Reversibly cross-linkable foam is provided. The reversibly cross-linked foam includes a first polymeric material, at least one reversibly cross-linkable monomer polymerized with the first polymeric material, and at least one blowing agent. The reversibly cross-linkable co-polymeric foam is thermally stable at temperatures of at least 10 degrees higher than otherwise identical polymeric foam that does not include the reversibly cross-linkable agent polymerized with the first polymeric material.

Embodiments herein are related to hydrophilic open cell foams with particulate fillers. In an embodiment, an article is provided that has an open cell foam structure including a hydrophilic polymer and about 0.1 wt. % to about 40.0 wt. % of a particulate filler dispersed within the hydrophilic polymer. The open cell foam structure can exhibit a rate of absorption of water greater than an otherwise identical foam lacking the particulate filler. Other embodiments are included herein.

The present invention relates to a composition for preparation of latex pads, comprising natural latex, artificial latex, sliver nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and active carbon mixed in a specified proportion. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing latex pads from the composition.

The present invention provides a gel comprising a physical network formed of polymer chain crystallites interconnected by amorphous chain segments. Functionalization of the chain segments between the crystallites forms a blocky distribution of functionality along the chain whereby the functionalities are concentrated in groups consisting of one or more functionalities, separated by non-functionalized runs of crystallizable segments of the polymer. Removal of the solvent from the gels, without reducing the gel volume, forms an aerogel.

A latex or natural rubber composition or formulation, latex or rubber products made using the same, and methods of preparing a vulcanized rubber and latex or natural rubber products are disclosed. The composition/formulation includes latex or natural rubber, 0.1-5 phr of a vulcanization activator, and 0.5-10 phr of one or more accelerators and/or additional activators. At least one accelerator and/or additional activator is a nanocomposite zinc oxide. The method includes. mixing a source of the latex or rubber with a vulcanization activator and one or more nanocomposite zinc oxides in a tank or vessel to form a latex or rubber formulation, dipping or at least partially immersing one or more molds or formers in the latex or rubber formulation to form a latex or rubber coating thereon, and curing the latex or rubber coating to vulcanize the latex or rubber coating. The vulcanized latex product is strong and has antimicrobial properties.

A method for manufacturing semi-conductive polypropylene resin foamed particles of the present invention comprises the steps of: allowing carbon nanotubes to be adsorbed on surfaces of polypropylene resin composition pellets to manufacture carbon nanotube-adsorbed pellets (CNT-PP); and foaming the carbon nanotube-adsorbed pellets (CNT-PP) to form foamed particles.

According to the present invention, a microporous membrane contains a polyolefin resin and inorganic particles; the primary particle diameter of the inorganic particles is 100 nm or less; the content of the inorganic particles is 10-60% by mass or 10% by mass or more but less than 40% by mass based on the mass of the microporous membrane; and the retention time at 150° C. is less than 200 seconds or the retention time at 145° C. is more than 1 second but less than 300 seconds in the thermal behavior evaluation of the microporous membrane.

Method of preparing a porous material includes preparing a mixture of from about 10 to about 30% by mass of a matrix material, from about 20 to about 60% by mass of a plurality of particles, from about 20 to about 60% by mass of a porogen, and from about 1 to about 10% by mass of an interfacial compatibilizer. The matrix material and the porogen may be selected so as to be phase separated in the mixture. The method may further include placing the mixture into a form; initiating a solidification of the matrix material during which the porogen remains nonvolatile and the matrix material and the porogen remain phase separated; and removing at least a portion of the porogen to obtain the porous material. Porous materials produced by the methods. Microfluidic channels produced by the methods.

A foamed sheet including: a polylactic acid; and a filler, wherein the foamed sheet has a compressive stress of 0.2 Mpa or less when the cushioning coefficient of the foamed sheet is 10 or less; and wherein the foamed sheet has a puncture strength of 2 N or more when the sheet thickness of the foamed sheet is 2 mm.

Reversibly cross-linkable foam is provided. The reversibly cross-linked foam includes a first polymeric material, at least one reversibly cross-linkable monomer polymerized with the first polymeric material, and at least one blowing agent. The reversibly cross-linkable co-polymeric foam is thermally stable at temperatures of at least 10 degrees higher than otherwise identical polymeric foam that does not include the reversibly cross-linkable agent polymerized with the first polymeric material.