A door includes a rectangular panel having a first face, a second face, and two pairs of opposing edges, in which the edges of each pair of edges are parallel and in which a first pair of edges is longer than a second pair of edges. The rectangular panel includes a layered composite material, in which a first layer of the composite material has a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR) and a second layer of the composite material is disposed in contact with the first layer and that includes a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR). The door includes a hinge including plates joined together by a joint, in which a first one of the plates is attached to a first one of the edges of the first pair of edges and in which a second one of the plates extends beyond the first one of the edges. The door also includes a handle opening defined through a thickness of the rectangular panel.

The present invention provides a continuous process for solid-state expansion of a biopolymer, e.g., polylactic acid, which can be used to manufacture reduced-density thermoplastic materials with improved physical and thermal properties. By incorporating multiple stages of heating into the process as a means to regulate heat flux, unprecedented control of microstructure and crystallinity can be achieved. Thermoplastic sheets with the distinct cellular characteristics implied by the process disclosed herein were found to be thicker and stronger than materials prepared by conventional processes. Thermoforming sheets with such characteristics enabled the production of light-weight thermally-stable, compostable products that resist warping, and are thus suitable for a range of industrial applications.

A cooking vessel includes a base having a flat bottom and a sidewall connected to and surrounding the base, thereby defining an interior space configured for containing food. The base comprises a layered composite material that includes a first layer of the composite material has a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR) and a second layer of the composite material is disposed in contact with the first layer. The cooking vessel includes a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR).

A thermal insulation article includes a thermally insulating pad shaped to be positioned in a cavity of a rectangular prism shipping container. The pad includes a solid compostable panel formed primarily of starch and/or plant fiber pulp that holds together as a single unit, and a water-proof or water-resistant film forming a pocket enclosing the panel. The panel includes a first section, a second section, and a third section connecting the first section to the second section, the first and second section each having a central portion and two flaps that extend from the central portion beyond the third section, and wherein the panel is foldable into an open box.

A display device includes a display panel and a cushion layer disposed below the display panel. The cushion layer includes a first foam layer having a first density, a second foam layer disposed above the first foam layer and having a second density less than the first density, and a third foam layer disposed above the second foam layer and having a third density greater than the first density. The third form layer is disposed closer to the display panel than the first foam layer. The display device provides improved surface quality, impact resistance, and restoration properties.

A roofing membrane and a method of making the same is provided. The roofing membrane includes a top layer having a flame retardant and a first silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer with a density less than 0.90 g/cm.sup.3; a scrim layer; and a bottom layer having a flame retardant and a second silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer with a density less than 0.90 g/cm.sup.3. The top and bottom layers of the roofing membrane both exhibit a compression set of from about 5.0% to about 35.0%, as measured according to ASTM D 395 (22 hrs @ 70 C.).

An elastomeric article is provided that includes a composition having a silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer with a density less than 0.90 g/cm.sup.3. The elastomeric article can exhibit a compression set of from about 5.0% to about 35.0%, as measured according to ASTM D 395 (22 hrs @70 C.). The silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer can include a first polyolefin having a density less than 0.86 g/cm.sup.3, a second polyolefin having a crystallinity less than 40%, a silane crosslinker, a grafting initiator, and a condensation catalyst.

A shoe sole composition and method for making a shoe sole are provided. The shoe sole includes a composition comprising a foamed silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer having a density less than 0.50 g/cm.sup.3. The shoe sole exhibits a compression set of from about 5.0% to about 20.0%, as measured according to ASTM D 395 (6 hrs @ 50 C.). The foamed silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer can be produced from a blend including a first polyolefin having a density less than 0.86 g/cm.sup.3, a second polyolefin, having a crystallinity less than 40%, a silane crosslinker, a grafting initiator, a condensation catalyst, and a foaming agent.

Provided are a seat cover for an automobile and a manufacturing method therefor, the seat cover comprising a surface-treated layer, a cover layer, a soft foam layer, and a rear layer and comprising an embossing pattern formed on the top surface, wherein the soft foam layer comprises 15 to 20 foam cells per unit area of 1 mm.sup.2 of the surface thereof.

A multilayer foam film comprising high density polyethylene for direct and non-direct food contact and aseptic packaging application is disclosed. In an embodiment, the film has a bulk density of less than 0.962 gr/cm.sup.3 wherein more than 50% of the cells in the foam layer are closed cells. In an embodiment, the foam films are thick (generally more than 8 mils thick) and have a bending stiffness value of more than 18, in Taber stiffness unit configuration according to TAPPI/ANSI T 489 om-15, and the ratio of the mass per unit area (the mass of a unit area of the film in gram per meter-squared (gr/m.sup.2)) over the stiffness value in Taber unit configuration is equal to or less than 13. In an embodiment, the film has a very smooth surface with a smoothness value of less than 25 in Sheffiled smoothness unit configuration according to TAPPI T 538. The described foam film can have a water vapor transmission rate value of less than 1 gr/m.sup.2/24 hr, according to ASTM E398-13. The described foam film can have an oxygen transmission rate value of less than 10 cc/m.sup.2/24 hr, according to ASTM D3985.