A hot press cushioning material includes a cushioning material body in the form of a plate; and surface materials provided on the front and back sides of the cushioning material body. The surface material includes a core layer composed of a heat resistant fiber material for a nonwoven structure, and a front-side resin layer covering the entire front side of the core layer. The core layer has an air permeability of 5 cm.sup.3.Math.cm.sup.−2.Math.s.sup.−1 or less and a bulk density of 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 or more.

The vehicle interior material of the present invention has a multilayer structure, the material including: a hard core layer having a hollow portion inside; a design layer provided on one surface side of the core layer; a first film layer provided between the core layer and the design layer; and a second film layer provided on a surface of the core layer on a side opposite to the first film layer, wherein a strain ca is smaller than a strain εb, the strain εa being a strain on a surface of a structure on a side of the first film layer, the structure having the first film layer, the core layer, and the second film layer, and the strain εb being a strain on a surface of the structure on a side of the second film layer.

A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce at least one of six different materials, wherein each type of material may be configured as a thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages. The materials may be configured as a leather-like material, a foam material, a molded elastomer, a coating, an adhesive, and/or a rigid or semi-rigid material. Illustrative articles made from any combination of the six materials may be recycled using a mechano-chemical process to de-crosslink the thermosetting elastomer.

Sound absorbing or attenuating laminate flooring materials are provided, which are directed to be used in the production of floor covering, floor panels, furniture panels, cabinets, counter-tops and wall panels. As well, the methods for producing such products are provided. In particular, abrasion resistant panels, with a laminated structure, created by forming an assembly which consists of laminating a heat-activated resin impregnated paper wear layer, a decorative layer with printed graphics or a wood veneer decorative layer, a medium density (MDF) or high-density (HDF) natural fiber-based core and a resin impregnated paper balancing layer. To achieve sound absorbing and/or attenuating properties, any or all paper layers may be pre coated with an additional flexible elastomeric coating, film or material prior to assembly of the panel, or the natural fiber core panel may be coated with a flexible elastomeric coating, film or material prior to assembly with the papers. The flexible elastomeric coating, film or material acts to absorb, reduce, and/or ameliorate the sound transmissions inherent in laminated panels.

Sound absorbing or attenuating laminate flooring materials are provided, which are directed to be used in the production of floor covering, floor panels, furniture panels, cabinets, counter-tops and wall panels. As well, the methods for producing such products are provided. In particular, abrasion resistant panels, with a laminated structure, created by forming an assembly which consists of laminating a heat-activated resin impregnated paper wear layer, a decorative layer with printed graphics or a wood veneer decorative layer, a medium density (MDF) or high-density (HDF) natural fiber-based core and a resin impregnated paper balancing layer. To achieve sound absorbing and/or attenuating properties, any or all paper layers may be pre coated with an additional flexible elastomeric coating, film or material prior to assembly of the panel, or the natural fiber core panel may be coated with a flexible elastomeric coating, film or material prior to assembly with the papers. The flexible elastomeric coating, film or material acts to absorb, reduce, and/or ameliorate the sound transmissions inherent in laminated panels.

A polymeric tape comprises a facestock extending lengthwise, the facestock including a polymer. An adhesive layer is on a first surface of the facestock. Tear-cuts are formed into at least one longitudinal edge of the facestock and extending inwardly, the tear-cuts being provided all along the at least one longitudinal edge of the facestock.

A coating created entirely from plant-derived ingredients is disclosed. Illustrative embodiments of the coating may be particularly well suited for use on leather-like materials created from epoxidized natural rubber-based formulations. Illustrative embodiments of the coating created may be comprised of substantially the reaction product between epoxidized vegetable oil and a polyfunctional naturally occurring acid (such as citric acid). Illustrative embodiments this reaction product may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.

Disclosed are films including polypropylene impact copolymers for tarpaulin applications which can provide a combination of desired properties.

An actuator is described, including a first sheet comprising a plurality of first openings,; and a second sheet comprising a plurality of second openings; wherein the first and second sheets are stacked together such that at least one of the first and second openings are misaligned; and the actuator is configured to move from a first state to a second state, wherein in the first state, out-of-plane motion of the first and second sheets is permitted; and in the second state, the first and second sheets as well as the misaligned first and second openings are jammed together to restrict the out-of-plane motion of the first and second sheets. Methods of actuating and making such actuator are also described.

An absorbent cupholder liner and method of manufacturing thereof for protecting a cupholder from spills and wear and tear. In a first embodiment, the cupholder liner is formed from an absorbent body including an absorbent layer and a barrier layer. The absorbent body can include a set of pull tabs. In a second embodiment, the cupholder liner is formed from two absorbent bodies connected by a perforated bridge and feature an absorbent layer and a barrier layer that may be adhered to each other. The cupholder liner can include a set of pull tabs. Placing the absorbent cupholder liner into the beverage holder slots of the cupholder engages the barrier layer of the cupholder liner with the bottom and side walls of the slots. Pull tabs on either side allow for easy gripping and relocation of the cupholder liner.