The present invention provides an aqueous dispersion that enables production of a film having improved water resistance, tensile elastic modulus, and stress at break, and with which a decrease of strain at break can be reduced in the film. The present invention relates to an aqueous dispersion comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) and a cellulose nanofiber, the ethylene unit content of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) being 1 mol % or more and less than 20 mol %.

Disclosed herein is a bio-based copolymer comprising in polymerized form (i) at least one polymerizable bio-based monomer containing one phenolic hydroxyl group which has been derivatized to provide at least one polymerizable functional group which is an ethylenically unsaturated functional group (such as a [meth]acrylate group), where the precursors of the polymerizable bio-based monomers are derived from raw lignin-containing biomass, and (ii) at least one ion-conducting co-monomer other than the bio-based monomer. Also disclosed herein are binders comprising the bio-based copolymer, electrodes comprising the binder, polymer electrolytes comprising the bio-based copolymer and an electrochemical device comprising an electrode in electrical contact with a polymer electrolyte, wherein at least one of the electrode and the polymer electrolyte comprises the bio-based copolymer.

A water-dispersible sheet is described that maintains water dispersibility while providing suppressed time degradation of the tacky adhesiveness of a tacky adhesive layer. The water-dispersible sheet has a paper substrate with a multilayer structure. One layer of the multilayer structure is an inner layer that is not in contact with the tacky adhesive layer. Another layer is a surface layer that is in contact with the tacky adhesive layer. The layers independently include mixed pulps of a wood pulp and a refined pulp with an α-cellulose content of 88 % by weight or more. The weight ratio of the layers and the beating degree of the mixed pulps are set in the specific ranges.

A biodegradable cellulose fiber-based substrate, at least one side of which is coated with a release coating including: a) at least one water-soluble polymer (WSP) containing hydroxyl groups, and b) at least one lactone substituted with at least one linear or branched and/or cyclic C.sub.8-C.sub.30 hydrocarbon chain which may contain heteroatoms. The biodegradable substrate is certified biodegradable in accordance with EN 13432. A method of production thereof is also disclosed.

A printable antimicrobial medium is disclosed, including a substrate layer having a first surface which may include a first area, a second surface opposite the first surface which may include a second area. The printable antimicrobial medium also includes a first adhesive deposited on the first area, a liner layer releasably secured to the substrate layer by the first adhesive, and a first antimicrobial dry marking material deposited on at least a portion of the second area of the substrate layer. The printable antimicrobial medium may include a first score line arranged to separate one or more layers of the printable antimicrobial medium into a first portion and a second portion, and an antimicrobial dry marking material may include copper oxide deposited on at least a portion of the second area of the substrate layer.

The present invention provides a laminate having an adhesive layer excellent in low-temperature adhesiveness, water resistance, and hot water resistance. The laminate includes: a substrate; and an adhesive layer laminated on at least one surface of the substrate, in which the adhesive layer is obtained by drying a coated product of an aqueous dispersion containing water and a resin (X), and the resin (X) contains two or more kinds of ethylene-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers (a) each having a different content of a structural unit derived from an unsaturated carboxylic acid.

A rolling paper includes a hydrophobic substrate region comprising hydrophobic groups covalently bonded to the rolling paper, and a moisture-activated adhesive adjacent to the hydrophobic substrate region and longitudinal edge of the rolling paper.

A biodegradable pressure-sensitive adhesive which can be readily coated indirectly onto biodegradable carriers, which comprises

at least 60 wt % of at least one polyurethane, and
at least one sulfonated carboxylic ester; and a method for producing a biodegradable adhesive tape, which comprises providing a pressure-sensitive adhesive of the invention as a dispersion in at least one organic solvent; coating this dispersion onto a release liner; removing the organic solvent; and transferring the pressure-sensitive adhesive onto a biodegradable carrier.

A sheet includes a support layer and a coating layer on a side of the support layer. The coating layer is partially cured. The coating layer has carbon-carbon double bonds. The relative amount of carbon-carbon double bonds is higher at the surface of the coating layer than at the contact surface of the coating layer with the support layer. Methods are disclosed to manufacture such sheets; and to produce a decorative panel using such sheets.

Compositions comprising complexes of 1-methylcyclopropene and α-cyclodextrin, and articles including the composition, are provided. Methods for using the compositions and articles in delaying the maturation of fruits, vegetables, and plants are also provided.