A latent elastic film laminate is provided including a film predominantly comprising olefin elastomers. The film is stretched and maintained in a stretched state in order to impart the desired level of latent elasticity such that the conditioned film laminate will shrink upon activation, such as by heating. The latent elastic film laminate can be advantageously used in the manufacture of various elasticated articles, including absorbent personal care articles, by activating the latent elasticity after attachment to the article and thereby shirring and elasticizing components to which the film laminate is attached.

This invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a type A hardness (i.e., the momentary value) of 55 or less in accordance with JIS K6253, which comprises 35 to 65 parts by weight of an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (A) having a type A hardness (i.e., the momentary value) of 75 or less in accordance with JIS K6253 and 65 to 35 parts by weight of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (B) having a type A hardness (i.e., the momentary value) of 60 or less in accordance with JIS K6253 (with the total amount of components (A) and (B) being 100 parts by weight) and a molded thermoplastic elastomer product obtained via molding of such composition.

The present invention relates to cylindrical expanded thermoplastic elastomer beads provided with through-holes, the expanded thermoplastic elastomer beads including a core layer in an foamed state constituted of a base polymer containing a thermoplastic elastomer and a cover layer covering the core layer and constituted of a thermoplastic polymer, wherein a coefficient of dynamic friction of the thermoplastic polymer is 0.8 or less, and a difference between a melting point (Tmc) of the base polymer and a melting point (Tms) of the thermoplastic polymer is −20° C. or more and 20° C. or less. The present invention also relates to an expanded thermoplastic elastomer beads molded article formed by subjecting expanded thermoplastic elastomer beads provided with through-holes to in-mold molding, the molded article including a core layer in a foamed state and a cover layer covering the core layer, wherein a voidage is 15% or more, a density is 10 kg/m.sup.3 or more and 200 kg/m.sup.3 or less, and the product of a tensile strength (MPa) and a tensile elongation (%) is 5 or more.

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 present invention relates to a polyethylene composition comprising a base resin comprising a low molecular weight ethylene polymer component and a high molecular weight ethylene polymer component, wherein the high molecular weight ethylene polymer component has a higher weight average molecular weight than the low molecular weight ethylene polymer component, wherein the base resin has a density of at least 958.0 kg/m.sup.3, and the polyethylene composition a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (190° C., 2.16 kg) of from 0.50 to 0.80 g/10 min and a molecular weight distribution being the ratio of the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight, Mw/Mn, of from 10.0 to 15.0, a process for producing said polyethylene composition, an article comprising said polyethylene composition and the use of said polyethylene composition for the production of a film.

Dipped formed latex articles with improved properties are formed from branched block copolymers, derived from alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon—1,3-diene monomer system, and branched polyisoprene homopolymers, derived from isoprene. The polymers are obtained by polymerization in the presence of an anionic initiator; at a temperature from 0° C. to 100° C.; followed by coupling with a multifunctional coupling agent of formula (R.sup.1O).sub.3Si—Y—Si(OR.sup.2).sub.3, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl groups; and Y is a C.sub.2-C.sub.8 alkylene group. The polymers are obtained as rubber cements having high solids content and low zero shear viscosities. The rubber cements are valuable for making latices and latex articles such as dipped goods, e.g., condoms, gloves, etc., with improved properties.

The invention provides a multimodal propylene butene random copolymer having a melt flow rate (MFR2) of 1.0 to 20.0 g/10 min and a butene content of 1.5 to 8.0 wt %, wherein said copolymer is prepared using a single site catalyst and wherein said copolymer comprises (i) 30 to 70 wt % of a propylene butene copolymer (A) having an MFR2 of 0.5 to 20.0 g/10 min and a butene content of 0.5 to 10.0 wt %; and (ii) 70 to 30 wt % of a propylene butene copolymer (B) having an MFR2 of 0.5 to 20.0 g/10 min and a butene content of 1.0 to 8.0 wt %; wherein copolymers (A) and (B) are different.

The invention provides a polyolefin composition comprising: (i) 55 to 95 wt % of a propylene butene random copolymer having an MFR.sub.2 of 1.0 to 20.0 g/10 min, a butene content of 1.5 to 8.0 wt % and prepared using a single site catalyst; and (ii) to 45 wt % of an ethylene based plastomer having a density of 860 to 905 kg/m.sup.3, an MFR.sub.2 of 0.3 to 30 g/10 min and prepared using a single site catalyst.

The invention provides a multimodal propylene butene random copolymer having a melt flow rate (MFR.sub.2) of 1.0 to 20.0 g/10 min and a butene content of 5.0 to 20.0 wt %, wherein said copolymer is prepared using a single site catalyst and wherein said copolymer comprises: (i) 30 to 70 wt % of a propylene butene copolymer (A) having an MFR.sub.2 of 0.5 to 20.0 g/10 min and a butene content of 2.0 to 10.0 wt %; and (ii) 70 to 30 wt % of a propylene butene copolymer (B) having an MFR.sub.2 of 0.5 to 20.0 g/10 min and a butene content of 4.0 to 20.0 wt %; wherein copolymers (A) and (B) are different.

Expanded beads are those including a mixture of an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer and a polyethylene-based resin, wherein a melt flow rate MFR(I) of the olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer is 2-10 g/10 min; a difference ((MFR(II))−(MFR(I))) between a melt flow rate MFR(II) of the polyethylene-based resin and the melt flow rate MFR(I) of the olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer is 1-35 g/10 min; and a content of the polyethylene-based resin in the mixture is 3-40% by weight.