose can be mixed with the reactive counterpart to yield nano-composites with improved properties. The products can be used for composite articles, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and other end-uses. Preferred embodiments are described in detail.

A process for manufacturing a porous body, includes preparing a dispersion liquid having a dispersion medium with cellulose-based nanofibers that have an average fiber diameter from 1 to 100 nm and dispersed therein, attaching the dispersion liquid to a porous support having a plurality of pores that connect with one another, removing the dispersion liquid attached to a surface of the porous support excluding an inside of pores of the porous support, and subsequently drying the porous support including the dispersion liquid in the pores of the porous support to remove the dispersion medium.

Provided is a method for stably sticking a sheet to skin for a long time without giving a skin stress and strange feeling of appearance. In the present disclosure, a self-supporting cellulose membrane having a thickness of not less than 20 nm and not more than 1,300 nm and containing regenerated cellulose having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 150,000 is used, and after applying to skin an aqueous cosmetic agent containing water and at least one polyhydric alcohol and having a content of glycerin of the polyhydric alcohol of 0% by weight to 15% by weight, the cellulose membrane is stuck to the position of the skin on which the cosmetic agent is applied.

Provided are a decorative film including: a base film, a reflective layer which contains metal particles and a resin on one surface of the base film, and a colored layer which contains a colorant other than the metal particles on a surface of the reflective layer opposite to a side where the base film is provided; and a decorative molded body.

Provided herein are mycelium materials and methods for production thereof. In some embodiments, a mycelium material includes: a mycelium material including one or more disrupted fibers, wherein the one or more disrupted fibers is oriented in a z-direction and/or a bonding agent may be combined with the mycelium material. Methods of producing a mycelium material are also provided.

The invention relates to a process for converting a waste FEED material comprising a cellulose containing part and optionally a non-cellulosic part, for example plastic, to useful products said process comprising contacting the waste material with a first molten salt solvent at a first low temperature to dissolve the cellulose, separating non-dissolved components from the cellulose solution, precipitating and separating the cellulose from the used first molten salt solution and carbonizing non-dissolved components at high temperature in a second molten salt solvent comprising the used first molten salt solvent to form solid carbon and hydrogen.

The present invention relates to the use of an amine compound comprising at least one, preferably at least two amine functions, wherein the amine functions are primary or secondary amines, to reduce the level of furfural and/or hydroxymethylfurfural in a carbohydrate-based binder or binder composition and/or escaping in the course of preparation, cross-linking and/or curing of carbohydrate-based binders. Preferably, the carbohydrate-based binder is obtained from a carbohydrate-based binder composition comprising a carbohydrate component and a cross-linker and possibly reaction product of carbohydrate component and cross-linker, wherein the cross-linker is selected from ammonium salts of inorganic acid, carboxylic acids, salts, ester or anhydride derivatives thereof, and/or combinations thereof.