Foamed thermoplastic vulcanizate compositions having minimal water absorption, and in particular having predominantly closed cell structure. The foam compositions exhibit desirable properties including, but not limited to, low density, tensile strength, ultimate elongation, and low modulus of elasticity. The foam may be used in one or more commercial products or articles, such as use in forming weather seals.

Reinforcing fibers containing hydrophilic fibers and an adhesive component, wherein at least a part of the surfaces of the hydrophilic fibers have the adhesive component, the adhesive component contains a modified conjugated diene rubber having a hydrogen-bonding functional group in a part of the conjugated diene rubber, and the number of the hydrogen-bonding functional groups in the modified conjugated diene rubber is 2 to 150 per molecule on average; a method for producing the reinforcing fibers; and a molded article using the reinforcing fibers.

Curable rubber compositions that include reactive ionic surfactants as reinforcing fillers are described, as well as methods for preparing composite rubber compounds by direct addition of ionic surfactant solutions into rubber latex.

A method for producing a polymer latex, including an emulsification step of mixing a polymer solution obtained by dissolution of synthetic polyisoprene and/or a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer in an organic solvent, with an aqueous solution including 0.1 to 30 parts by weight of a rosinate based on 100 parts by weight in total of the synthetic polyisoprene and the styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, and emulsifying the resultant in water to thereby obtain an emulsified liquid, a solvent removal step of removing the organic solvent in the emulsified liquid, and a concentration step of concentrating the emulsified liquid from which the organic solvent is removed, and also adjusting the content rate of the rosinate in the emulsified liquid after concentration, in the range of 0.1 to 3 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight in total of the synthetic polyisoprene and the styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer in the emulsified liquid.

A foam containing a nitrile group-containing conjugated diene copolymer and a urethane polymer, wherein relative to 100 wt % of the sum of the nitrile group-containing conjugated diene copolymer and the urethane polymer, the nitrile group-containing conjugated diene copolymer is present in an amount of less than 90 wt % and the urethane polymer is present in an amount of more than 10 wt %, the nitrile group-containing conjugated diene copolymer contains ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer units in an amount of more than 31 wt %, the foam has a density of 0.08 to 0.30 g/cm.sup.3, and in observation of an arbitrary cross section of the foam, air bubble cross sections present in the cross section have an average diameter of 350 μm or less, and the number of air bubble cross sections with a diameter of 0.6 mm or more present in the cross section is 0.062 per mm.sup.2 or less.

The present disclosure relates to a thermosetting resin composition for a semiconductor package including a modified phenylene ether oligomer or a modified poly(phenylene ether) having ethylenically unsaturated groups at both ends thereof; a thermosetting resin; a predetermined elastic (co)polymer; and an inorganic filler, and a prepreg and a metal clad laminate including the same.

A highly fire-resistant expanded polymeric material for thermal insulation, acoustic insulation and/or fire barrier contains rubber, expandable graphite, at least one alkaline earth metal component selected from alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, hydrates of either, and combinations thereof, and a component containing silica or a silicate. The expanded polymeric material is preferably manufactured by a process including decomposition of a chemical blowing agent.

Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and epoxy compound. Mixtures of multi-functional amines and imines, and multi-functional isocyanates, and epoxy curing agents; and solvent, can be applied to the outer cover. The resulting coating may contain polyurethanes, polyureas, and hybrids, copolymers, and blends thereof. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.

The invention relates to an alkoxysilane polysulfide, of formula (I):
(R.sup.3O).sub.3-n(R.sup.1).sub.nSi—CH.sub.2—(R.sup.2)CH—Z—S.sub.x—Z—HC(R.sup.2)—CH.sub.2—Si(R.sup.1).sub.n(OR.sup.3).sub.3-n  (I),
in which: R.sup.1, which are identical or different, each represent a monovalent hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.2, which are identical or different, each represent a monovalent hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R.sup.3, which are identical or different, each represent a monovalent hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Z, which are identical or different, each represent a divalent hydrocarbon bonding group comprising from 1 to 16 carbon atoms; x is an integral or fractional number greater than or equal to 2; and n is an integer equal to 0, 1 or 2.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.