An object of the present invention is to provide an expansion ratio improver for a polymer material that can impart an excellent expansion ratio to polymer materials. Another object of the present invention is to provide a resin composition for obtaining a foam having a high expansion ratio and fine (dense) cells. An expansion ratio improver for a polymer material, comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a pyrazolone-based compound and a salt of the compound. A resin composition comprising component (a): polyethylene, component (b): a chemical foaming agent, and component (c): a pyrazolone-based compound, the resin composition containing 0.1 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass of component (b) and 0.1 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass of component (c) based on 100 parts by mass of component (a).

Provided is a slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery functional layer that is capable of forming a functional layer that can inhibit heat generation in the event of an internal short circuit of a non-aqueous secondary battery and can also reduce internal resistance of the non-aqueous secondary battery. The slurry composition contains functional particles, an insoluble polymer, a soluble polymer, and a solvent. The functional particles include foaming agent particles. The content of the insoluble polymer is not less than 1 part by mass and not more than 10 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the functional particles, and the content of the soluble polymer is not less than 1 part by mass and not more than 10 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the functional particles. The soluble polymer has a thermal decomposition temperature of 130? C. or higher.

A solid intumescent material is made of a of about 30 wt % or less, based on total weight of the intumescent material, of a hot melt thermoplastic or elastomeric resin (e.g. an EVA resin), a reinforcing material (e.g. glass fibers having an aspect ratio of at least about 100), inorganic filler and an intumescent component (e.g. ammonium polyphosphate, pentaerythritol and melamine). The intumescent material may be formed into fire protection barriers of various thicknesses and may be shaped at a temperature well below the activation temperature of the intumescent material to permit conforming the barrier to requirements at a job site.

Antioxidant polymer foams and uses thereof are described herein. These foams are synthesized using a Carboni-Lindsey reaction of 1,2,4,5-tetrazine with a polymer having alkenyl functional groups. The foams feature dihydropyridazine functional groups which can be oxidized to consume surrounding reactive oxidizing chemicals and are consequently antioxidant.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a tire rubber composition capable of achieving both on-ice performance and breaking resistance (especially, breaking resistance after exposure to high temperatures) of a tire rubber member having voids, and the solution is to provide a tire rubber composition including a rubber component, a void-introducing agent, and an amine-based antioxidant represented by the following general formula (1):

##STR00001##

where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a monovalent saturated hydrocarbon group, wherein the content of the amine-based antioxidant is 0.1 to 11 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Compositions are provided including an uncrosslinked thermoplastic nitrogen-containing matrix material and composite particles distributed in the matrix material. The composite particles each include a chemical blowing agent particle encapsulated within a shell including an uncrosslinked thermoplastic material. The uncrosslinked thermoplastic material exhibits at least a certain minimum complex viscosity at a decomposition temperature of the chemical blowing agent particle. Also described are foam compositions and articles including the foam compositions, such as a sheet or multilayer construction. Composite particles are further provided. Methods of making the foam compositions are additionally described herein. Also, polishing pads, polishing systems, and methods of polishing a substrate are provided.

A foamable composition comprising from 60 to 99.88% by weight (% wt.) of at least one poly(aryl ether sulfone), from 0.10 to 10.00% by weight (% wt.) of at least one olefinic polymer, from 0.01 to 5.00% by weight (% wt.) of at least one tetrazole compound and from 0.01 to 2.50% by weight (% wt.) of at least one additive selected from the group of titanium dioxide (TiO2), clays, talc, silicates, silica, aluminates, barites, titanates, borates, nitrides, carbon-based materials or combinations thereof, all % wt. are relative to the total weight of the composition (C). Foam materials made from said foamable compositions and articles made from said foam materials.

A foamable composition comprising from 60 to 99.88% by weight (% wt.) of at least one poly(aryl ether sulfone), from 0.10 to 10.00% by weight (% wt.) of at least one olefinic polymer, from 0.01 to 5.00% by weight (% wt.) of at least one tetrazole compound and from 0.01 to 2.50% by weight (% wt.) of at least one additive selected from the group of titanium dioxide (Ti02), clays, talc, silicates, silica, aluminates, barites, titanates, borates, nitrides, carbon-based materials or combinations thereof, all % wt. are relative to the total weight of the composition (C). Foam materials made from said foamable compositions and articles made from said foam materials.