A composition comprising a fiber component, at least one surfactant/foaming agent, at least one dispersant, and optionally at least one binder, wherein the fiber component forms a viscous mixture that is converted to a foam product upon the addition of the surfactant/foaming agent once the viscous mixture reaches a predetermined dryness, wherein the foam product is resistant to shrinkage during drying and remains rigid.

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 foamable polymeric mixture is provided that includes a polymer composition and at least one blowing agent. The blowing agent may comprise any blowing agents known not to deplete the ozone or increase the prevalence of global warming, such as CO.sub.2, HFO, HFC and mixtures thereof. The foamable polymeric mixture may further includes at least one processing aid comprising an organic phase changing material. The inventive foamable mixture is capable of processing at a pressure range of 800 to 1200 psi (5.5 to 8.3 MPa).

A foamed thermoplastic material includes a thermoplastic material exhibiting, in its unfoamed state, a particular flammability index, flame growth rate, and specific extinction area. The foamed thermoplastic material further includes a plurality of cells having a number average mean diameter of 5 to 150 micrometers present in an amount effective to provide the foamed thermoplastic material with a density that is 10 to 90 percent of the density of the unfoamed thermoplastic material. The foamed thermoplastic material exhibits a desirable tensile elongation and dielectric constant. A process for forming the foamed thermoplastic material, articles including the foamed thermoplastic material, and an article-forming process are also described.

A void-containing layer is diclosed in which a pressure-sensitive adhesive or an adhesive is less likely penetrated into voids. The void-containing layer of the present invention includes: nanoparticles, surfaces of which are modified with a compound having a surface orientation, wherein the void-containing layer has a void fraction of 15 vol %.

The present invention provides a void-containing layer in which a pressure-sensitive adhesive or an adhesive is less likely penetrated into voids. The void-containing layer of the present invention includes: nanoparticles, surfaces of which are modified with a compound having a surface orientation, wherein the void-containing layer has a void fraction of 35 vol %.

A variety of polymeric composites with tunable mechanical stiffness and electrical conductivity are claimed herein. For example, the composite may have an elastomeric matrix, a plurality of tunable particles, and a plurality of conductive fibers embedded in the matrix. The composites may also be a tunable foam matrix and an elastomeric matrix. In some embodiments, the composites are a low melting point alloy (LMPA) foam infiltrated by an elastomer, whose stiffness can be tuned by more than two orders of magnitude through external heating. In other embodiments, the composite may be a conductive particle-fiber-matrix three-component composite capable of changing its elastic rigidity rapidly and reversibly when powered with electrical current.

The invention disclosed herein is an automotive acoustic panel including a porous sound-absorption material made from a polymer and an expanded perlite. One or more silane compounds may be coupled or coated onto the expanded perlite while a coupling agent and a chemical foaming agent may additionally be added to the automotive acoustic panel.

A foamable polymeric mixture is provided that includes a polymer composition and at least one blowing agent. The blowing agent may comprise any blowing agents known not to deplete the ozone or increase the prevalence of global warming, such as CO.sub.2, HFO, HFC and mixtures thereof. The foamable polymeric mixture may further includes at least one processing aid comprising an organic phase changing material. The inventive foamable mixture is capable of processing at a pressure range of 800 to 1200 psi (5.5 to 8.3 MPa).

A reinforced polycarbonate composition includes 30-60 wt % of a homopolycarbonate; 5-30 wt % of a poly(carbonate-siloxane); 10-40 wt % of a high heat polycarbonate having a glass transition temperature of 170 C. or higher determined per ASTM D3418 with a 20 C./min heating rate; 1-10 wt % of a phosphorous-containing flame retardant present in amount effective to provide 0.1-1.5 wt % phosphorous; 0.01-0.5 wt % of an anti-drip agent; 5-30 wt % of a reinforcing fiber; and optionally, up to 10 wt % of an additive composition, wherein each amount is based on the total weight of the reinforced polycarbonate composition, which sums to 100 wt %. A molded sample of the polycarbonate composition has a heat deflection temperature greater than 115 C., preferably greater than 125 C., more preferably greater than 130 C., or a flame test rating of V1, preferably V0 as measured according to UL-94 at a thickness of 0.8 millimeter, or at a thickness of 0.6 mm, or at a thickness of 0.4 mm.