A method of producing a polymer aerogel includes dissolving precursors into a solvent, wherein the precursors include monomers, crosslinkers, a controlling agent and an initiator to form a precursor solution, wherein at least one of the monomers or at least one of the crosslinkers has a refractive index of 1.5 or lower, polymerizing the precursor solution to form a gel polymer, and removing the solvent from the gel polymer to produce the polymer aerogel. A method of producing a polymer aerogel include dissolving precursors into a solvent, wherein the precursors include monomers, crosslinkers, a controlling agent and an initiator to form a precursor solution, polymerizing the precursor solution to form a gel polymer, removing the solvent from the gel polymer to produce the polymer aerogel, and reducing a refractive index of one of either the gel polymer or the polymer aerogel.

A light-blocking article is designed to be lightweight but effective to block most incident actinic radiation and can be designed into fabrics, curtains, and other materials. Such an article has an opacifying layer that is capable of blocking predetermined electromagnetic radiation. The article contains (a) porous particles comprising a continuous polymeric binder and pores within the continuous polymeric binder, the porous particles having a glass transition temperature of at least 25° C. and a mode particle size of at least 2 μm and up to and including 50 μm. The article also contains an opacifying colorant that absorbs the predetermined electromagnetic radiation (such as within 400 nm to 700 nm), in an amount of at least 0.001 weight % based on the total dry weight of the opacifying layer, and a matrix polymer in which the porous particles and opacifying colorant are dispersed.

A method of manufacturing a flexible intrinsically antimicrobial absorbent porosic composite controlling for an effective pore size using removable pore-forming substances and physically incorporated, non-leaching antimicrobials. A flexible intrinsically antimicrobial absorbent porosic composite controlled for an effective pore size composited physically incorporated, high-surface area, non-leaching antimicrobials, optionally in which the physically incorporated non-leaching antimicrobial exposes nanopillars on its surface to enhance antimicrobial activity. A kit that enhances the effectiveness of the intrinsically antimicrobial absorbent porosic composite by storing the composite within an antimicrobial container.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams. The method involves reacting a composition (Z1) with at least one polyisocyanate, and occurs in the presence of at least one nucleating agent and a blowing agent, in which the nucleating agent and the blowing agent are mixed to obtain a composition (Z2) that is added to the composition (Z1) before it is reacted with the at least one polyisocyanate. The composition (Z1) contains (i) 100 parts by mass of a composition (ZP) including at least one polyol and at least one catalyst that catalyzes formation of a urethane, urea or isocyanuarate bond, and (ii) from 0.05 to 10 parts by mass of a surfactant TD having an HLB value below 6 and no silicon atom.

Polymer foams based on polyethersulfone (PESU) fulfil the legal specifications demanded by the aviation industry for aircraft interiors. Specifically the demands on fire characteristics, stability to media and mechanical properties constitute a great challenge here. According to the related art, suitable polymer foams are produced as semifinished products. Reprocessing to give shaped articles is uneconomic in terms of time and material exploitation, for example by virtue of large amounts of cutting waste. The problem is solved by the material which is suitable in principle can be processed to give particle foam mouldings. These mouldings can be produced without reprocessing in short cycle times and hence economically. Furthermore, this gives rise to new means of functional integration, for example by direct incorporation of inserts etc. in the foam, and with regard to freedom in terms of design.

A polymer aerogel has polymerizable monomers and crosslinkers, wherein at least one of the monomers or at least one of the crosslinkers has a refractive index of less than 1.5, and the polymer aerogel has a visible transmittance of at least 20%/3 mm, a haze of 50%/3 mm or lower, and a porosity of at least 10%. A method of producing an aerogel includes dissolving precursors into a solvent, wherein the precursors include monomers, crosslinkers, a controlling agent and an initiator to form a precursor solution, wherein at least one of the monomers or at least one of the crosslinkers has a refractive index of 1.5 or lower, polymerizing the precursor solution to form a gel polymer, and removing the solvent from the gel polymer to produce an aerogel polymer.

Useful thermoplastic polymer powders are formed by a method comprising: cooling a foam comprised of a thermoplastic foam below the brittleness temperature of the thermoplastic polymer, wherein the foam has an average strut dimension of 10 to 500 micrometers, and comminuting the cooled foam to form a thermoplastic polymer powder. The method allows for the efficient grinding of the thermoplastic polymer having improved morphology and desirable characteristics such as dry flow without flow aids.

A method of producing a polymer aerogel includes dissolving precursors into a solvent, wherein the precursors include monomers, crosslinkers, a controlling agent and an initiator to form a precursor solution, wherein at least one of the monomers or at least one of the crosslinkers has a refractive index of 1.5 or lower, polymerizing the precursor solution to form a gel polymer, and removing the solvent from the gel polymer to produce the polymer aerogel. A method of producing a polymer aerogel include dissolving precursors into a solvent, wherein the precursors include monomers, crosslinkers, a controlling agent and an initiator to form a precursor solution, polymerizing the precursor solution to form a gel polymer, removing the solvent from the gel polymer to produce the polymer aerogel, and reducing a refractive index of one of either the gel polymer or the polymer aerogel.

A composition is used for producing novel types of foam in that they combine specifically good flame-retardant properties with a good elongation at break. These novel types of foam are produced from a blend of polyether sulphone (PES) and polyphenylene sulphone (PPSU).

A thermoplastic micro-porous polyurethane elastomer material with a micro particle size and a method for preparing the same are provided. The material comprises, by weight, 1-97% of support frame polymer material, 1-97% of pressure-resistant low-resilience polymer material, 0.01-0.5% of nucleating agent, and 0.1-10% of foaming agent. The method comprises the following steps: (1) is feeding polymer materials and the nucleating agent from the front end of a double-screw extruder, feeding the foaming agent from the middle, hot-melting and fully mixing all the raw materials, then further homogenizing hot melt in a static mixer, and afterwards, controlling the pressure of the hot melt and quantitatively delivering the hot melt by a melt pump. (2) is pelletizing the hot melt entering an underwater pelletizing chamber from the melt pump via a die, separating particles carried out by process water, and screening and drying the particles to obtain a target product.