The compressible sealing element (1) comprises at least one piece made of a resilient foam (17). This foam has an open-cell content of at least 50% and has such a hardness that it requires a force of less than 2000 N to compress the sealing element (1) per meter length thereof to such an extent that the volume of a rectangular cuboid circumscribing the sealing element is reduced by 40%. The sealing element comprises a water-impermeable cover layer (18) which extends at least over its top surface. The sealing element is intended for filling at least partially the gaps between the stock rails (13) and the switch rails (12) in a railway switch to prevent the switch from being blocked in particular by snow. Advantages of the new sealing element is that it can easier be inserted in these gaps and that it has a smaller effect on the force required to close the switch so that it can also be applied closer to the free extremity of the switch rail (12).

The present invention relates to a porous silicone body having communicating pores and a three-dimensional network silicone skeleton that forms the pores, wherein the silicone skeleton is formed by polymerization of a bifunctional alkoxysilane and a trifunctional alkoxysilane, and the proportion of unreacted parts in the silicone skeleton is 10 mol % or less. The porous silicone body of the present invention has high flexibility and high heat resistance, and further has excellent recoverability of heat-resistant cushioning properties.

The present invention relates to a porous silicone body having communicating pores and a three-dimensional network silicone skeleton that forms the pores, wherein the silicone skeleton is formed by polymerization of a bifunctional alkoxysilane and a trifunctional alkoxysilane, and the proportion of unreacted parts in the silicone skeleton is 10 mol % or less. The porous silicone body of the present invention has high flexibility and high heat resistance, and further has excellent recoverability of heat-resistant cushioning properties.

The invention relates to an aqueous coagulatable polymer dispersion comprising at least one polymer which is dispersed in an aqueous phase, thermoplastic micro-spheres which contain a propellant, and at least one additional component which is selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyamines, and thermoplastic polymers. The invention further relates to a coagulate which can be obtained by the thermal and/or mechanical and/or ultrasonically-initiated coagulation of the aqueous polymer dispersion according to the invention, to an adhesive comprising or consisting of the coagulate, to a substrate which is completely or partly coated with said coagulate, to a method for producing such a coated substrate, and to coated substrates which can be obtained using said method. The coagulate can be used as an adhesive or as a binder in 3D-printing methods.

Prepare an extruded polystyrene foam that is characterized by being a singular polymer foam that is free of halogenated blowing agents, having a milled primary surface, having a width of 750 millimeters or more, and further characterized by having a ρ(CST/CSP) value that is 50 kilograms per cubic meter or less and a milled primary surface.

Prepare an extruded polystyrene foam that is characterized by being a singular polymer foam that is free of halogenated blowing agents, having a milled primary surface, having a width of 750 millimeters or more, and further characterized by having a ρ(CST/CSP) value that is 50 kilograms per cubic meter or less and a milled primary surface.

A functional belt has a foam layer and at least one further functional layer. The foam layer and the further functional layer are joined to one another by laser transmission welding, in particular by NIR laser transmission welding. A method for producing a functional belt includes the following method steps: providing a compressible foam layer; providing a further functional layer bringing together the foam layer and the further functional layer and joining the compressible foam layer to the further functional layer by laser transmission welding, in particular by means of NIR laser transmission welding. A technical textile, in particular a fabric for use in a machine for the production or processing of a fibrous material web, preferably press felt of a paper machine, a sealing band or a textile-reinforced insulation material, includes, or is made of, such a functional belt.

A nanocomposite including an array of extended length fibers with nanofibers oriented in transverse relation to the extended length fibers. The nanofibers are mechanically interlocked with the extended length fibers using a connecting agent concentrated at contact locations between the extended length fibers and the nanofibers without saturating the composite. The resultant composite of fibers and connecting agent is characterized by significant internal porosity with an internal void volume not occupied by the connecting agent.

A method of removing and detecting the presence of substances from at least one of a body of water and the air. The method includes placing into the body of water or into the air an open-cell foam material, removing separate portions of the open-cell foam material from the water or air at different exposure times after the open-cell foam material was placed into the water or air, and determining the presence in the removed separate portions of one or more substances that were removed from the water or air by the open-cell foam material.

A method of removing and detecting the presence of substances from at least one of a body of water and the air. The method includes placing into the body of water or into the air an open-cell foam material, removing separate portions of the open-cell foam material from the water or air at different exposure times after the open-cell foam material was placed into the water or air, and determining the presence in the removed separate portions of one or more substances that were removed from the water or air by the open-cell foam material.