A method for forming an isoporous graded film comprising multiblock copolymers and isoporous graded films. The films have a surface layer and a bulk layer. The surface layer can have at least 1×10.sup.14 pores/m.sup.2 and a pore size distribution (d.sub.max/d.sub.min)) of less than 3. The bulk layer has an asymmetric structure. The films can be used in filtration applications.

The present invention is concerned with expanded beads that are olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer expanded beads containing a coloring agent, wherein an apparent density of the expanded beads is 40 to 300 g/L, and an average surface layer membrane thickness (a) is 3 to 25 μm, and a molded article thereof, and is able to provide expanded beads capable of producing an expanded beads molded article which is excellent in in-mold moldability and excellent in tensile characteristics and an expanded beads molded article using the expanded beads.

A propylene-based resin composition including an impact polypropylene component (A), and a linear low-density polyethylene component (B) containing methylpentene as a comonomer, the composition being characterized by containing a xylene-soluble fraction in an amount of 8 mass % or higher, and having an intrinsic viscosity measured for the xylene-soluble fraction is in a range from 1.0 to 2.9 dL/g.

The present disclosure provides a process. The process includes (i) crosslinking pellets composed of a silane-grafted ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer (Si-g-OBC) to a gel content from 10% to 80% to form crosslinked Si-g-OBC pellets; and (ii) foaming the crosslinked Si-g-OBC pellets to form crosslinked Si-g-OBC foam beads having a gel content from 10% to 80%.

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.

A thermoplastic olefinic elastomer expanded bead, which is an expanded bead including a thermoplastic olefinic elastomer as a main component, wherein the expanded bead has an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 5 mm, the expanded bead has a heat of fusion of 60 to 80 J/g, and a difference [Tm−Tc] between a melting point (Tm) and a crystallization temperature (Tc) of the expanded bead is 20° C. or lower.

A crosslinked olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer expanded bead including a base polymer having an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer and a brominated bisphenol-based flame retardant having a chemical structure represented by formula (1). A difference Tm.sub.TPO-T.sub.FR is −5° C. to 40° C., where Tm.sub.TPO is a melting point of the olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer and T.sub.FR is the lower of a glass transition temperature T.sub.gFR and a melting point Tm.sub.FR of the brominated bisphenol-based flame retardant. A xylene insoluble content is 5 mass % to 80 mass %. R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 in the formula (1) are monovalent substituents, R.sup.2 is a divalent substituent, and n is an integer from 1 to 6:

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to an expanded beads molded article containing a block copolymer of a polyethylene block and an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer block and having a density of 30 kg/m.sup.3 or more and less than 150 kg/m.sup.3 and a modulus of repulsion elasticity of 60% or more. The sole member of the present invention includes the expanded beads molded article of the present invention.

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.

The thermoplastic elastomer composition contains a thermoplastic elastomer and a pigment.