The present invention is a novel fire-resistant material used for the manufacturing of pipe collars as passive fire protection. The technological process consists of two phases. The first phase involves mixing poly (vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate) copolymers (VC-co-VAc) or a modified poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate) copolymer (VC-co-VAc) with expandable graphite and plasticizers/modifiers such as: diisononyl phthalate—DINP, dioctyl adipate—DOA, 1-hexadecene or methyl esters of soybean fatty acids (MBS), azodicarbonamide (ADC), tri-p-cresyl phosphate, tri-m-cresyl phosphate or tri-o-cresyl phosphate, epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and polyacrylate or poly(vinylacetate) emulsion. The second phase considers shaping the resulting mixture in a temperature-controlled press to make various samples, which are further tested. The samples had different dimensions: 4-6 mm thickness, 70-400 mm width and 240-500 mm length.

The invention relates to highly elastic polyurethane foams which are suitable as functional materials having thermally insulating properties.

Low-scorch flame-retardant polyurethane foams include phosphorus-containing propionic ester flame retardants. Methods for producing and using the foams are also provided.

The present invention relates to the chemical digestion of keratin, such as avian feathers and wool. The digestion product is made by heating the feathers or wool with a solvent selected from glycols, alkanolamines, polyamines, and combinations thereof. The resulting digested keratin product is a keratin-derived polyol useful for making polymeric materials such as polyurethanes. The digestion products provide a sustainable alternative to petrochemical based intermediates.

A method of producing a polyethylene resin expanded molded product includes filling a mold with expanded polyethylene resin particles, wherein an internal pressure of 0.12 to 0.16 MPa is applied to the expanded polyethylene resin particles in the mold, and forming the polyethylene resin expanded molded product by heating the expanded polyethylene resin particles and fusing the expanded polyethylene resin particles. The expanded polyethylene resin particles includes 100 parts by weight of a polyethylene resin, 0.08 to 0.25 parts by weight of a cell nucleating agent, 0.3 to 0.8 parts by weight of a polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester, and 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of a hydrophilic compound, each of the expanded polyethylene resin particles having a weight of 2.5 to 3.5 mg. The polyethylene resin expanded molded product has a density of 0.017 to 0.021 g/cm.sup.3 and a thickness of 10 to 40 mm.

A method of installing a downhole device comprises introducing a downhole device into a wellbore, the downhole device comprising a substrate and a shape memory polymer in a deformed state disposed on the substrate; combining a modified activation material in the form of a powder, a hydrogel, an xerogel, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing with a carrier to provide an activation fluid; introducing the activation fluid into the wellbore; releasing an activation agent in a liquid form from the modified activation material; and contacting the shape memory polymer in the deformed state with the released activation agent in an amount effective to deploy the shape memory polymer.

Disclosed is a method for molding a foamed article, such as a midsole or outsole for footwear, in which first water, then a desired amount of thermoplastic polyurethane foam beads are placed in a compression mold in the shape of the article and the mold is brought to a peak temperature of from about 130° C. to about 180° C. over a period of from about 300 to about 1500 seconds, then cooled to from about 5° C. to about 80° C. over a period of from about 300 to about 1500 seconds within about 30 seconds after the peak temperature is reached. The foamed article made by the method has a density of from about 0.1 to about 0.45 g/cm.sup.3.

A fire-stopping material in a panel for an interior building wall is provided. The fire-stopping material includes a resilient, porous material at least partially impregnated with an intumescent agent.

A flexible cellular foam or fabric product is coated with a coating including highly thermally conductive nanomaterials. The highly thermally conductive nanomaterials may be carbon nanomaterials, metallic, or non-metallic solids. The carbon nanomaterials may include, but are not necessarily limited to, carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets. The highly thermally conductive nanomaterials may include but are not limited to nano-sized solids that may include graphite flakes, for example. When coated on a surface of flexible foam, the presence of nanomaterials may impart greater thermal effusivity, greater thermal conductivity, and/or a combination of these improvements. The flexible foam product may be polyurethane foam, latex foam, polyether polyurethane foam, viscoelastic foam, high resilient foam, polyester polyurethane foam, foamed polyethylene, foamed polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, foamed silicone, melamine foam, among others.

A plasticized PVC formulation for foam extrusion including polyvinyl chloride, at least one plasticizer, at least one nucleating agent and a chemical blowing agent, wherein the plasticized PVC formulation is a dry blend containing 0.5 to 5% by weight of one or more nucleating agents and 0.1 to 3% by weight of the chemical blowing agent, wherein the blowing agent is sodium bicarbonate and the nucleating agent is talcum, and a foam extrusion method using said formulation. The extruded plasticized PVC foam is particularly suitable for rock shield pads used for pipeline protection. The foams are lightweight and require less consumption of materials with comparable properties to corresponding solid articles.