A foam includes a cellular structure and having a density of at most 0.50 g/cm.sup.3, where the cellular structure is provided by a solid material that includes humins. Such a foam is prepared in a process, which includes: providing a starting material containing humins; and heating the starting material to a temperature in the range of 150 to 450 C. The foam can be used in articles for a variety of applications such as substrate for plant growth, as adsorbent for treating waste water or waste gases, as support for solid catalysts, as insulation material, or packaging material.

Presently described are components of a spray application system, a method of making thereof, wherein at least one component comprises a liquid repellent surface layer such that the receding contact angle with water ranged from 90 degrees to 135 degrees. The liquid repellent surface (e.g. layer) may comprise a porous layer and a lubricant impregnated into pores of the porous layer; a fluoropolymer; a fluorochemical material and an organic polymeric binder; or a fluorochemical material melt additive or silicone/silane/siloxane material melt additive and a thermoplastic polymeric material component. The component is typically a liquid reservoir, a liquid reservoir liner, a lid for a liquid reservoir or liner, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the component comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material. In some favored embodiments, the component is a removable liquid reservoir or liner. In some favored embodiments, the component is a collapsible liquid reservoir or liner. The spray application system typically further comprises a gravity-fed spray gun.

The present invention is related to a coated resin particle that includes a water-absorbent resin particle, and a coating layer covering at least a part of a surface of the water-absorbent resin particle, in which the coating layer contains a compound A, and a compound B more water-soluble than the compound A.

A method of forming a skin-foam-substrate type structure particular suitable as an automobile trim component. The method comprises supplying a polymer resin containing a chemical foaming agent and including metal particles capable of inductive heating, that is positioned between a polymeric skin and substrate, followed by inductive heating to cause foaming of the polymeric resin. The foamed polymer resin adheres to the skin and substrate.

An expanded polymeric material which consists of at least 200 phr, preferably at least 300 phr, but less than 1000 phr, preferably less than 700 phr ingredients in total, comprising 100 phr of at least one polymer, of which at least one is a sulphur and/or metal oxide crosslinkable elastomer and at least 40 phr, preferably at least 55 phr of at least one polymeric flame retardant, preferably a brominated polymeric flame retardant.

Provided are solvent cement formulations comprising some or all of tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, a thermoplastic resin, silica, and, a solvent soluble acrylic copolymer associative thickener. The disclosed formulations contain a reduced complement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) relative to conventional cement formulations, yet are capable of meeting the requirements for regular-, medium-, and heavy-duty applications. The use of specialized associative thickener components confers a required degree of viscosity while enabling a reduction in the concentration of VOCs, such as tetrahydrofuran.

A kind of hydrophobic flame-retardant fiber and a preparation method thereof are provided by the present invention. The fiber has a skin-core structure, wherein, the volume ratio of skin to core is in a range of 2:8-6:4; weight percentages of compositions of skin layer material include: 79.9%-88.8% of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), 8%-13% of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), 3%-6% of flame-retardant agent, 0.1%-0.5% of compatibilizer, 0.1%-0.6% of coupling agent; weight percentages of compositions of core layer material include: 91%-95% of PET, 5%-9% of flame-retardant agent.

An object is to provide a transfer film that can impart sufficient durability to a transfer object surface and has high transfer property without causing any transfer failures such as tailing and burr. The transfer film according to the present invention is a transfer film comprising a substrate and a protective layer peelably provided on the substrate, wherein the protective layer comprises an active ray-cured resin; the active ray-cured resin contains a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate compound as a polymerization component; and the hydroxyl value of the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate compound is 20 mg KOH/g or more and 120 mg KOH/g or less.

A construction component comprising a foamed cellular board comprising smooth exterior surfaces separated by a cellular network and cut edges, and sealed caps adhered to the cut edges on the foamed cellular boar. The board has a density of less than 0.55 g/cm.sup.3, and the cut edges on which the sealed caps are adhered are unmelted edges.

Antimicrobial or antiseptic polymers may be produced by incorporation of an antimicrobial ingredient into the polymer by grafting, copolymerization, or via a combined antimicrobial/plasticizer ingredient. The polymer may be produced as a masterbatch, or a ready to process polymer for producing antimicrobial products. The reactions may be conducted in a reactive extruder to provide a single-step synthesis.