Described is a triblock copolymer of the formula ABC wherein B is a hydrogenated vinyl aromatic block having a T.sub.g of 110 C. and comprising 30-90 wt. % of the copolymer; C is a rubbery block having a T.sub.g25 C. and comprising 10-70 wt. % of the copolymer; and A is an block derived from ring-opening polymerization, substantially incompatible with both B and C blocks.

The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

A dry tape material for fiber placement includes a plurality of reinforcing fiber strands that satisfy (i) to (iii): (i) the reinforcing fiber strand has thicknesses T1 and T3 at both ends in a width direction of a section of the reinforcing fiber strand, and both T1 and T3 are 50 to 200% relative to a thickness T2 at a central portion of the reinforcing fiber strand, (ii) the reinforcing fiber strand has a number of filaments N and a width W that satisfy a relationship of 4.8<N/W<12, and (iii) the reinforcing fiber strand has a form kept by a first resin material having a glass transition temperature Tg or a melting point Tm of 40 C. to 200 C., the first resin material being heat-meltable, wherein the plurality of reinforcing fiber strands are bound and integrated with each other by a second resin material.

Disclosed is a graft copolymer comprising an arylene-ether oligomer group having at least one polyolefin moiety bound thereto, wherein the arylene-ether oligomer has a number average molecular weight of less than 5,000 g/mole and the polyolefin has Mw of less than 10,000 g/mole. Also disclosed is a method to prepare a graft copolymer comprising reacting a neat or diluted arylene-ether oligomer with a vinyl or vinylidene-terminated polyolefin at a temperature of at least 80 or 100 or 120 C. to form heated reaction components; further reacting a Brnsted acid or Lewis acid with the heated reaction components to form a polyolefin-arylene-ether oligomer.

Covalently cross-linked copolymers are described herein. More specifically, polysaccharide-polyamine copolymeric matrices or structures and cationic copolymeric matrices are described herein. The polysaccharide-polyamine copolymers, when protonated, can form cationic copolymeric matrices having exceptionally high densities of cationic sites. In one form, the covalently cross-linked copolymers provide a three-dimensional structure, especially when hydrated.

A multilayer optical film including: an A layer formed of an alicyclic structure-containing polymer resin; and a B layer disposed on at least one surface of the A layer to be in direct contact therewith, the B layer serving as a masking layer, wherein the B layer is a cured product of a material Y including a dispersion of a crosslinkable polymer (a) and solid particles (b), and the B layer has a thickness tB of 10 m or more and 25 m or less. A production method including the steps of applying the material Y onto a surface of the A layer, to form a layer of the material Y; and curing the layer of the material Y.

The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

An intermediate material of a thermoplastic prepreg for a fuel cell separation plate comprises a hydrophobic thermoplastic resin film and a fiber base. The hydrophobic thermoplastic resin film has a degree of crystallization of 1 to 20%, a thickness of 3 to 50 m, and (iii) a content of an electroconductive material of 1 to 20 wt. %. The film is laminated on at least one surface of the fiber base. The thermoplastic prepreg for a fuel cell separation plate is manufactured by pressurizing the thermoplastic prepreg intermediate material at a temperature higher than the melting point of the hydrophobic thermoplastic resin film. A fuel cell separation membrane manufactured using the thermoplastic prepreg intermediate material and thermoplastic prepreg is thin and light-weight, and have a good durability.

A copolymer for constituting a polymer electrolyte for a solid-electrolyte lithium or sodium cell. A polymer electrolyte that is usable in combination with high-voltage cathode active materials and makes it possible to provide solid-electrolyte lithium or sodium cells and/or batteries having a high energy density that is sufficient even for use in electricity-based vehicles, the copolymer encompasses at least two ion-conductive polymers, the copolymer encompassing at least one polymer polymerized by ring-opening polymerization of at least one lactone and/or of at least one lactide and/or of at least one cyclic carbonate and/or of at least one cyclic carbamate and/or of at least one lactam and/or of at least one epoxide, and/or at least one polymer polymerized by radical polymerization of acrylonitrile and/or of at least one acrylonitrile derivative; and encompasses at least one polyacrylate having at least one repeating unit.

Disclosed herein are cushioning elements comprising a first layer including a depression defined by a first surface, and a first component disposed within the depression of the first layer, the first component comprising a plurality of affixed foam particles. The cushioning element can optionally include a second surface opposing the first surface, defining an interior of a chamber that can be at least partially filled with a fluid. The first component can be thermally bonded or adhesively bonded to the first surface or the second surface. Methods for manufacturing the cushioning element, and articles including the cushioning element, including articles of footwear, apparel, and sporting equipment are also provided. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.