The present invention relates to a polyurethane, in particular a thermoplastic polyurethane, obtainable or obtained by reacting at least the components (i) to (ii): (i) a polyisocyanate composition; (ii) a polyol composition, comprising (ii.1) at least one polyester diol or polyether diol having a number-average molecular weight in the range from 500 to 3000 g/mol, (ii.2) at least one polysiloxane having two terminal isocyanate-reactive functionalities selected from the group consisting of thio group, hydroxyl group and amino group. The invention additionally relates to a process for preparing this polyurethane, to the use thereof, to a molded body comprising the polyurethane. Furthermore, the invention relates to foam beads based on polyurethane, obtained or obtainable from the polyurethane, to a process for producing foam beads and also to bead foams and to the use thereof.

Polymer foams based on polyetherimides (PEIs) fulfill 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 related art, suitable polymer foams are produced as semi-finished 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 material is suitable in principle and 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.

Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear are provided. In various aspects, the methods comprise utilizing additive manufacturing methods with foam particles. In some aspects, the additive manufacturing methods comprise increasing the temperature of a plurality of foam particles with actinic radiation under conditions effective to fuse a portion of the plurality of foam particles comprising one or more thermoplastic elastomers. Increasing the temperature of the foam particles can be carried out for one or multiple iterations. The disclosed methods can be used to manufacturer articles with sub-regions that exhibit differing degrees of fusion between the foam particles, thereby resulting in sub-regions with different properties such as density, resilience, and/or flexural modulus. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear are provided. In various aspects, the methods comprise utilizing additive manufacturing methods with foam particles. In some aspects, the additive manufacturing methods comprise increasing the temperature of a plurality of foam particles with actinic radiation under conditions effective to fuse a portion of the plurality of foam particles comprising one or more thermoplastic elastomers. Increasing the temperature of the foam particles can be carried out for one or multiple iterations. The disclosed methods can be used to manufacturer articles with sub-regions that exhibit differing degrees of fusion between the foam particles, thereby resulting in sub-regions with different properties such as density, resilience, and/or flexural modulus. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

The present invention is directed to compositions comprising polylactone melt, extrudate, and processes for producing a foam. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the processes comprise: heating a polylactone composition containing a biobased polylactone in a reaction vessel; and subjecting the polylactone composition to molding to give a foamed structure.

The present invention is directed to compositions comprising polylactone melt, extrudate, and processes for producing a foam. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the processes comprise: heating a polylactone composition containing a biobased polylactone in a reaction vessel; and subjecting the polylactone composition to molding to give a foamed structure.

A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foam product with high flatness, and a preparation method and a use thereof are provided. The TPU foam product is prepared by processing aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane (ATPU) beads with a melting range of 20° C. to 50° C. and a melting point of 90° C. to 160° C. by a physical gas foaming process to obtain foamed ATPU beads and heating the foamed ATPU beads with a heat source to make the foamed ATPU beads fused. The TPU foam product with high flatness has a density of 0.08 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 and a flatness value of less than 2 mm, and the flatness value is determined by a fixed-length ruler. The TPU foam product not only has high flatness such that diversified designs are allowed for a surface of the product, but also has high resilience.

A polyolefin-based resin expanded bead contains a base resin containing a polyolefin-based resin as a main component, carbon black, and a flame-retardant. A bulk density of the polyolefin-based resin expanded beads is 10 to 100 kg/m.sup.3. A blending amount of the carbon black is 0.5 to 10 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the base resin. The flame-retardant contains a hindered amine-based compound represented by the following general formula (I), and a blending amount of the hindered amine-based compound is 0.01 to 1 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the base resin.

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A polyolefin-based resin expanded bead contains a base resin containing a polyolefin-based resin as a main component, carbon black, and a flame-retardant. A bulk density of the polyolefin-based resin expanded beads is 10 to 100 kg/m.sup.3. A blending amount of the carbon black is 0.5 to 10 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the base resin. The flame-retardant contains a hindered amine-based compound represented by the following general formula (I), and a blending amount of the hindered amine-based compound is 0.01 to 1 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the base resin.

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Planters are provided. The planters include one or more molded foam articles that are formed from polylactic acid. Forming the molded foam articles from polylactic acid advantageously enables air and water transport through the walls of the planter, reduces the overall weight of the planter, enables highly customizable shapes and sizes of planters, and enables compostability of the planter.