Disclosed are foam compositions and processes to form closed-cell tannin-based foams. The foams comprises a continuous polymeric phase defining a plurality of cells, wherein the continuous polymeric phase comprises a tannin-based resin derived from a tannin and a monomer, wherein the monomer comprises furfural, glyoxal, acetaldehyde, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, acrolein, levulinate esters, sugars, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, 2,5-furandicarboxylic aldehyde, urea, difurfural (DFF), furfuryl alcohol, glycerol, sorbitol, lignin, or mixtures thereof, and wherein the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of open-cells and a plurality of closed-cells with an open-cell content measured according to ASTM D6226-5, of less than 50%. The foam composition also comprises a discontinuous phase disposed in at least a portion of the plurality of closed-cells, the discontinuous phase comprising one or more blowing agents.

A transportable case for containing an item, the transportable case having at least one wall comprising a first layer, formed of microcellular foam and a second layer, formed of self-reinforced polymer woven composite, covering at least part of the first layer. The first layer and the second layer are bonded together and moulded into a shape defining a cavity for receiving at least part of the item, the first layer being an inner layer that is closer to the cavity than the second layer.

Disclosed are foam compositions and processes to form closed-cell tannin-based foams. The foams comprises a continuous polymeric phase defining a plurality of cells, wherein the continuous polymeric phase comprises a tannin-based resin derived from a tannin, a first monomer, and a second monomer, wherein the first monomer comprises formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, furfural, glyoxal, acetaldehyde, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, acrolein, levulinate esters, sugars, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, 2,5-furandicarboxylic aldehyde, urea, difurfural (DFF), or mixtures thereof, and the second monomer comprises furfuryl alcohol, glycerol, sorbitol, lignin, or mixtures thereof, and wherein the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of open-cells and a plurality of closed-cells with an open-cell content measured according to ASTM D6226-5, of less than 50%. The foam composition also comprises a discontinuous phase disposed in at least a portion of the plurality of closed-cells, the discontinuous phase comprising one or more blowing agents.

A microcellular shoe stiffener has at least one adhesive layer coextruded with and carried on a stiffener core. A liquid, such as liquid nitrogen, is introduced into the extruder for the stiffener core to produce a closed cell foam with a gaseous component. The gas reduces the weight and cost of the stiffener with out significantly reducing stiffness and resiliency.

A tube is for use in a pump that transports a fluid by peristaltic movement and includes: a flow path that serves as a transport path of the fluid and extends in a first direction; and a body portion formed around the flow path, the body portion includes a first layer formed on the flow path and a second layer formed on the first layer, a flexural modulus of elasticity in a radial direction of the second layer is smaller than a flexural modulus of elasticity in a radial direction of the first layer, and the elastic modulus ratio R2 of the second layer is larger than the elastic modulus ratio R1 of the first layer.

In the phenolic resin foam laminate board (10), a surface material (2) is arranged on at least one of one side of a phenolic resin foam (1) and the back side of the one side. The phenolic resin foam (1) has a density of not less than 22 kg/m.sup.3 and not more than 50 kg/m.sup.3, a cell diameter of not less than 50 m and not more than 170 m, and a closed cell ratio of not less than 80%. When HCFO-1224yd(Z), aliphatic hydrocarbons having a carbon number of 6 or less, chlorinated saturated hydrocarbons having a carbon number of 5 or less, and hydrofluoroolefin are gas components, the phenolic resin foam contains only HCFO-1224yd (Z) as a gas component. A cell internal pressure of air bubble is 0.20 atm or more.

Co-cured urethane and vinyl ester, epoxy, or unsaturated polyester gel coats having improved toughness and flexibility compared with conventional polyester gel coats are disclosed. The gel coats, which have 10-50 wt. % urethane content, adhere well to structural layers and can be used in a traditional in-mold process. Co-cured elastomeric coatings comprising from 50 to 95 wt. % of a urethane component and an unsaturated polyester, epoxy, or vinyl ester are also disclosed. Unlike conventional urethane coatings, the elastomeric coatings adhere well to structural layers and can be used in a traditional in-mold process. Castings or structural layers comprising a reinforced thermoset of co-cured urethane and vinyl ester, epoxy, or unsaturated polyester components, including 10-95 wt. % of the urethane component, are also described. The invention includes in-mold processes for making laminates that utilize the gel coats, elastomeric coatings, and/or structural layers. The in-mold process gives flexible, durable, urethane-containing laminates having good interlayer adhesion.

The invention is directed to a composite structure in which a metal member having a roughened surface and a resin member are joined in a state in which at least a portion of the roughened surface is included. The resin member is made of a molded article obtained by melt-molding a polyarylene sulfide resin composition containing a polyarylene sulfide resin. In the roughened surface, a cumulative pore volume of a pore diameter in a range of 0.1 m to 20 m is in a range of 0.5 nL/mm.sup.2 or more and 5 nL/mm.sup.2 or less measured by mercury porosimetry. According to the invention, it is possible to provide a composite structure that is obtained by joining a metal member and a molded article made of polyarylene sulfide resin composition and is more excellent in joining strength, heat cycle resistance, and sealing properties, and a method for producing the composite structure.

A composite radiative cooling material includes a first layer including a reflective material, a second layer including a porous material, and a third layer including an emissive material. The optical properties of the respective materials and the arrangement of the respective layers cause the radiative cooling material to exhibit a total solar reflectance greater than 85%, and a thermal emissivity greater than 85% in a wavelength range of 8 to 13 m. The layers may be in a vertically stacked arrangement, with the third layer capable of directly facing the sky when the composite radiative cooling material is installed for cooling a load, the second layer arranged under the third layer, and the first layer arranged under the second layer. The composite radiative cooling material may be thermally coupled to a cooling load to provide radiative cooling to the cooling load.

A method is provided for making a microcellular shoe stiffener has first and second adhesive layers coextruded on opposite first and second surfaces of a stiffener core. The stiffener core may include a recycled polymeric material. Nitrogen in a supercritical fluid state is introduced into the extruder for the stiffener core to produce a closed cell foam with a gaseous component. The gas reduces the weight and cost of the stiffener without significantly reducing stiffness and resiliency.