The present invention is related to expandable vinyl aromatic polymers comprising comminuted coke, said comminuted coke having an average stack height (Lc) of carbon crystallites at least 4 nm, a volume median particle diameter (D50) comprised between 1 and less than 5 μm and being characterized by a span (D90−D10)/D50 below 2.5 Molded parts produced from the expandable vinyl aromatic polymers prove low thermal conductivities for a low foam density.

The present invention is related to expandable vinyl aromatic polymers comprising comminuted coke, said comminuted coke having an average stack height (Lc) of carbon crystallites at least 4 nm, a volume median particle diameter (D50) comprised between 1 and less than 5 μm and being characterized by a span (D90−D10)/D50 below 2.5 Molded parts produced from the expandable vinyl aromatic polymers prove low thermal conductivities for a low foam density.

Disclosed herein are modified diene-containing (co)polymers, in particular, modified styrene-butadiene copolymer, which can be used as flame retardants for expandable polystyrene polymer compositions. In particular, disclosed is a modified diene-containing (co)polymer, a method for preparing it, and use as a flame retardant for expandable polystyrene. The modified diene-containing (co)polymer claimed in the invention is characterized by high thermostability, namely, a 5% weight loss temperature of at least 180° C., a molecular weight of at least 1500 g/mol and a halogen content of at least 35 wt. %; the content of tertiary and/or allyl halogenides is in the range from 0 to less than 1.5 wt. %, and also does not affect the polymerization process and the formation of polystyrene granules either, and allows to obtain polystyrene granules with a yellowness index of 2 to 6 units, comparable to the yellowness index of polystyrene granules containing HBCD (from 0 to 3 units).

The present disclosure relates to polyolefin foam beads comprising one or more polyolefin interpolymers, wherein the foam bead has a gel content of higher than or equal to 80% and a tan delta at 1 rad/s of lower or equal to 0.11 and a process for producing the same. The present disclosure further relates to an element prepared from the foam beads, a product comprising the element, and use of the foam beads in bead-filling applications.

The present disclosure relates to polyolefin foam beads comprising one or more polyolefin interpolymers, wherein the foam bead has a gel content of higher than or equal to 80% and a tan delta at 1 rad/s of lower or equal to 0.11 and a process for producing the same. The present disclosure further relates to an element prepared from the foam beads, a product comprising the element, and use of the foam beads in bead-filling applications.

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 disclosed methods comprise selectively depositing a binding material on foam particles in a target area such that the binding material coats at least a portion of defining surfaces of the foam particles with the binding material. The binding material is then cured to affix foam particles in the target area to one another. In various aspects, the disclosed methods can be used to manufacturer articles with sub-regions that differential levels of affixing between the foam particles, and 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 disclosed methods comprise selectively depositing a binding material on foam particles in a target area such that the binding material coats at least a portion of defining surfaces of the foam particles with the binding material. The binding material is then cured to affix foam particles in the target area to one another. In various aspects, the disclosed methods can be used to manufacturer articles with sub-regions that differential levels of affixing between the foam particles, and 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.

An ultra-light graphene-rubber foam particle for soles is prepared from, by weight, 60-65 parts of natural rubber, 8-12 parts of isoprene rubber, 8-12 parts of butadiene rubber, 6-8 parts of styrene butadiene rubber, 0.8-1.0 parts of modified graphene, 0.08-0.12 parts of poly(N-vinylacetamide), 0.8-1.0 parts of silicone oil, 3.0-3.5 parts of inorganic nano-particles, 1.2-1.5 parts of activated zinc oxide, 0.8-1.0 parts of zinc stearate, 1.0-1.2 parts of stearic acid, 0.8-1.0 parts of cross-linking agents, 2.0-3.0 parts of flow promotors, and 1.5-1.8 parts of foaming agents. According to the invention, the modified graphene is uniformly dispersed into the rubber materials, so that the ultra-light graphene-rubber foam particle has good thermal stability, wear resistance and tensile strength, the permanent compressive-deformation performance and thermal contraction resistance are improved, and the weight is reduced by over 50%.

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.