Disclosed herein is a foamable composition including a polymer component, a foaming agent, a crosslinking agent, a filler, and a recovered silicon sludge containing silicon carbide and silicon. The polymer component is present in an amount ranging from 15 wt % to 60 wt % based on a total weight of the foamable composition. A foamed material prepared from the foamable composition and a composite product including the same are also disclosed.

The invention relates to an elastomeric film-forming composition (a) a carboxylated butadiene-based elastomer, (b) polychlorobutadiene in an amount of less than 30% by weight of the polymer content of the composition, and (c) one or more cross-linking agents. The invention also relates to dipped articles, gloves, methods of manufacture and uses involving the composition.

Provided is a method for producing a rubber composition that includes a rubber component (A) including natural rubber, at least one filler (B) selected from an inorganic filler and carbon black, and a monohydrazide compound (C) supported on a solid. The monohydrazide compound (C) is represented by general formula (I): R—CONHNH.sub.2, where R represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having from 3 to 30 carbon atoms, or an aryl group. The method comprises compounding in an optional preliminary compounding stage and a plurality of compounding stages, and adding the monohydrazide compound (C) supported on the solid and kneading in the preliminary compounding stage and/or a first compounding stage. Also provided is a rubber composition produced with this method.

Provided is a structure having excellent flexibility represented by elastic restoring from compression or tensile elongation at break, and excellent lightness. A structure according to the present invention includes reinforced fibers, first plastic, and second plastic that exhibits rubber elasticity at room temperature, the reinforced fibers being discontinuous fibers, and the first plastic and/or the second plastic coating a crossing point between the reinforced fibers in contact with each other.

A power transmission V-belt includes a tension member, an adhesion rubber layer in which at least part of the tension member is embedded, and a tension rubber layer and a compression rubber layer stacked via the adhesion rubber layer. A rubber hardness of the tension rubber layer is smaller than a rubber hardness of the compression rubber layer. In the adhesion rubber layer, a rubber hardness on a tension rubber layer side relative to the tension member is smaller than a rubber hardness on a compression rubber layer side.

A highly fire-resistant expanded polymeric material for thermal insulation, acoustic insulation and/or fire barrier contains rubber, expandable graphite, at least one alkaline earth metal component selected from alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, hydrates of either, and combinations thereof, and a component containing silica or a silicate. The expanded polymeric material is preferably manufactured by a process including decomposition of a chemical blowing agent.

A rubber composition contains: at least one rubber component selected from the group consisting of an ethylene propylene diene rubber, a chloroprene rubber, a nitrile rubber, and an acrylic rubber; 1.5 to 30 parts by mass of a fluorene-modified cellulose nanofiber per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component; and 30 to 120 parts by mass of a carbon-based filler per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component. A method of producing a rubber composition comprises: kneading a dispersion of a fluorene-modified cellulose nanofiber in a process oil and a rubber component to prepare a kneaded material; and mixing a vulcanizing agent into the kneaded material.

A power transmission V-belt includes a tension member, an adhesion rubber layer in which at least part of the tension member is embedded, and a tension rubber layer and a compression rubber layer stacked via the adhesion rubber layer. A rubber hardness of the tension rubber layer is smaller than a rubber hardness of the compression rubber layer. In the adhesion rubber layer, a rubber hardness on a tension rubber layer side relative to the tension member is smaller than a rubber hardness on a compression rubber layer side.

A rubber-based composition modifier includes 100 parts by mass of a mixed rubber component containing a chloroprene rubber and at least one copolymer selected from ethylene/-olefin copolymers and ethylene/-olefin/unconjugated polyene copolymers, 10 to 60 parts by mass of magnesium oxide, 3 to 30 parts by mass of a softener, and 30 to 120 parts by mass of acetylene black, wherein the mixed rubber component has a Mooney viscosity, as determined by the method specified in JIS K6300, of 60 to 180 at 100 C.; the magnesium oxide has a BET specific surface area, as determined by the one point method specified in JIS Z8830, of 20 to 150 m.sup.2/g; the softener contains a fatty acid ester-based plasticizer and an unsaturated fatty acid having a carbon number of 10 to 24 and containing an ester bond, a hydroxyl group, or both of them in part of the structure.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a laminated rubber hose that includes a first layer and a second layer laminated on an outer surface of the first layer, the first layer containing a thermosetting resin in an amount of 4.5 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of a rubber component, the method including laminating the second layer on the outer surface of the first layer with the outer surface of the first layer maintained at a temperature range of 65 C. or more and 105 C. or less.