This application relates to a method of manufacturing a metal-polymer composite material having high thermal conductivity and electrical insulating properties. The method may include preparing a powder mixture comprising polymer powder and metal powder, and spark plasma sintering (SPS) the powder mixture to produce a composite material. This application also relates to a metal-polymer composite material having high thermal conductivity and electrical insulating properties, manufactured by the method.

A composition comprising; a) at least one homopolymer or copolymer of vinyl acetate; and b) at least one softener.

A composition comprising; a) at least one homopolymer or copolymer of vinyl acetate; and b) at least one softener.

The present invention relates to a method for reducing the crystallization temperature an the melting temperature of a polyamide powder resulting from the polymerization of at least one predominant monomer, in which the reduction in the crystallization temperature is greater than the reduction in the melting temperature, said method comprising a step of polymerization of said at least one predominant monomer with at least one different minor comonomer polymerized according to the same polymerization process as said at least one predominant monomer, said at least one minor comonomer being chosen from aminocarboxylic acids, diamine/diacid pairs, lactams and/or lactones, and said at least one minor comonomer representing from 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total blend of said monomers(s) and comonomer(s), preferably from 0.5% to 15% by weight of said total blend, preferably from 1% to 10% by weight of said total blend.

The present invention relates to a method for reducing the crystallization temperature an the melting temperature of a polyamide powder resulting from the polymerization of at least one predominant monomer, in which the reduction in the crystallization temperature is greater than the reduction in the melting temperature, said method comprising a step of polymerization of said at least one predominant monomer with at least one different minor comonomer polymerized according to the same polymerization process as said at least one predominant monomer, said at least one minor comonomer being chosen from aminocarboxylic acids, diamine/diacid pairs, lactams and/or lactones, and said at least one minor comonomer representing from 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total blend of said monomers(s) and comonomer(s), preferably from 0.5% to 15% by weight of said total blend, preferably from 1% to 10% by weight of said total blend.

A polyarylene sulfide resin particulate has a mean particle diameter from more than 1 m to 100 the uniformity is 4 or less, the melt viscosity measured at temperature of 300 C. and shear rate of 1216 sec.sup.1 is 150 to 500 Pa.Math.s, and the recrystallization temperature, defined as temperature of the heat generation peak at the time of crystallization when cooled from 340 C. to 50 C. at 20 C./min using a differential scanning calorimeter, is 150 to 210 C. The polyarylene sulfide resin particulate is suitable as a material powder for producing a three-dimensional molding by a powder sintering three-dimensional printer can be provided efficiently.

A polyarylene sulfide resin particulate has a mean particle diameter from more than 1 m to 100 the uniformity is 4 or less, the melt viscosity measured at temperature of 300 C. and shear rate of 1216 sec.sup.1 is 150 to 500 Pa.Math.s, and the recrystallization temperature, defined as temperature of the heat generation peak at the time of crystallization when cooled from 340 C. to 50 C. at 20 C./min using a differential scanning calorimeter, is 150 to 210 C. The polyarylene sulfide resin particulate is suitable as a material powder for producing a three-dimensional molding by a powder sintering three-dimensional printer can be provided efficiently.

Methods of forming solid carbon products include disposing a plurality of nanotubes in a press, and applying heat to the plurality of carbon nanotubes to form the solid carbon product. Further processing may include sintering the solid carbon product to form a plurality of covalently bonded carbon nanotubes. The solid carbon product includes a plurality of voids between the carbon nanotubes having a median minimum dimension of less than about 100 nm. Some methods include compressing a material comprising carbon nanotubes, heating the compressed material in a non-reactive environment to form covalent bonds between adjacent carbon nanotubes to form a sintered solid carbon product, and cooling the sintered solid carbon product to a temperature at which carbon of the carbon nanotubes do not oxidize prior to removing the resulting solid carbon product for further processing, shipping, or use.

Methods of forming solid carbon products include disposing a plurality of nanotubes in a press, and applying heat to the plurality of carbon nanotubes to form the solid carbon product. Further processing may include sintering the solid carbon product to form a plurality of covalently bonded carbon nanotubes. The solid carbon product includes a plurality of voids between the carbon nanotubes having a median minimum dimension of less than about 100 nm. Some methods include compressing a material comprising carbon nanotubes, heating the compressed material in a non-reactive environment to form covalent bonds between adjacent carbon nanotubes to form a sintered solid carbon product, and cooling the sintered solid carbon product to a temperature at which carbon of the carbon nanotubes do not oxidize prior to removing the resulting solid carbon product for further processing, shipping, or use.

Improved soles and insoles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. In an aspect, a sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with at least a first and a second surface region is provided. The first surface region comprises expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The second surface region is free from expanded TPU.