A composition composed of at least a first ethylene/α-olefin/nonconjugated polyene interpolymer, which can be used to produce low compression set, foamed rubber materials, articles made from the composition, and methods of producing the composition and articles.

Provided is a gas barrier material having superior gas barrier properties. This gas barrier material 1 comprises a matrix resin 2, and a carbon material 3 disposed in the matrix resin 2, wherein the carbon material 3 contains a partially exfoliated graphite having a structure in which graphite is partially exfoliated.

Methods of making self-expended lignofoams are provided. In embodiments, such a method comprises exposing a self-expanding lignofoam composition comprising raw lignin and a thermoplastic polymer to an elevated temperature for a period of time to soften the composition, desorb water from the raw lignin or induce at least some hydroxyl groups of the raw lignin to undergo dehydration reactions to generate water or both, vaporize the water, and generate pores throughout the softened composition. The method further comprises cooling the porous, softened composition to room temperature to provide the self-expanded lignofoam. The self-expanding lignofoam composition is free of an added plasticizer, an added lubricant, an added foaming agent, and an added blowing agent, and the thermoplastic polymer is not a starch, not a polyurethane, and not a polysiloxane. The resulting self-expanded lignofoams are also provided.

An emulsifier-free process for the preparation of water expandable polymer beads, including: a) providing an emulsifier-free starting composition comprising styrene, b) prepolymerizing the starting composition to obtain a prepolymer composition, c) mixing an aqueous blowing agent with the prepolymer composition at an elevated temperature to obtain an inverse emulsion of water droplets in the prepolymer composition, wherein the aqueous blowing agent comprises water and a water soluble initiator dissolved in the water and the water droplets comprise spheres of a styrene polymer, wherein the water soluble initiator partly decomposes due to the elevated temperature leading to the formation of the inverse emulsion of water droplets in the prepolymer composition, d) suspending the inverse emulsion in an aqueous medium to yield an aqueous suspension of suspended droplets and e) polymerizing monomers in the droplets of the suspension obtained by step d) to obtain the water expandable polymer beads.

The present invention provides for concentrated aqueous silk fibroin solutions and an all-aqueous mode for preparation of concentrated aqueous fibroin solutions that avoids the use of organic solvents, direct additives, or harsh chemicals. The invention further provides for the use of these solutions in production of materials, e.g., fibers, films, foams, meshes, scaffolds and hydrogels.

In a polypropylene-based foamed molded body of the present invention, a density which is measured on the basis of ISO1183 is greater than or equal to 0.15 g/cm.sup.3 and less than or equal to 0.54 g/cm.sup.3, thermal resistance (R) at 30° C. in a thickness direction which is measured on the basis of ASTM E1530 is greater than or equal to 0.020 m.sup.2.Math.K/W and less than or equal to 0.125 m.sup.2.Math.K/W, thermal capacity per unit area (Q) at 30° C. is greater than or equal to 1.0 kJ/m.sup.2.Math.K and less than or equal to 2.5 kJ/m.sup.2.Math.K, and Expression 1 described below is satisfied.

Q>1/(4×R.sup.1/2)  (Expression 1)

The present invention relates to cellular solid materials comprising cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and an anionic or non-ionic surfactant, a method for preparation of such materials, as well as their use.

Foam compositions comprise at least an ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer. The ethylene/α-olefin interpolymers of the present disclosure are multi-block copolymers comprising at least one soft block and at least one hard block. The foam compositions can further comprise a blowing agent and a cross-linking agent. Methods of making the foam compositions and foamed articles made from the foam compositions are also described.

The present invention refers to a flame retardant comprising a complex formed by phosphine oxide and transition metal salt, wherein has good flame retardant property. The present invention also refers to a composite flame retardant and flame retardant antistatic composition, wherein composite flame retardant comprise the flame retardant and the inorganic flame retardant component as described above, which has an enhanced flame retardant effect; said flame retardant antistatic composition, comprising above described flame retardant or composite flame retardant and carbon nanofiber antistatic agent, wherein carbon nanofiber antistatic agent could have interaction with flame retardant, effectively reducing the amount of flame retardant, and the combination with the flame retardant without the adverse effect of each other which result in negative performance of each other, does not influence the subsequent foaming process and the foam structure and physical properties. The present invention also further refers to a flame resistant method, which adds the abovementioned flame retardant, composite flame retardant or flame retardant antistatic composition into the material, so that said material has flame retardance or flame retardance and antistatic, and has excellent mechanical properties.

A bead foam is made of thermoplastic polyurethane, a styrene polymer, and an impact modifier. Moldings can be produced from the bead foam and processes for the production of the bead foams and moldings can be utilized. The moldings can be used for shoe intermediate soles, shoe insoles, shoe combisoles, cushioning elements for shoes, bicycle saddles, bicycle tires, damping elements, cushioning, mattresses, underlays, grips, protective films, in components in the automobile-interior sector or automobile-exterior sector, balls and sports equipment, or as floorcovering.