A pipe joint (1) comprising: a tubular main body (10) having a flow path inside, which is formed of a resin comprising a copolymer having one or more selected from a vinyl cyanide monomer unit and an acrylic monomer unit, a rubber component, and an aromatic vinyl monomer unit; and a socket section (20a) integrally formed with the main body (10), wherein: the main body (10) has a foamed resin layer (30) and a non-foamed resin layer (50) covering the foamed resin layer (30); the amount of the rubber component in the foamed resin layer (30) as determined by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is within a specific range; the amount of the rubber component in the non-foamed resin layer (50) is within a specific range; and a ratio (L.sub.a/L.sub.a) of length (L.sub.a) from a base end (21a) to an opening end (22a) of the socket section (20a) to a thickness (d.sub.a) of the socket section (20a) at the opening end is 2.0 or more and 10.0 or less.

A pipe joint (1) comprising: a tubular main body (10) having a flow path inside, which is formed of a resin comprising a copolymer having one or more selected from a vinyl cyanide monomer unit and an acrylic monomer unit, a rubber component, and an aromatic vinyl monomer unit; and a socket section (20a) integrally formed with the main body (10), wherein: the main body (10) has a foamed resin layer (30) and a non-foamed resin layer (50) covering the foamed resin layer (30); the amount of the rubber component in the foamed resin layer (30) as determined by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is within a specific range; the amount of the rubber component in the non-foamed resin layer (50) is within a specific range; and a ratio (L.sub.a/L.sub.a) of length (L.sub.a) from a base end (21a) to an opening end (22a) of the socket section (20a) to a thickness (d.sub.a) of the socket section (20a) at the opening end is 2.0 or more and 10.0 or less.

An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, which may be located at least in part between the electrodes. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids, including a gas, and separated from each other by polymer walls. The device may be an electroactive device, such as an actuator having a response time for a transition between actuation states. The gas may have a characteristic diffusion time (e.g., to diffuse half the mean wall thickness through the polymer walls) that is less than the response time. The nanovoids may be sufficiently small (e.g., below 1 micron in diameter or an analogous dimension), and/or the polymer walls may be sufficiently thin, such that the gas interchange between gas in the voids and gas absorbed by the polymer walls may occur faster than the response time, and in some examples, effectively instantaneously.

The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of polyurethane foams comprising a step wherein a chemical compound with a low particle size releases a chemical and/or physical blowing agent by decomposition, polyurethane foams prepared by such processes as well as compositions comprising at least one polyol and a chemical compound with a low particle size capable of releasing a chemical and/or physical blowing agent by thermally- and/or chemically-induced degradation and uses of such compositions.

The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of polyurethane foams comprising a step wherein a chemical compound with a low particle size releases a chemical and/or physical blowing agent by decomposition, polyurethane foams prepared by such processes as well as compositions comprising at least one polyol and a chemical compound with a low particle size capable of releasing a chemical and/or physical blowing agent by thermally- and/or chemically-induced degradation and uses of such compositions.

A polymer composition with increased melt strength is disclosed. The polymer composition contains at least one polypropylene polymer combined with at least one melt strength modifier. The melt strength modifier can comprise a sorbitol derivative in an amount sufficient to change the melt strength characteristics and properties of the polymer. The polymer composition can be used in thermoforming processes and to produce polymer foams. The melt strength modifier can increase the melt strength of the polymer without having to induce branching in the polypropylene polymer.

Example methods include depositing a precursor layer onto a substrate where the precursor layer includes droplets comprising a polymerizable material, inducing a phase inversion in the precursor layer to obtain a modified precursor layer including droplets of a non-polymerizable liquid within a polymerizable liquid mixture, and polymerizing the polymerizable liquid mixture to obtain a nanovoided polymer element. Examples include devices fabricated using nanovoided polymer elements fabricated using such methods, including electroactive devices such as actuators and sensors.

An optical element includes a nanovoided polymer layer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Compression or expansion of the nanovoided polymer layer, for instance, can be used to reversibly control the size and shape of the nanovoids within the polymer layer and hence tune its refractive index over a range of values, e.g., during operation of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

Compositions and methods are presented in which aragonite, and especially oolitic aragonite particles are used as infill material in an artificial turf structure or as sub-growth substrate for natural grass. Advantageously, oolitic aragonite particles provide: a superior microporous surface for effective water saturation to impart thermal control and environmental compatibility; ammonia neutralization of urine by reducing urea hydrolysis with the free calcium presented in the aragonite particles; and aragonite particle uniformity allowing for reduced compaction and desirable water draining.

A superabsorbent polymer according to the present invention has excellent initial absorption properties, and thus it may be used in sanitary materials such as diapers, etc., thereby exhibiting excellent performances.