A thermally expandable sheet includes:

a first thermally expansive layer that is formed on one side of a base and contains a first thermally expandable material; and

a second thermally expansive layer that is formed on the first thermally expansive layer and contains a second thermally expandable material,

wherein the second thermally expandable material further contains white pigment.

A thermoplastic elastomer foam is made by incorporating a gaseous or supercritical blowing agent under pressure into a molten thermoplastic elastomer comprising polymeric polymeric crystalline domains, then releasing the pressure to foam the thermoplastic elastomer.

A thermoplastic elastomer foam is made by incorporating a gaseous or supercritical blowing agent under pressure into a molten thermoplastic elastomer comprising polymeric polymeric crystalline domains, then releasing the pressure to foam the thermoplastic elastomer.

Thermoplastic resin foamed particles of the present invention including more than one functional additive selected from inorganic powder and inorganic fibers each includes a core layer formed of a thermoplastic resin and a coating layer in a foamed state formed of a thermoplastic resin, the mass ratio of the coating layer to the core layer is 99:1 to 50:50, the content (X) of the functional additive in the core layer is 5 to 90% by mass, and the content of the functional additive in the coating layer is smaller than the content (X) of the functional additive in the core layer. By this way, thermoplastic resin foamed particles from which a homogeneous foamed particle molding having excellent dimension stability, fusibility and appearance can be obtained while containing functional additive are provided.

The present invention provides a composition for a soft urethane foam to prepare a soft urethane foam, comprising a polyol, and a foamed soft urethane foam using the same, wherein the polyol is any one selected from among a hydrocarbon polyol, a vegetable oil, and a vegetable-oil-derived dimer acid, or a mixture of a hydrocarbon polyol with any one selected from among a vegetable oil and a vegetable-oil-derived dimer acid. The present invention provides an impregnation material for impregnation of a cosmetic composition, which can control the polarity of the impregnation material for impregnating a hydrophilic cosmetic composition, and an impregnation-use urethane foam composition for preparing the same.

The present invention provides a composition for a soft urethane foam to prepare a soft urethane foam, comprising a polyol, and a foamed soft urethane foam using the same, wherein the polyol is any one selected from among a hydrocarbon polyol, a vegetable oil, and a vegetable-oil-derived dimer acid, or a mixture of a hydrocarbon polyol with any one selected from among a vegetable oil and a vegetable-oil-derived dimer acid. The present invention provides an impregnation material for impregnation of a cosmetic composition, which can control the polarity of the impregnation material for impregnating a hydrophilic cosmetic composition, and an impregnation-use urethane foam composition for preparing the same.

Provided is an expanded propylene resin bead including a core layer in a foamed state, which includes a propylene-based resin composition (a) satisfying the following (i) and (ii); and a cover layer which includes an olefin-based resin (b) satisfying the following (iii) or (iv): (i) the propylene-based resin composition (a) is a mixture of 65% by weight to 98% by weight of a propylene-based resin (a1) having a melting point of 145 C. to 165 C. and a flexural modulus of 1,200 MPa or more and 35% by weight to 2% by weight of a propylene-based resin (a2) having a melting point of 100 C. to 145 C. and a flexural modulus of 800 MPa to 1,200 MPa; (ii) a difference in a melting point between the resin (a1) and the resin (a2) is 5 C. to 25 C.; (iii) the olefin-based resin (b) is a crystalline olefin-based resin having a melting point (TmB) that is lower than a melting point (TmA) of the composition (a) and being in a relation of (0 C.<[TmA-TmB]80 C.); and (iv) the olefin-based resin (b) is a non-crystalline olefin-based resin having a softening point (TsB) that is lower than the TmA and being in a relation of (0 C.<[TmA-TsB]100 C.).

Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.

Disclosed is method of preparing microspheres wherein the microspheres do not increase the self-extinguishing time of a composition they are added to by more than 5% and their presence does not increase a viscosity of the composition by more than 65%. The microspheres are coated with a very high level of from 80 to 90% by weight of a flame retardant, preferably aluminum trihydroxide. Unexpectedly, the presence of the flame retardant on the microspheres at this high level reduces the need to add additional flame retardant to a composition along with the microspheres. Also unexpectedly, the location of the flame retardant on the microspheres completely prevents the normally expected increase in viscosity of the composition based on the level of the flame retardant added. The microspheres find use in many compositions requiring flame resistance including weld through sealants and adhesives.

Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.