The disclosed latex system comprises a one-component, closed-cell, semi-foam, mastic sealant using gas-filled, flexible, organic microspheres to create a product that is elastic and compressible under pressure without protruding in an outward direction when compressed, thereby allowing the applied sealant to compress in an enclosed, maximum-filled channel unlike typical mastic sealants (while retaining the ability to rebound). This allows the sealant to function as a gasket, and, once fully cured, to have properties including vibration damping, insulating, and condensation resistance. The sealant can be formulated as an air barrier or a vapor barrier and at various degrees of moisture resistance. It may be applied by different packaging variations including aerosol can (bag in can or bag on valve), airless sprayer, cartridge tubes, foil tubes, squeeze tubes, and buckets to be applied using a brush, trowel, spatula, etc. The disclosed mastic sealant can also be formulated to be smoke-resistant and flame-resistant.

A composition can be used for producing a PMMA-based cast polymer with a low styrene content using urea (derivatives as a formulation constituent, and a hydrophilic inorganic

compound as a filler. it is possible to produce PMMA-based cast polymers and mouldings having surprisingly high mechanical stability from the composition.

The invention concerns a removable composition formed by at least: a polyamide or a copolyamide or a mixture of polyamides or a mixture of copolyamides or a mixture of at least one polyamide and at least one copolyamide, the polyamide(s) and copolyamide(s) being soluble in alcohol, and an expansion agent, the maximum expansion temperature of which is greater than the melting point of the polyamide or the copolyamide or of the mixture. The invention also relates to assemblies comprising such a composition, the use thereof and a method for detaching the composition.

The polyurethane flame retardant is prepared by compounding poly(diphosphophosphazene) (PDPP) and derivatives thereof, poly(diphosphate phosphazene) (MPDPP) (where M=Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, transition metal ions, rare earth ions and the like) and poly(diphosphonic phosphazene). Since a phosphate group in the PDPP and an unreacted phosphate group in the MPDPP in the compound and an unreacted hydroxyl in the phosphate group may react with isocyanate, the flame retardant is a reactive flame retardant. Due to the reaction between the flame retardant and the isocyanate, the flame retardant is uniformly distributed in polyurethane and has a better flame-retardant effect. The flame retardant contains multiple flame-retardant components, namely polyphosphazene group, phosphate ester and phosphate salt. Due to the synergistic effect, the flame retardant has good flame-retardant properties, and can be used for various polyurethane materials.

A thermally expandable composition, including at least one epoxy-functional polymer, at least one thermoplastic polymer, at least one chemical blowing agent, and at least one activator, wherein the epoxy-functional polymer is present in the composition before expansion with an amount of between 30 and 75 wt.-%, based on the total composition, and the epoxy-functional polymer includes at least 300 mmol epoxy groups per kg polymer, and wherein the chemical blowing agent is able to form at least one reaction product with at least two amino groups upon thermal decomposition, and the chemical blowing agent is in the composition before expansion with an amount of between 5 and 30 wt.-%, based on the total composition.

The present invention relates to a PVC resin composition for preparing foamed polymer products, to a foamed polymer product prepared from the composition, to a method for preparing a foamed polymer product, to an article comprising the foamed polymer product as well as to the use of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate, hydromagnesite and mixtures thereof for reducing the density of the obtained foamed PVC product.

Foam compositions are provided including a polylactic acid polymer; second (e.g., polyvinyl acetate) polymer having a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of at least 25° C.; and plasticizer. Also described are articles comprising the foam compositions, such as a sheet or hearing protection article. Methods of making and using the foam compositions are further described herein.

A composite article comprises an article presenting a surface and a thermally expandable composition disposed on the surface of the article. The thermally expandable composition comprises (a) from about 35 to about 65 percent by weight of a polyolefin resin; (b) from about 2 to about 15 percent by weight of a thermoplastic resin; (c) from about 1 to about 6 percent by weight of a curing agent suitable for cross-linking the polyolefin resin (a); (d) from about 15 to about 45 percent by weight of filler; and (e) from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight of a chemical blowing agent which is activated at an activation temperature, each based on the total weight of the thermally expandable composition. Methods of preparing and using the composite article, and an assembly formed from the composite article, are also disclosed.

A method of remediation of a water-bearing formation is disclosed. A first solution containing a nitrogen-containing compound and a second solution containing a nitrite-containing compound are introduced into the water-bearing formation. The two solutions intermix within the formation such that a foam is generated within the formation.

Polymer films having a surface with increased hydrophobicity or enhanced hydrophobicity or improved hydrophobicity or super-hydrophobicity; composite structures such as multilayer polymer sheets comprising the polymer films; methods and systems of making such polymer films; polymer blends from which to make such polymer films; masterbatches or masterbatch compositions useful for making such polymer blends; as well as methods and systems for making such polymer blends and such masterbatches or masterbatch compositions.