An insulated wire includes a conductor, and a flame-retardant insulation layer that includes a resin composition including a flame retardant and is arranged around the conductor, and a water-blocking layer that is arranged around the flame-retardant insulation layer and has a water absorption of not more than 0.5% at saturation. The thickness of the water-blocking layer is not less than 25 μm.

The present invention provides a method for producing an at least partially crosslinked polymer composition, having a first melt index (MI) value and a first tensile strength, comprising the steps of: a. providing an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, the EVA copolymer having a second MI value and a second tensile strength and containing at least 30 wt % units derived from vinyl acetate, b. adding from 0.01 to 0.03 wt % of an organic peroxide, wherein the organic peroxide is diluted in 0.001 to 0.05 wt % of white oil, and c. blending the EVA copolymer and the organic peroxide at a temperature sufficient to initiate crosslinking. The first MI value of the at least partially crosslinked polymer composition is less than 5 g/10 min (190° C., 2.16 kg).

The present invention provides a method for producing an at least partially crosslinked polymer composition, having a first melt index (MI) value and a first tensile strength, comprising the steps of: a. providing an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, the EVA copolymer having a second MI value and a second tensile strength and containing at least 30 wt % units derived from vinyl acetate, b. adding from 0.01 to 0.03 wt % of an organic peroxide, wherein the organic peroxide is diluted in 0.001 to 0.05 wt % of white oil, and c. blending the EVA copolymer and the organic peroxide at a temperature sufficient to initiate crosslinking. The first MI value of the at least partially crosslinked polymer composition is less than 5 g/10 min (190° C., 2.16 kg).

The present invention relates to homogeneous sulfur-modified polymer compositions, methods related thereto and an asphaltic concrete mixture.

The present invention relates to homogeneous sulfur-modified polymer compositions, methods related thereto and an asphaltic concrete mixture.

Two part sole structures are provided having a first foam component containing a polyolefin resin with a polyurethane resin component adhered to a surface of the first foam component. For example, in some aspects, a sole structure or a portion thereof is provided having a first sole component containing a foam composition and a second sole component adhered to a surface of the first sole component, where the second sole component includes a polyurethane resin. The second sole component is in some aspects printed or extruded onto the surface of the foam. In particular, midsoles including the foams and having an outsole component on the ground facing portion are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the sole structures are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the sole structures.

Two part sole structures are provided having a first foam component containing a polyolefin resin with a polyurethane resin component adhered to a surface of the first foam component. For example, in some aspects, a sole structure or a portion thereof is provided having a first sole component containing a foam composition and a second sole component adhered to a surface of the first sole component, where the second sole component includes a polyurethane resin. The second sole component is in some aspects printed or extruded onto the surface of the foam. In particular, midsoles including the foams and having an outsole component on the ground facing portion are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the sole structures are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the sole structures.

Polyamide-filled EVA copolymer compositions comprising a continuous EVA copolymer phase and a discontinuous polyamide phase are produced by a melt mixing process. When crosslinked with peroxide curatives the polyamide-filled EVA copolymer compositions exhibit enhanced resistance to heat aging compared to EVA elastomer compositions reinforced with carbon black or other inorganic fillers.

Polyamide-filled EVA copolymer compositions comprising a continuous EVA copolymer phase and a discontinuous polyamide phase are produced by a melt mixing process. When crosslinked with peroxide curatives the polyamide-filled EVA copolymer compositions exhibit enhanced resistance to heat aging compared to EVA elastomer compositions reinforced with carbon black or other inorganic fillers.

The invention relates to a method for producing a hydrocarbon resin, in which method a monomer mixture which contains an aromatic component containing indene and/or C.sub.1-4 alkylindene and a cyclic diolefin component containing a cyclic diolefin compound is polymerized by heating to a polymerization temperature of at least 180° C. to obtain a product stream containing hydrocarbon resin, wherein oligomers which contain units originating from the cyclic diolefin compound and/or units originating from the aromatic component are separated from the product stream and returned to the monomer mixture, and wherein the hydrocarbon resin is heated in an annealing step to a temperature of 150° C. to 300° C. for a period of 15 minutes to 240 hours. The invention also relates to a hydrocarbon resin that is obtainable by the method, to a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, and to the use of the hydrocarbon resin and the hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin.