Hollow beads having a skin of thermoplastic elastomer and a gas-filled cell are useful in the manufacture of shaped porous articles by thermally bonding or adhering the hollow beads together.

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.

A process of manufacturing a free-flowing solid encapsulated drag reducing additive comprises: forming a solid drag reducing additive from one or more C.sub.5-20 olefin monomers; dispersing the solid drag reducing additive in a liquid medium to form a dispersion, the liquid medium comprising an encapsulant and a non-solvent; grinding the solid drag reducing additive in the liquid medium under non-cryogenic grinding conditions to form an encapsulated drag reducing additive in a particulate form; and removing the non-solvent by a drying technique including spray drying, flash drying, or rotating disc drying to form the free-flowing solid encapsulated drag reducing additive.

The present invention provides a film for a liquid crystal device that is a film (15 or 16) used for a liquid crystal device (10) and contains a thermoplastic resin, in which the NI point change of liquid crystal upon contacting the film with the liquid crystal is −2° C. to +2° C.

A coating composition comprises 10-20 wt % of polyester resin, 2-8 wt % of amino resin, and 0-6 wt % of acrylic resin, based on the total weigh of the coating composition. A substrate coated with the coating composition is also provided.

A method for producing low density polyester foam utilizing low I.V. polyester feedstock includes providing a low intrinsic viscosity raw material. The low intrinsic viscosity raw material includes between 25% to 100% of a post consumer polyester and has an intrinsic viscosity of less than 0.8 dl/g. The intrinsic viscosity of the low intrinsic viscosity raw material is increased via a de-condensation reaction configured to support foaming. The intrinsic viscosity of the low intrinsic viscosity raw material is increased to 1.1 dl/g or greater. A starting formulation is created including the low intrinsic viscosity raw material with the increased intrinsic viscosity. The starting formulation is foamed to create the polyester foam. Wherein, the polyester foam produced has a specific gravity of less than 0.65 g/cc.

Tooling and components of an injection-molding system may be used to mold a foam article. The tooling and components may include features that control parameters of the injection-molding and foaming process, such as temperature, pressure, shot size, shot placement, and the like.

Tooling and components of an injection-molding system may be used to mold a foam article. The tooling and components may include features that control parameters of the injection-molding and foaming process, such as temperature, pressure, shot size, shot placement, and the like.

A foam article, such as a cushioning element for an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment is provided that comprises a foam component, such as a midsole, having a number of beneficial physical characteristics. The cushioning element is a low-density foamed component with a surface skin that encases the remaining foam volume. The cushioning element has a number of foam volumes, arranged to achieve a more consistent foam component. Additionally, the cushioning element includes a series of concentric ridges extending radially outwardly from injection gate vestige locations, and a number of striation bands near the perimeter of the cushioning element. The location of the gate vestiges can be beneficially arranged to produce intersecting flow boundaries that are located away from key strain areas of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is more environmentally-friendly, requiring less energy to produce while still providing acceptable energy return and low density.

A method for producing an article having a novel metal gloss which does not use a solvent when forming an article having metallic luster, and a toner for metallic luster color and a printing method using the same.