A foamed, opacifying element has a substrate with opposing planar surfaces and a foamed opacifying layer disposed on one opposing surface. The foamed opacifying layer contains (a) 0.1-80 weight % of nonporous polymeric particles; (b) 10-80 weight % of a matrix material derived from a (b) binder material having a glass transition temperature of less than 40 C.; (c) 0.0001-50 weight % of certain additives; (d) less than 5 weight % of water; and (e) at least 0.002 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from all of the (c) additives. Foamable and foamed aqueous compositions can be used to provide these foamed, opacifying elements for use as light-blocking window shades, curtains, or other materials. These light-blocking articles can also have a printable outer surface that accepts ink for making printed images that are not observable from the opposite surface.

A foamed, opacifying element has a substrate with opposing planar surfaces and a foamed opacifying layer disposed on one opposing surface. The foamed opacifying layer contains (a) 0.1-80 weight % of nonporous polymeric particles; (b) 10-80 weight % of a matrix material derived from a (b) binder material having a glass transition temperature of less than 40 C.; (c) 0.0001-50 weight % of certain additives; (d) less than 5 weight % of water; and (e) at least 0.002 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from all of the (c) additives. Foamable and foamed aqueous compositions can be used to provide these foamed, opacifying elements for use as light-blocking window shades, curtains, or other materials. These light-blocking articles can also have a printable outer surface that accepts ink for making printed images that are not observable from the opposite surface.

A method of preparing a polymer hollow particle, a low-specific gravity and monodispersed polymer hollow particle of various shapes prepared using the method, and a composite including the polymer hollow particle are provided. The method includes: a first step of providing, onto a substrate including a engraved pattern, at least one expandable particle comprising a foaming agent-containing expandable core and a thermoplastic polymer shell; a second step of removing an excess of the at least one expandable particle from a resulting product of the first step; a third step of expanding the at least one expandable particle in the engraved pattern of the substrate by thermally treating a resulting product of the second step; and a fourth step of separating, from the substrate, expanded hollow polymer particles which are a resulting product of the third step.

A method of preparing a polymer hollow particle, a low-specific gravity and monodispersed polymer hollow particle of various shapes prepared using the method, and a composite including the polymer hollow particle are provided. The method includes: a first step of providing, onto a substrate including a engraved pattern, at least one expandable particle comprising a foaming agent-containing expandable core and a thermoplastic polymer shell; a second step of removing an excess of the at least one expandable particle from a resulting product of the first step; a third step of expanding the at least one expandable particle in the engraved pattern of the substrate by thermally treating a resulting product of the second step; and a fourth step of separating, from the substrate, expanded hollow polymer particles which are a resulting product of the third step.

Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear are provided. In various aspects, the methods comprise utilizing additive manufacturing methods with foam particles. In some aspects, the disclosed methods comprise selectively depositing a binding material on foam particles in a target area such that the binding material coats at least a portion of defining surfaces of the foam particles with the binding material. The binding material is then cured to affix foam particles in the target area to one another. In various aspects, the disclosed methods can be used to manufacturer articles with sub-regions that differential levels of affixing between the foam particles, and thereby resulting in sub-regions with different properties such as density, resilience, and/or flexural modulus. 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.

A thermoplastic elastomer foam is made by incorporating a gaseous or supercritical blowing agent under pressure into a molten thermoplastic elastomer comprising polymeric crystalline domains, then releasing the pressure to foam the thermoplastic elastomer.

A thermoplastic elastomer foam is made by incorporating a gaseous or supercritical blowing agent under pressure into a molten thermoplastic elastomer comprising polymeric crystalline domains, then releasing the pressure to foam the thermoplastic elastomer.

The present invention is concerned with expanded beads of thermoplastic polyurethane in which a water-soluble anionic surfactant is attached at 50 mg/m.sup.2 to 1,000 mg/m.sup.2 onto the surfaces of expanded beads of thermoplastic polyurethane having a dispersant attached thereto; and a method for producing an expanded beads molded article, including filling the expanded beads of thermoplastic polyurethane in a mold for molding and heating with a water vapor to mutually fuse the expanded beads with each other. The present invention provides expanded beads from which an expanded TPU beads molded article having excellent tensile strength and a method for producing an expanded TPU beads molded article.

The present invention is concerned with expanded beads of thermoplastic polyurethane in which a water-soluble anionic surfactant is attached at 50 mg/m.sup.2 to 1,000 mg/m.sup.2 onto the surfaces of expanded beads of thermoplastic polyurethane having a dispersant attached thereto; and a method for producing an expanded beads molded article, including filling the expanded beads of thermoplastic polyurethane in a mold for molding and heating with a water vapor to mutually fuse the expanded beads with each other. The present invention provides expanded beads from which an expanded TPU beads molded article having excellent tensile strength and a method for producing an expanded TPU beads molded article.

A method of curing a composite part, including placing an uncured composite part on a mandrel, placing a plurality of expandable pellets on the uncured composite part, expanding the plurality of expandable pellets, applying a positive pressure to the uncured composite part, and curing the uncured composite part.