Disclosed are surfactant compositions comprising: (a) at least one alkoxylated glycol ether; and (b) at least one compound in accordance with Formula VII;

##STR00001## where x is from about 1 to about 100, and each R.sup.4 is independently H or an alkyl moiety having from about 1 to about 2 carbon atoms, provided that the total number of carbon atoms within each x unit is not greater than about 8.

The present application discloses a biodegradable polymer expended bead capable of being formed by steam compression molding, including the following components in parts by weight: 10-88 parts of PBS, 10-88 parts of PLA, 1-4 parts of a chain extender masterbatch, 1-3 parts of a nucleating agent masterbatch and 5-12 parts of a supercritical CO.sub.2 foaming agent; wherein a concentration of optical isomer D-lactic acid monomer in a molecular chain of the PLA is 2-8%. The present application uses PBS and PLA as polymer matrixes, with an addition of a chain extender and a nucleating agent. The chain extender undergoes a chain extension reaction and a branching reaction with reactive end groups of PLA and PBS. The expended bead has good heat resistance, and can be formed using steam compression molding to obtain a steam compression molded product with good adhesion between beads and stable size.

The present invention relates to a film comprising at least one biodegradable layer (i) having an elastic modulus of more than 450 MPa, consisting of a mixture of polyhydroxyalkanoate constituting the continuous phase and aliphatic and/or aliphatic-aromatic polyester constituting the discontinuous phase, and at least one coating layer (ii) preferably capable of having barrier effects against gases and liquids. The surface of said layer (i) will have a root mean square roughness Sq of more than 10 nm and less than 45 nm, measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The film is particularly suitable for use in food packaging.

Provided is a thermosetting resin composition that contains a high dielectric constant material and that can suppress, in producing a cured product thereof, generation of outgas, decrease in heat resistance, and decrease in peel strength. Also provided are a prepreg, a resin film, a laminate, a printed wiring board, an antenna device, an antenna module, and a communication device obtained by using the thermosetting resin composition. The thermosetting resin composition is, specifically, a thermosetting resin composition containing (A) a thermosetting resin and (B) at least one high dielectric constant inorganic filler selected from the group consisting of a titanium-based inorganic filler and a zircon-based inorganic filler, the thermosetting resin composition further containing (C) a resin having 3% by mass or more of an acidic group in an amount of 1 part by mass or more with respect to 100 parts by mass of the component (B).

The present invention relates to a film comprising at least one biodegradable layer (i) having an elastic modulus of more than 450 MPa, consisting of a mixture of polyhydroxyalkanoate constituting the continuous phase and aliphatic and/or aliphatic-aromatic polyester constituting the discontinuous phase, and at least one coating layer (ii) preferably capable of having barrier effects against gases and liquids. The surface of said layer (i) will have a root mean square roughness Sq of more than 10 nm and less than 45 nm, measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The film is particularly suitable for use in food packaging.

The disclosure relates to a polymeric article, comprising a thermoplastic polymer composition, wherein the thermoplastic polymer composition includes (i) a copolymer (A) comprising polymeric units derived from a vinyl aromatic monomer, and a vinyl nitrile monomer; (ii) a rubber modified thermoplastic polymer (E), (iii) a functionalized polymer (FP), and optionally, (iv) an additive mixture. The disclosure further relates to a surface treated polymeric article comprising the polymeric article and to a method for preparing such a surface treated polymeric article. The disclosure further relates to a plated article comprising a metal layer disposed on a polymeric substrate layer comprising the surface treated polymeric article. In addition the disclosure further relates to a process of producing the plated article.

A highly transparent film comprising a diacid and diol polyester and a lactic acid polyester fluidised using a nitrogen component as a fluidising additive selected from: a nitrogen compound of formula (I)

##STR00001## or a linear amine NHR4-R5, and optionally a cross-linking agent and/or a chain extender.

A method for treating an asphalt shingle comprises applying a coating composition to a surface of an asphalt shingle, or to granules formulated for use in a granule layer of an asphalt shingle. The coating composition includes: (a) a film-forming component; and (b) a biocide component. The biocide component comprises (i) a first organosulfur component, (ii) a second organosulfur component different from the first organosulfur component, and (iii) an organozinc compound. The coating composition optionally further comprises (iv) a nitrogen-containing heterocycle that includes an attached alkylamino group and/or an attached alkylthio group, and/or (v) a carbamate compound.