A composite material according to the present invention includes a solid portion including inorganic particles and a resin. The composite material has a porous structure including a plurality of voids surrounded by the solid portion. The composite material satisfies (i) and/or (ii). (i) P.sub.2 is 500 or more. (ii) The composite material has a heat conductivity of 0.5 W/(m.Math.K) or more and a thickness of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, the void have an average diameter of 50 μm to 1500 μm, and P.sub.3 is 70% to 90%. P.sub.2=the heat conductivity [W/(m.Math.K)] of the composite material×P.sub.3×100/an amount [volume %] of the inorganic particles P.sub.3 [%]=(F.sub.0−F.sub.1)×100/F.sub.0

An insulating material, in particular a permeable fire-proof insulating material comprising water glass and polystyrene, consisting of a hardening mixture which contains 1 to 32.4 wt % of expanded polystyrene, 57.5 to 96.0 wt % of aqueous sodium silicate solution, 2 to 6 wt % of aluminium hydroxide, 0.8 to 2.6 wt % water glass hardener and 0.1 to 0.5 wt % of water glass stabilizer, while the surface of the expanded polystyrene is provided with carbon black, the carbon black making up 0.1 to 1 wt % of total weight. A method for the production of insulating material, in particular a method for the production of permeable fire-proof insulating material comprising water glass and polystyrene, according to which firstly the polystyrene beads are mixed with an aqueous solution of carbon black so as to coat their entire surface, then is added to the aqueous sodium silicate solution aluminium hydroxide and the whole is mixed so as to form an insulating mixture, and then a water glass stabilizer is added to the aqueous sodium silicate solution, and then to this solution is mixed water glass hardener, with this solution being further stirred for 1 to 10 minutes to form a binder solution, and the insulating mixture is added to the binder solution with constant stirring, and the whole is mixed, and the resulting mixture is then poured into the application site.

A thermally expandable sheet according to the present invention includes a stress buffer layer provided on one surface of a base material and having an elastic property, a thermal expansion layer provided on the stress buffer layer and containing a first thermally expandable material that expands according to heat and a first binder, and a cover layer provided on the thermal expansion layer and having an elastic property.

A method of manufacturing a fluid control device includes extruding a polymer melt into a chamber defined by an outer surface of a support structure and a disintegrable metallic tubular member disposed at the support structure, the polymer melt comprising a high heat polymer and a foaming agent, the high heat polymer having a heat deflection temperature of about 100° C. to about 300° C. measured at 1.82 MPa in accordance with ASTM D648-18; sealing the chamber; and foaming the high heat polymer to produce a porous filtration medium in a compacted shape.

A method of manufacturing a fluid control device includes extruding a polymer melt into a chamber defined by an outer surface of a support structure and a disintegrable metallic tubular member disposed at the support structure, the polymer melt comprising a high heat polymer and a foaming agent, the high heat polymer having a heat deflection temperature of about 100° C. to about 300° C. measured at 1.82 MPa in accordance with ASTM D648-18; sealing the chamber; and foaming the high heat polymer to produce a porous filtration medium in a compacted shape.

A composite material according to the present invention includes a solid portion including inorganic particles and a resin. The composite material has a porous structure including a plurality of voids surrounded by the solid portion. In the composite material, a ratio of a smallest heat conductivity of heat conductivities λ.sub.x, λ.sub.y, and λ.sub.z respectively in x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions perpendicular to each other to a largest heat conductivity of the heat conductivities λ.sub.x, λ.sub.y, and λ.sub.z is 0.8 or more.

A polyurethane, in particular a thermoplastic polyurethane, is obtainable or obtained by reacting at least a polyisocyanate composition and a polyol composition. The polyol composition contains at least one polyester diol or polyether diol, having a number-average molecular weight in the range from 500 to 3000 g/mol, and at least one polysiloxane having two terminal isocyanate-reactive functionalities selected from a thio group, a hydroxyl group, and an amino group. A process can be used for preparing this polyurethane, and a molded body containing the polyurethane is useful. Foam beads based on polyurethane can be obtained or obtainable from the polyurethane, and a process can be used for producing foam beads. Corresponding bead foams are useful.

A process can be used for producing a thermoplastic polyurethane, where the process at least involves converting at least one isocyanate composition and a polyol composition, to obtain a prepolymer having isocyanate groups, and reacting the resulting prepolymer with at least one chain extender. The at least one isocyanate composition contains an isocyanate selected from naphthylene 1,5-diisocyanate (NDI), diphenylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate (MDI), p-phenyl diisocyanate (PPDI), o-tolidine diisocyanate (TODI), ethylene diphenyl diisocyanate (EDI), or mixtures thereof. The polyol composition contains a polytetrahydrofuran or a derivative thereof. A thermoplastic polyurethane obtained or obtainable by such a process is useful, and a foamed pellet material can be produced containing such a thermoplastic polyurethane. The foamed pellet material of the invention can be used for production of a molded article.

An example starch-based material for forming a biodegradable component includes a mixture of a starch and an expansion additive. The starch has an amylose content of less than about 70% by weight. The expansion additive enhances the expansion and physical properties of the starch. A method of preparing a starch-based material is also disclosed and an alternate starch-based material for forming a biodegradable component is also disclosed.

An example starch-based material for forming a biodegradable component includes a mixture of a starch and an expansion additive. The starch has an amylose content of less than about 70% by weight. The expansion additive enhances the expansion and physical properties of the starch. A method of preparing a starch-based material is also disclosed and an alternate starch-based material for forming a biodegradable component is also disclosed.