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.

A polymeric material can be deposited or coated on a surface of a hollow microsphere to produce a sacrificial microsphere. Sacrificial microspheres can provide a cost-effective way to produce lightweight plastics and composites.

This disclosure describes micro, sub-micro, and nano-cellular polymer foams formed from a polymer composition that includes a polymer and functionalized carbon nanotubes, and systems and methods of formation thereof. The microcellular polymer foam has an average pore size within a range of 1 micron to 100 microns, the sub-microcellular polymer foam has an average pore size within a range of 0.5 microns to 1 micron, and the nano-cellular polymer foam has an average pore size within a range of 10 nanometers to 500 nanometers. In other aspects, this disclosure describes micro, sub-micro, and nano-cellular polymer foams formed from a polymer composition that includes a polymer and non-functionalized carbon nanotubes.

A melamine/formaldehyde foam having an open-cell foam structure, with an impregnation applied to the foam structure that comprises at least one particulate phyllosilicate surface-modified with aminosilane and at least one anionically- and/or nonionically-stabilized polyurethane dispersion.

A High Internal Phase Emulsion (HIPE) foam having cellulose nanoparticles.

The present disclosure provides thermally expandable microspheres at least partially prepared from bio-based monomers and a process of their manufacture. The microspheres include a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a blowing agent. The thermoplastic polymer shell includes a copolymer of an itaconate dialkylester and at least one aliphatic or aromatic mono-ethylenically unsaturated comonomer. The itaconate dialkylester has the formula (1): ##STR00001## where each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, separately from one another, is an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, and the copolymer includes 0-50 wt. % of vinyl aromatic comonomers, based on the total weight of the comonomers. The present disclosure further provides expanded microspheres usable in a variety of applications.

A material comprising an encapsulated component within a shell, a rupture initiator associated with the encapsulated component, and a polymeric matrix material, wherein the encapsulation is adapted to fail upon activation of the rupture initiator allowing the encapsulated component to be liberated to initiate a reaction or increase the reactivity of the material.

A method of recycling a large amount of insole scrap stack is proposed. The method includes forming a plate-shaped stack made of flat-plate-shaped foam and woven fabric, separating an insole scrap stack from the plate-shaped stack, and forming a pulverized insole scrap having an average diameter of 0.05 to 0.7 mm by cool-pulverizing or freeze-pulverizing the insole scrap stack at 10° C. or less. The pulverized insole scrap may be used for manufacturing foam.

A polylactic acid resin composition is provided that contains a polylactic acid resin and inorganic particles. The polylactic acid resin composition has a weight average molecular weight of 250,000 to 600,000, and the inorganic particles have a hydrophobicity of 65% by volume or higher and a carbon content of 4% by mass or more.

A polyurethane composition raw material liquid agent comprises a polyol or an isocyanate, and a filler. The polyurethane composition raw material liquid agent has a viscosity at 25° C. and a rotation speed of 60 rpm of 950 mPa.Math.s or less, and is filled in at least one cartridge-like container of a caulking gun that includes two cartridge-like containers and is capable of mixing two components.