Disclosed is a composition comprising (a) a lignocellulosic material and/or a cellulosic material; and (b) a cellulose derivative. A process for preparing the composition is also disclosed. The process can comprise providing a cellulose derivative in a solvent; and mixing a lignocellulosic material and/or a cellulosic material into the solvent. The lignocellulosic material and/or the cellulosic material can comprise 90% of particles ranging from 0.01 to 5 mm in size. The lignocellulosic material and/or the cellulosic material can be derived from a biomass residue.

The disclosure provides post-production methods for functionalization of optical quality films produced by top tier manufactures. The methods disclosed herein allow for the incorporation of different additives into existing films.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of films of conductive polymers, by the technique so-called roll-to-roll, which allows to obtain freestanding films having advantageous features such as toughness, flexibility, ability to adhere to different substrates, a submicron thickness and a very high ratio surface area/thickness; the present films are suitable for use in several technological applications, in particular for the development of biosensors, and in the production of flexible electronic components with large surface, suitable for wearable devices and also intended for contacting skin.

A foamed, opacifying element is prepared to have a light-blocking value (LBV) of at least 4. A method is carried out in a specific order with a unique series of steps including: providing a unique foamable aqueous composition; aerating that foamable aqueous composition to a foam density of at least 0.1-0.5 g/cm.sup.3; disposing the foamed aqueous composition onto a surface of a porous substrate; drying the foamed aqueous composition without substantial curing of the binder material therein, to provide a dry foamed composition on the surface, without substantial curing; densifying the dry foamed composition to provide a dry opacifying layer in a foamed, opacifying element; and curing the dry opacifying layer in the foamed, opacifying element.

A prepared for print (PFP) light-blocking element has a scoured fabric with face side and back side, and a dried and non-foamed color-masking composition on the back side at a coverage of 5-75 g/m.sup.2. This dried and non-foamed color-masking composition contains a tinting component and a film-forming polymeric binder having a T.sub.g of less than 25? C. The light-blocking element further has a cured, crushed, and dried foamed opacifying layer disposed on the dried and non-foamed color-masking composition. The dried and non-foamed color-masking composition effectively reduces visual perception on the uncoated face side as measured by a ?E value as determined from ?L*, ?a*, and ?b* CEILAB color values, to be <2, compared to visual perception on the uncoated face side of the same treated fabric when the cured, crushed, and dried foamed opacifying layer is absent.

Water vapor transport membranes for ERV and other water vapor transport applications are provided. The membranes include a substrate and an air impermeable selective layer coated on the substrate, the selective layer including a cellulose derivative and a sulfonated polyaryletherketone. In some embodiments the sulfonated polyaryletherketone is in a cation form and/or the selective layer includes sPEEK and CA in an sPEEK:CA (wt.:wt.) ratio in the range of about 7:3 to 2:3. Methods for making such membranes are provided. The methods include applying a coating solution/dispersion to a substrate and allowing the coating solution/dispersion to dry to form an air impermeable selective layer on the substrate, the coating solution/dispersion including a cellulose derivative and a sulfonated polyarylether ketone. In some embodiments the sulfonated polyaryletherketone is in a cation form and/or the coating solution/dispersion includes sPEEK and CA in an sPEEK:CA (wt.:wt.) ratio in the range of about 7:3 to 2:3.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of degradable materials and relates to a biodegradable material. Specifically, the present invention relates to a cellulose acetate-based degradable composite material and a film product thereof, and a preparation method and application thereof. The biodegradable material comprising: a) cellulose acetate and at least one biodegradable polyester material; and b) at least one compatibilizer that can improve interfacial compatibility between cellulose acetate and biodegradable polyester. The biodegradable composite material containing cellulose acetate and polyester has the beneficial effects of improving tensile strength of blends, increasing Young's modulus, and maintaining break elongation.

A film material that is a blend of a first polymer, and a second polymer. The first polymer is synthesized from one or more bio-based monomers, and has a molecular weight that is less than or equal to 60 kilodaltons. The second polymer is one of: a carbohydrate, and a functionalised carbohydrate derived from one or more bio-based materials. The ratio of first polymer to second polymer within the film material is at least 25:75 by weight.

A packaging material has a substrate, and a layer that is formed of the film material, which is assembled into a substantially continuous film on a carrying surface of the substrate. The layer is formed to a thickness that is efficacious in providing a barrier to transmission of oxygen and/or water vapour to the carrying surface of the substrate.

Multifunctional optically highly transparent films based on cellulose esters are disclosed, having the following components within a film a) cellulose esters preferably based on cellulose triacetate which can be processed into a highly transparent film with Haze value of < than 0.4% by virtue of a high degree of purity and optical quality and which is defined by the following properties b) at least one organic or inorganic material which acts as a plasticizer and as a spacer between the molecule chains of the cellulose esters and additionally introduced additives in a synergistically effective manner c) at least three organic or inorganic materials with a transmission influencing absorptive function in the wave length range of 300 nm to 2500 nm, the films having protective strain reducing function for the retina of the human eye.

Provided are NCC-based materials, as superb barrier materials for preventing oxygen and humidity from penetrating therethrough.