A method for dielectrically heating foamable composition to foam and set the composition is described. In particular, radio frequency (RF) heating is used to heat the foamable composition to provide insulation in the manufacture of an article.

A thermal barrier configured to be rolled and unrolled while providing a thermal value of greater than about R=3. The thermal barrier comprises multiple layers including a first layer comprising a fiber mesh core and material selected from the group comprising: polyurethane, rubber, and polyvinylchloride, a second layer bonded to the first layer, the second layer comprising material selected from the group comprising: polyolefin foam, polyurethane foam and rubber based foam, and a third layer bonded to the second layer, the third layer comprising a thin film or fabric material selected from the group comprising: polyester, polyolefin, polyurethane and nylon, wherein the first layer has a greater length along the linear dimension than the second layer and the third 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 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.

A cushioning element includes a fabric, a first cushioning element on a first side of the fabric, and a second cushioning element on a second side of the fabric. The first cushioning element and second cushioning element may be superimposed. The fabric may include a first layer and a second layer that are superimposed, with the first cushioning element secured to and protruding from the first layer and the second cushioning element secured to and protruding from the second layer. Each of the first cushioning element and second cushioning element may include a plurality of interconnected walls formed from an elastomeric gel material. The walls of the first cushioning element and second cushioning element may be aligned or offset.

A method for forming a cushioning element comprises molding a first cushioning element on a first side of a fabric and molding a second cushioning element on a second side of the fabric. The first cushioning element and second cushioning element may be superimposed. The fabric may include a first layer and a second layer that are superimposed, with the first cushioning element secured to and protruding from the first layer and the second cushioning element secured to and protruding from the second layer. Each of the first cushioning element and second cushioning element may include a plurality of interconnected walls formed from an elastomeric gel material. The walls of the first cushioning element and second cushioning element may be aligned or offset.

In a bioelectrode capable of detecting biometric information of a living body in touch with the bioelectrode, the bioelectrode includes a base, a first conductive layer that is laminated on a surface side of the base, that is formed by dispersing scale-shaped conductive particles in an insulating binder, and that has extensibility, and a second conductive layer that is laminated on a surface side of the first conductive layer, that has conductivity, and that is harder than the first conductive layer. The second conductive layer is disposed to be exposed at the surface side of the base where the second conductive layer is touchable with the living body. An amount of conductive particles filled in the second conductive layer is smaller than an amount of the conductive particles filled in the first conductive layer. The second conductive layer has a larger outer contour than the first conductive layer.

Provided is a display apparatus including a display panel that is capable of being rolled up, and a protection member, the protection member including a back surface portion layered closer to a back surface of the display panel, a first folded portion folded toward a front surface of the display panel from one end of the back surface portion in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a roll-up direction in which the display panel is rolled up, and a second folded portion folded toward the front surface from another end of the back surface portion in the orthogonal direction. In the display apparatus, the first folded portion includes a first front surface portion arranged at one end of the front surface in the orthogonal direction, and the second folded portion includes a second front surface portion arranged at another end of the front surface in the orthogonal direction.

A system for abating noise emanating from a kitchen electric appliance includes a base of a predetermined size, comprising a first instance of a noise reflecting material, so that said base is disposed underneath, supporting, and contiguous to said kitchen electric appliance, and a sleeve of a predetermined size, including a second instance of a noise reflecting material, one or more layers of at least one noise absorbing material, one closed end, and one open end, so that said one open end slides over said kitchen electric appliance and is contiguous to said base. Said noise is effectively abated by reverberating between said first instance of said noise reflecting material and said second instance of said noise reflecting material and is attenuated by said one or more layers of said at least one noise absorbing material.

Provided is a flexible reinforced composite and an improved athletic shoe comprising the flexible reinforced composite. At least a portion of the reinforced flexible composite comprises coplanar reinforcement rods and a flexible sheet comprising a hinge.

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 ß-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.