The invention relates to an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) having a multiblock copolymer including a hydrophilic norbornene-based monomer and a hydrophobic alkene-based or norbornene-based monomer. The hydrophilic norbornene-based monomers include one or more cationic head groups such as a quaternary ammonium ion, which can optionally be crosslinked with a crosslinking agent to increase the structural stability of the polymer. These AEMs can be employed in electrochemical devices such as fuel cells.

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for separators in electrochemical devices and methods for making same are disclosed herein. AEMs include chloromethylated SEBS triblock copolymer functionalized with TRIS cations and chloromethylated QPEK-C functionalized with TMA cations. Composite AEMs further include metal oxide fillers. Reinforced AEMs and reinforced composite AEMs further include a reinforcement material base.

Disclosed is a modifier that is blended with a polyolefin to obtain a molded body and methods for using the same and for producing the modifier. The modifier includes a continuous phase (A) containing a second polyolefin resin and a dispersed phase (B) containing a polyamide resin and a modified elastomer and composed of a melt-kneaded product of the polyamide resin and the modified elastomer, the modified elastomer is an elastomer having a reactive group that reacts with the polyamide resin, the elastomer is an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer having, as a skeleton, a copolymer of ethylene or propylene and an α-olefin having 3-8 carbon atoms or a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer having a styrene skeleton, and when a total of the continuous phase (A) and the dispersed phase (B) is taken as 100% by mass, a content of the dispersed phase (B) is 80% by mass or less.

A foam bead is formed from a composition comprising an ionomer comprising, in polymerized form, ethylene, an unsaturated acid comonomer and, optionally, an acrylate comonomer, wherein the unsaturated acid comonomer is at least partially neutralized with a neutralizing agent. A sintered foam structure is formed from foam beads that are formed from above composition.

Disclosed herein is a foam composition comprising an olefin copolymer that comprises ethylene and an α-olefin or propylene and an α-olefin; an unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer; a crosslinking agent; and a blowing agent; where the foam composition is substantially free from neutralized carboxylated ethylene copolymer. Disclosed herein too is a method of manufacturing a foam composition comprising blending together an olefin copolymer that comprises ethylene and an α-olefin or propylene and an α-olefin; an unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer; a crosslinking agent; and a blowing agent to form the foam composition; where the foam composition is substantially free from neutralized carboxylated ethylene copolymer; heating the foam composition to activate the blowing agent to form a foam; and crosslinking the foam.

The present invention relates to a waterborne sizing composition for treating natural fibers to be used as reinforcing material in thermoplastic, comprising: (a) a polymeric material having structure (I) wherein, R represents an alkyl group, X represents a reversible covalently bonded crosslinkable group, p, q, and r represent order on a main polymer chain, wherein the total sum of order greater than 50; (b) a water-soluble metal complex having an antimicrobial property; and (c) a redox active water-soluble compound.

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A method to quickly adjust the size of micelles and then return the micelles to a persistent state is provided. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a method for block copolymer micelle growth under high-χN solution conditions where ultrasonic cavitation facilitates rapid solution-gas interface production that accelerates micelle growth by an order of magnitude over other methods such as vortexing. The persistent micelles formed by the method of the present invention can then be used for controlled delivery of dispersions in organic electronic coatings, paint, or drug delivery applications and can also be used to control the pore size of films that include an oxide, a nitride, a carbide, a metal, or a carbon material.

Described herein are physically crosslinked, closed cell continuous multilayer foam structures that includes a foam layer comprising polypropylene, polyethylene, or a combination of polypropylene and polyethylene and a polyamide cap layer. The multilayer foam structure can be obtained by coextruding a multilayer structure comprising at least one foam composition layer and at least one cap composition layer, irradiating the coextruded structure with ionizing radiation, and continuously foaming the irradiated structure.

An anion exchange membrane is composed of a copolymer of 1,1-diphenylethylene and one or more styrene monomers, such as 4-tert-butylstyrene. The copolymer includes a backbone substituted with a plurality of ionic groups coupled to phenyl groups on the backbone via hydrocarbyl tethers between about 1 and about 7 carbons in length. High-temperature conditions enabled by these copolymers enhance conductivity performance, making them particularly suitable for use in anion exchange membranes in fuel cells, electrolyzers employing hydrogen, ion separations, etc. The properties of the membranes can be tuned via the degree of functionalization of the phenyl groups and selection of the functional groups, such as quaternary ammonium groups. Several processes can be used to incorporate the desired ionic functional groups into the polymers, such as chloromethylation, radical bromination, Friedel-Crafts acylation and alkylation, sulfonation followed by amination, or combinations thereof.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. 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. 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.