Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components are provided. The articles include a composition having a foam structure, wherein the composition includes an ionomeric polymer and a plurality of cations, wherein the ionomeric copolymer is crosslinked by the cations. The crosslinks are ionic, so in some aspects the composition is free or essentially free of any covalent crosslinks between the ionomers. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.

Closed cell chitin foam is provided. The closed-cell chitin foam composition does not absorb water, is biodegradable, and is mechanically characterized by a density range of 16 to 800 kg/m3, closed-cell pore sizes ranging from 50 microns to 1 mm, an elastic modulus of 3 to 175 MPa, and a tensile strength of 0.15 to 6.5 MPa. The chitin is at least 70% acetylated. In one aspect, the foam is enclosed in a shell e.g. in the form of a surfboard. Chitin foam according to this invention is fully biodegradable. The chitin foam overcomes the current problems with foams that contain polyurethane and polystyrene, and which are manufactured from petroleum-based sources. Petroleum based foams are not renewable, have an adverse impact on our environment, and pose significant health hazards to those who manufacture them. The chitin foam with its water-based manufacturing process and naturally sourced chitin, solves these problems.

Disclosed are foam articles comprising a thermoplastic, closed-cell foam having at least a first surface and comprising: (i) thermoplastic polymer cell walls comprising at least about 0.5% by weight of ethylene furanoate moieties and optionally one or more co-monomer moieties; (ii) blowing agent contained in at least a portion of said closed cells; and a material different than said thermoplastic, closed-cell foam attached to and/or integral with at least a portion of said first foam surface.

Hydrofluoroolefin (“HFO”)-containing isocyanate-reactive compositions, foam-forming compositions containing such isocyanate-reactive compositions, rigid foams made using such foam-forming compositions, and methods for producing such foams, including use of such foams as panel insulation. The isocyanate-reactive compositions include a polyol composition, a blowing agent composition, and a catalyst composition. The polyol composition includes 50% to 80% by weight, based on total weight of the polyol composition, of an aromatic polyester polyol having a functionality of 1.5 to 2.5 and an OH number of 150 to 360 mg KOH/g, and an amine-initiated polyether polyol having an OH number of more than 500 mg KOH/g and a functionality of 2.5 to 4. The blowing agent composition includes a hydrofluoroolefin and water. The catalyst composition includes a morpholine, an imidazole, a quaternary ammonium carboxylate, and a metal carboxylate.

The invention provides moisture-resistant foam compositions comprising at least one fiber component; at least one foaming agent; at least one wax binder; and optionally at least one dispersant, where the at least one fiber component, the at least one foaming agent, the at least one wax binder, and when present the at least one dispersant are uniformly dispersed throughout a matrix, wherein the matrix is a foam.

A cleaning implement for cleaning a target surface is provided that includes an erodible foam adapted to contact a surface to be cleaned and a rheological solid composition comprising a crystallizing agent and an aqueous phase.

A process for producing rigid PUR/PIR foams via the reaction of a reaction mixture comprising A1 an isocyanate-reactive component, A2 a flame retardant, A3 a blowing agent, A4 a catalyst, and A5 optionally auxiliaries and additives with B an organic polyisocyanate component. Component A1 comprises a diurethane diol A1.1 and a compound A1.2 selected from the group consisting of polyether polyol, polyester polyol, polyether carbonate polyol, and polyether ester polyol. Also disclosed is a rigid PUR/PIR foam, an insulating material, a composite element, and a mixture.

Polyurethane thermal insulating foam is made in the presence of a small amount of cis- and/or trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene and a hydrocarbon blowing agent. Very low lambda values are obtained.

A polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composition and a method for preparing a polymer composite article. The composition comprises (A) a mineral filler in an amount of from 7.5 to 75 wt. %. The composition also comprises (B) a polyvinyl chloride polymer in an amount of from 20 to 92 wt. %. Further, the composition comprises (C) a polydiorganosiloxane in an amount of from greater than 0 to 5 wt. %; the (C) polydiorganosiloxane being a compound of unit formula: (R.sub.2R′SiO.sub.1/2).sub.a(R.sub.3SiO.sub.1/2).sub.b(R.sub.2SiO.sub.2/2).sub.c(RR′SiO.sub.2/2).sub.d, where each R is an independently selected monovalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 18 carbon atoms that is free of aliphatic unsaturation, each R′ is an independently selected alkenyl group of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, subscript a is 0 to 2, subscript b is 0 to 2, a quantity (a+b)=2, subscript c≥0, subscript d≥0, a quantity (a+d)≥1, and a quantity (a+b+c+d) is sufficient to give the polydiorganosiloxane a viscosity of 2,000 mPa.Math.s to 60,000 mPa.Math.s at 25° C. measured at 0.1 to 50 RPM on a Brookfield DV-III cone & plate viscometer with #CP-52 spindle. The ranges for components (A)-(C) are based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and (C) in the composition.

Pest-resistant polyurethane spray foam formulations and products, including building insulation, are described. The “B” side of the formulation comprises water; a polyol composition comprising one or more polyols selected from glycerin-sucrose polyols, Mannich polyols, and aromatic polyester polyols, catalyst(s); surfactant(s); a blowing agent; and 0.5 to 5 wt.%, based on the amount of spray foam formulation, of a composition comprising a capsaicin compound. Capsaicin compounds can be successfully incorporated into spray foam formulations that process well to give high- quality foams. The foams inhibit termite infestation and can help to minimize or avoid structural damage that might otherwise go undetected.