A method of making personal protective equipment, such as a push-in earplug, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of covering a substrate with an outer layer that includes an unactivated foaming agent, positioning at least a portion of the outer layer in a mold, and activating the foaming agent such that a portion of the outer layer expands.

The present invention aims to provide a coating material which has high mechanical stability and is capable of providing a coat which has excellent appearance and exhibits excellent damping properties in a wide temperature range. The present invention relates to a damping-imparting agent including a compound having a sulfosuccinic acid (salt) structure. The present invention also relates to a resin composition for damping materials, including an emulsion prepared by polymerizing a monomer component, the composition further including a component having a sulfosuccinic acid (salt) structure.

A method for manufacturing a closed porous composite material includes 1) preparing a mixture that has 30 to 70 parts by weight of water-dispersed resin, 10 to 300 parts by weight of unexpanded thermal expansion microspheres, and 100 to 550 parts by weight of water, and stirring the mixture thoroughly; 2) preparing a carrier; 3) coating the carrier with the mixture acquired in step 1; 4) heating the carrier so that the unexpanded thermal expansion microspheres expand; and 5) repeating steps 3 and 4 multiple times to acquire a closed porous composite material. The closed porous composite material has a large number of closed cavities and polymer walls separating the closed cavities. The closed cavity is 20 μm to 800 μm in size. The ratio of a total volume of the closed cavities to a total volume of the polymer walls is greater than 16.

The present invention relates to an expanded beads molded article, which is obtained through in-mold molding of expanded thermoplastic elastomer beads, has voids, and has a density of 150 to 300 kg/m.sup.3 and a voidage of 10 to 70% by volume.

A hybrid material contains a matrix of polyurethane and foamed particles of thermoplastic polyurethane contained therein. A process can be used for producing such hybrid materials and these hybrid materials can be used as bicycle saddles, upholstery and shoe soles.

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.

Embodiments relate to a porous polyurethane polishing pad for use in a chemical mechanical planarization and a process for preparing the same. It is possible to control the size and distribution of pores in the porous polyurethane polishing pad by using thermally expanded microcapsules and an inert gas as a gas phase foaming agent, whereby the polishing performance thereof can be adjusted.

Polymeric multilayer material includes an adhesive layer having first and second opposed major surfaces. A first foam layer is joined to the first major surface and includes a first plurality of expandable microspheres. A first skin layer is attached to the first foam layer and is free of the first plurality expandable microspheres. A second foam layer is joined to the second major surface of the internal adhesive layer and includes a second plurality of expandable microspheres dispersed therein. A second skin layer is attached to the second foam layer and is free of the second plurality of expandable microspheres. A portion of the first expandable microspheres of the first foam layer and of the second foam layer is at least partially embedded within the adhesive layer. Embodiments, of polymeric multilayer materials described herein are useful, for example, as wearable medical or athletic support components. The materials can also be used as protective wrappings. For example, the materials can be wrapped around a sharp corner of an article, building, etc.

A liquid thermally expandable curable resin composition for use such as bonding by filling a clearance has difficulty in achieving both drying property and film forming property and also has a problem with storage stability. The problems were solved with a curable resin composition having the following composition. A curable resin composition comprises: (A) a film forming resin, (B) an epoxy resin, (C) an organic solvent, (D) thermally expandable particles, and (E) a curing agent ingredient for the (B). The (C) is selected from organic solvents having a boiling point of 100° C. or less and being liquid at normal temperature and contains a combination of (C-1) an ester-based solvent and (C-2) one or more solvents selected from ketone-based solvents, ether-based solvents, and glycol-based solvents, and a content ratio between the (C-1) and the (C-2) in a mass ratio is in a range of (C-1)/(C-2)=0.12 to 0.23.

Foamed thermoplastic vulcanizate compositions having minimal water absorption, and in particular having predominantly closed cell structure. The foam compositions exhibit desirable properties including, but not limited to, low density, tensile strength, ultimate elongation, and low modulus of elasticity. The foam may be used in one or more commercial products or articles, such as use in forming weather seals.