Embodiments of the present invention describe secured fiber-reinforced aerogels and laminate structures formed therefrom. In one embodiment a laminate comprises at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer adjacent to at least one layer of fiber containing material wherein fibers from said at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer are interlaced with fibers of said at least one fiber-containing material. In another embodiment a laminate comprises at least two adjacent fiber-reinforced aerogel layers wherein fibers from at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer are interlaced with fibers of an adjacent fiber-reinforced aerogel layer.

Low-density thermoplastic expandable microspheres are disclosed. Various low-density structures, in particular, sandwich panels, based on foam prepared from the low-density microspheres, are also disclosed. Process of preparing low-density polymeric microspheres, per se, and the corresponding low-density structures, based on the microsphere foam, are also disclosed.

A method of producing a veneered element, including providing a substrate, applying a sub-layer on a surface of the substrate, applying a veneer layer on the sub-layer, and applying pressure to the veneer layer and/or the substrate, such that at least a portion of the sub-layer permeates through the veneer layer. Also, such a veneered element.

A barrier and method of manufacture thereof is provided. The barrier is suitable for enhancing the reaction to fire of structural elements such as construction boards.

An electrostatic discharge tubing segment includes a porous non-conductive interior surface and an adjacent conductive polymer portion. The conductive polymer portion is configured to transfer electrostatic charge generated by a charged fluid passing through the tubing segment to ground such that electrostatic discharge can be mitigated.

A wallcovering system allows for the rapid creation of interior walls through bonding panels that could be foam or another material to which polyurea adheres. The panels could have joints therein to physically join the panels while the primary adhesion results from the application of the polyurea or another derivative. Also, particles or other additives could be placed in the walls to enable additional functions.

The present invention relates to a cleaning implement that includes a melamine-formaldehyde foam. The melamine-formaldehyde foam includes from about 0.1 to about 5 weight % of at least one linear polymer with a number average molecular weight M.sub.n in the range from 500 to 10,000 g/mol. Additionally the present invention encompasses processes for making and methods for cleaning hard surfaces with a cleaning implement according to the present invention.

Described herein is a wall assembly for use in walls of energy efficient residential or commercial buildings which can provide improved thermal resistance, moisture resistance and structural capacity. The wall assembly includes a frame assembly, an outer fiberboard, and a closed cell foam layer. The fiberboard is laminated with a lamination such as a non-perforated, non-woven polyolefin permeable membrane. The closed cell foam layer couples the frame assembly and the outer fiberboard. Also described herein is a method of manufacturing the wall assembly.

A cleaning device for removing marks from a surface includes a body of melamine foam sponge having a front side and a rear side opposed to the front side, and a holding layer secured to the rear side of the body of melamine foam sponge to prevent relative movement therebetween. The holding layer is preferably a cloth and more preferably natural or synthetic chamois which can be used to wipe and/or buff the surface after rubbing the body of melamine foam sponge on the surface to remove at least one surface mark. The body of melamine foam sponge can be pre-moistened with a liquid such as a disinfecting solution.

For forming a sound absorption/insulation honeycomb panel by stacking an air-permeable material, a honeycomb material filled with a sound absorption material and a reflector, and adhesively joining these materials, it is hard to join the honeycomb material and the air-permeable material adhesively due to a thin wall surface of the honeycomb material and a resultant line to surface adhesive joint therebetween, causing a problem of low adhesive strength. By using a water absorption honeycomb material, an adhesive joint is formed with an adhesive joint area increased by dipping an end of a wall surface of a cell forming the water absorption honeycomb material into a water-soluble adhesive, making the end flexible over a fixed period of time, and then pressing the end strongly against an air-permeable material as a counterpart of the adhesive joint to deform a tip into an inverted T-shape.