A cured elastomer comprising: an elastomer at 100 parts per hundred rubber (phr); and an expandable thermoplastic microsphere at about 0.1 to about 10 phr. Such a cured elastomer can be used, optionally with additives, in an air barrier article that is selected from the group consisting of a tire innerliner, a pneumatic tire, a tire curing bladder, an air sleeves, a diaphragm, and a hose. With microspheres the compounded cured elastomer shows a reduction in specific gravity and a reduction in permeability. Both of these properties are highly desirable in tire design and performance.

Methods for manufacturing articles, including articles of footwear, apparel, and sporting equipment are provided. The methods comprise decorating a plurality of foam particles. The decorating can comprise applying a coating on the foam particles, or embossing or debossing the foam particles, or both. The decorating can comprise applying a coating on the foam particles by printing, painting, dyeing, applying a film, or any combination thereof. The plurality of foam particles are affixed utilizing aspects of additive manufacturing methods. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

The thermoplastic elastomer composition contains a thermoplastic elastomer and a pigment.

The present disclosure relates to methods for assembling elastomeric laminates, wherein elastic material may be stretched and joined with either or both first and second substrates. A first beam is rotated to unwind a first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam in the machine direction. The first plurality of elastic strands are positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate to form the elastomeric laminate. Before the first plurality of elastic strands are completely unwound from the first beam, a second beam is rotated to unwind the second plurality of elastic strands from the second beam. Subsequently, the advancement of the first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam is discontinued. Thus, the elastomeric laminate assembly process may continue uninterrupted while switching from an initially utilized elastic material drawn from the first beam to a subsequently utilized elastic material drawn from the second beam.

A method for producing expanded thermoplastic polymeric (eTP) material and tuning the density of the eTP during the process of producing said eTP wherein the density of the eTP material can be decreased by increasing the partial pressure of the at least one gas which is soluble in the TP material and/or by increasing the total pressure during the charging step.

The present disclosure relates to absorbent article's chassis that may comprise one or more pluralities of tightly spaced (less than 4 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, and less than 1 mm) and/or low decitex (less than 300, less than 200, less than 100 dtex) and/or low strain (less than 300%, less than 200%, less than 100%) elastics to deliver low pressure less than 1 psi (according to the conditions defined by the Pressure-Under-Strand Test in the Method below) under the elastics. The elastics in the chassis may be oriented parallel or transverse to the longitudinal axis.

The present disclosure relates to methods for assembling elastomeric laminates, wherein elastic material may be stretched and joined with either or both first and second substrates. First spools are rotated to unwind first elastic strands from a first unwinder in a machine direction. The first elastic strands are positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate to form an elastomeric laminate. Before the first elastic strands are completely unwound from the rotating first spools, second spools are rotated to unwind second elastic strands from a second unwinder. Subsequently, the advancement of the first elastic strands from the first unwinder is discontinued. Thus, the elastomeric laminate assembly process may continue uninterrupted while switching from an initially utilized elastic material drawn from the first spools to a subsequently utilized elastic material drawn from the second spools.

Bead foams may be made of thermoplastic polyurethane and polyethylene(s), and moldings produced therefrom, may made of a composition with (a) 60 to 90 wt. % thermoplastic polyurethane and (b) 10 to 40 wt. % of polyethylene, relative to a total 100% by weight. The bead foams and moldings may be produced and/or used for shoe intermediate soles, shoe insoles, shoe combisoles, cushioning elements for shoes, bicycle saddles, bicycle tires, damping elements, cushioning, mattresses, underlays, grips, protective films, in components in the automobile-interior sector or automobile-exterior sector, balls and sports equipment, or as floor covering.

The present invention relates to bead foams made of thermoplastic polyurethane and styrene polymer with a modulus of elasticity below 2700 MPa, to moldings produced therefrom, to processes for the production of the bead foams and moldings, and also to the use of the moldings for shoe intermediate soles, shoe insoles, shoe combisoles, cushioning elements for shoes, bicycle saddles, bicycle tires, damping elements, cushioning, mattresses, underlays, grips, protective films, in components in the automobile-interior sector or automobile-exterior sector, balls and sports equipment, or as floorcovering.

Bead foams made of thermoplastic polyurethane and polypropylene(s), moldings produced therefrom, processes for the production of the bead foams and moldings, and uses of the moldings in shoe intermediate soles, shoe insoles, shoe combisoles, cushioning elements for shoes, bicycle saddles, bicycle tires, damping elements, cushioning, mattresses, underlays, grips, protective films, in components in the automobile-interior sector or automobile-exterior sector, balls and sports equipment, or as floor covering, may be based on composition with (a) 60 to 90 wt. % of thermoplastic polyurethane as component I, (b) 10 to 40 wt. % of polypropylene as components II, where the entirety of components I and II provides 100 wt. %.