There are provided stretchable solid-state electroactive polymer actuators (SSEPA) using electroactive polymers that convert between electrical energy and mechanical energy and having solid-state polymer electrolytes. More particularly, there are provided electroactive polymer (EAP) compositions comprising: 15-60 wt. % of a film-forming polymer; 5-40 wt. % of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and 10-40 wt. % of a plasticizer, solid-state polymer electrolyte (SPE) compositions comprising: 20-60 wt. % of a plasticizer, 10-60 wt. % of a film-forming polymer and 5-25 wt. % of an ionizable salt. The use of these EAP and SPE compositions in electromechanical devices, such as solid-state actuators, generators, sensors, and other energy transducers in various applications are also disclosed.

A high barrier packaging film has an outer layer of a high molecular polymer or a spunbond nonwoven fabric comprising a high molecular polymer, a passive barrier layer of the same high molecular polymer with nanoparticles of bentonite clay dispersed therein, an active barrier layer of the same high molecular polymer with desiccant particles dispersed therein, and a lamination layer of the same high molecular polymer. The outer layer, passive barrier layer and active barrier layer are compound laminated with the lamination layer to form the high barrier packaging film. Because the layers are all formed of a same polymer, such as polyethylene, and because there are no metal components in the layers used to create the film, the high barrier packaging film is readily recyclable.

A microwave heatable composite material that comprises: a heat resistant moldable base material; a microwave heatable material dispersed in the heat resistant moldable base material; and a phase change material dispersed in the heat resistant moldable base material. The mixture of the microwave heatable material, heat resistant moldable base material, and phase change material provide a basic or core microwave heatable article layer to which one or more additional controlled heat releasing and/or heat transfer blocking layers can be combined to enhance and optimize heat therapy. In addition, the microwave heatable articles of the present invention can be used for cold therapy by lowering their temperatures in a freezer of similar cold environment.

The present disclosure provides a composition. The composition contains (A) an ethylene-based polymer; (B) a carboxylic-functionalized ethylene-based polymer; and (C) from 0.5 wt % to 5.0 wt % of a polydimethylsiloxane, based on the total weight of the composition. The present disclosure also provides a film with a layer containing said composition.

Disclosed herein is a thermal radiation modulation system comprising a first low emissivity layer comprising a plurality of distributed, strain-dependent cracks, the first low emissivity layer comprising a first polymer composite layer and a first mirror-like metal layer with low emissivity covering a surface of the first polymer composite layer; a first elastomer layer bonded to the first low emissivity layer opposite to the mirror-like metal layer; and optionally a first stretchable heater, the first stretchable heater is attached to the first elastomer layer opposite to the first low emissivity layer, wherein a top surface of the first low emissivity layer comprising the mirror-like metal layer has a lower emissivity relative to the first elastomer layer. Methods of making and use of the system are further described.

Described herein are fire hoses incorporating new combinations of materials to increase the hose's resilience. Resilient hoses include those made with silicone-coated fabrics or with thermally-resistant fabrics or both.

A flame-retardant material, made up of a mixture of a first carrier, a macromolecule material, a first additive and a second additive, wherein the first carrier is a soft material, the macromolecule material is disposed in the first carrier, the macromolecule material is a composite material composed of nano silica and nano clay, the first additive is disposed in the first carrier, the first additive is aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3.nH.sub.2O), the second additive is disposed in the first carrier, the second additive is magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH).sub.2.nH.sub.2O). As above, the flame-retardant material is made up of the mixture of the first carrier, the macromolecule material, the first additive and the second additive, thereby having uniform heat transfer and dissipation which provide favourable effect on avoiding flame propagation and explosion.

A biodegradable laminate includes: an aliphatic polyester-based resin layer; a bonding layer; and a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin layer laminated on at least one surface of the aliphatic polyester-based resin layer with the bonding layer therebetween. The aliphatic polyester-based resin layer includes an aliphatic polyester-based resin composition containing an aliphatic polyester-based resin (A) including a repeating unit derived from an aliphatic diol and a repeating unit derived from an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid as main constituent units, a polyhydroxyalkanoate (B) including a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit as a main constituent unit, and an inorganic filler (C).

The present disclosure includes articles formed from substrates with coatings, e.g., articles with heat-sealed coatings, and methods of preparation thereof. At least one of the coatings of the articles herein may serve as a water barrier. The coatings may comprise, for example, polymer(s), or polymer(s) and mineral(s), and may include one layer or multiple layers of such material(s) or combinations of materials. At least one of the coatings may comprise a discontinuous layer. The articles herein may be used as containers, such as paper cups.

An object is to provide a barrier material which not only is high in degree of biomass and small in amount of CO.sub.2 emitted, but also has biodegradability and simultaneously has excellent gas barrier property and water vapor barrier property, and which can be suitably used particularly in packaging applications for foods or the like, such as a packaging material, a bag, a paper container, a cardboard box, and a cup. A solution to be provided is a barrier material having an oxygen permeability of 10 ml/m.sup.2.Math.day.Math.atm or less at a temperature of 23 C. and a relative humidity of 0%, and having a total degree of biomass of 50% or more.