Gel compositions have a tunable hardness controlled by exposure to an external stimulus. Further disclosed herein are methods for making such gel compositions and devices that use such gel compositions. In one aspect, the gel compositions can be used to prepare physical 3-D replicas of the topography of a target surface.

The present invention relates to a molded article with a sufficiently metallic appearance and a sufficient degree of brightness.

Rheology-modified, additive-containing ethylenic polymer compositions are prepared in a continuously operated extruder comprising first, second and third zones by a process comprising the steps of: mixing in the second zone of the extruder an ethylenic polymer and a high-temperature decomposing peroxide at a temperature such that the half-life of the peroxide is equal to or greater than one minute and for a sufficient period of time to modify the rheology of the ethylenic polymer to produce a rheology-modified, melted ethylenic polymer for transfer to the third zone of the extruder; and adding to the third zone one or more additives to the rheology-modified, melted ethylenic polymer to produce the rheology-modified, additive-containing ethylenic polymer.

A polycarbonate resin composition pellet contains a polycarbonate resin (A), an aromatic compound (B) represented by general formula (1) below, and a phosphorus-based stabilizer (C), the aromatic compound (B) being contained in the pellet in an amount of 0.001% to 1% by mass, the phosphorus-based stabilizer (C) being contained in the pellet in an amount of 0.003% to 0.5% by mass: ##STR00001##
(where Y is a hydrogen atom or an organic group that does not contain any of nitrogen, sulfur, and halogen elements, when Y is a hydrogen atom, X is an alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group, when Y is an organic group, X is an organic group that does not contain any of nitrogen, sulfur, and halogen elements, g is 1 or 2, n is 0 to 5, k is 1 to 4, and k+n is 6 or less.)

In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides a polymer composition for use in, cosmetics, coatings, inks, polymer compounding formulation comprising an all-natural, DHN-based, nitrogen-free black knot fungal (BKF) allomelanin extracted from black knots (a fungal growth formed by Apiosporina morbosa). The BKF melanin is naturally sourced, economically extracted, and quite unexpectedly, has been found to have better UV absorbing and antioxidant properties than synthetic melanin (polydopamine) and commercially available sepia melanin. In various embodiments, a small amount of the BKF melanin is substantially uniformly blended into a polymer or similar material to create a composition having excellent UV absorption and antioxidant properties. Surprisingly, it has also been found that the UV absorption and antioxidant properties of these polymer compositions can withstand heating and other processing steps associated with polymers, and in particular, rubber without significant reduction in effectiveness.

The present invention provides an asphalt composition containing an asphalt and a polyester, the polyester being a polycondensate of a polyethylene terephthalate, an alcohol, and a carboxylic acid compound, the polyethylene terephthalate having a value of [(a quantity of heat absorbed in a DSC measurement)−(a quantity of heat generated in a DSC measurement)] of 5 J/g or more and 30 J/g or less and having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.6 or more and 1.05 or less.

A method for manufacturing micronized rubber powders including grinding of a rubber granulated feedstock, size classification and storage of the micronized rubber powders thus obtained. A rubber formulation including at least one natural or synthetic rubber, a micronized rubber composition and optionally one or more of processing aids, antidegradants, fillers, accelerators and curatives. A method for manufacturing a rubber product, as well as to a solid rubber product.

Disclosed is a concise, inexpensive and scalable method for preparing elastomers filled with conductive 2D nanoparticies. The method comprises independently filling elastomer polymer precursors and/or corresponding elastomer polymer curing agents or their precursors with conductive 2D nanoparticles by shear exfoliation of a layered material, followed by mixing the two components nd curing to form the elastomer. Such filled elastomers have utility in preparing various types of sensors which are useful in a variety of practical applications and devices.

Disclosed is a concise, inexpensive and scalable method for preparing elastomers filled with conductive 2D nanoparticies. The method comprises independently filling elastomer polymer precursors and/or corresponding elastomer polymer curing agents or their precursors with conductive 2D nanoparticles by shear exfoliation of a layered material, followed by mixing the two components nd curing to form the elastomer. Such filled elastomers have utility in preparing various types of sensors which are useful in a variety of practical applications and devices.

To provide a method for producing lanthanum hexaboride-containing composite particles which are capable of forming a formed product having sufficiently high transparency and which are excellent in weather resistance, by a simple operation without calcination treatment at high temperature, and a method for producing a formed product using it. Also provided is a method for producing composite particles, which involves: reacting at least one silica precursor selected from a tetraalkoxysilane, its hydrolysate and its condensate, in the presence of lanthanum hexaboride particles, a volatile base, water and an organic solvent to obtain a first reaction mixture, and reacting the first reaction mixture with at least one silicon compound selected from an amino-modified silicone, an alkylsilane and an aminosilane, or the silicon compound and the silica precursor added, to obtain a second reaction mixture containing lanthanum hexaboride-containing composite particles.