A method of forming a void, channel and/or vascular network in a polymeric matrix comprises providing a pre-vascularized structure that includes a matrix material and a sacrificial material embedded in the matrix material in a predetermined pattern, where the matrix material comprises a monomer and the sacrificial material comprises a polymer. A region of the matrix material is activated to initiate an exothermic polymerization reaction and generate a self-propagating polymerization front. As the polymerization front propagates through the matrix material and polymerizes the monomer, heat from the exothermic reaction simultaneously degrades the sacrificial material into a gas-phase and/or liquid-phase byproduct. Thus, one or more voids or channels having the predetermined pattern are rapidly formed in the matrix material.

A foamable polymer composition comprising a crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking peroxide compound, and a chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid, a rosin acid, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; or any combinations thereof, such as comprising abietic acid, dihydroabietic acid, neoabietic acid, a rosin acid ester, linoleic acid, or mixtures thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be preferably functionalized by spray-coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may further comprise 0.1-5 wt % silica. A process for manufacturing a foamed crosslinked polymer, such as EVA and/or crosslinked polyolefins, and a foamed crosslinked polymer obtained by such process.

The present invention relates to plastic composition comprising at least one polyester, biological entities having a polyester-degrading activity and at least an anti-acid filler, wherein the biological entities represent less than 11% by weight, based on the total weight of the plastic composition, and uses thereof for manufacturing biodegradable plastic articles.

This invention relates to the field of plastic waste decomposition. More specifically, the invention comprises products obtained from the decomposition of plastic waste.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an article comprising a reinforced glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat includes a glass mat and a reinforcement material. In some embodiments, the glass mat includes a web of glass fibers. In some embodiments, the reinforcement material is embedded into the web of glass fibers of the glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat includes a sufficient amount of the reinforcement material, so as to result in a nail shank shear resistance of 13 lbs to 17 lbs, when the article is tested according to ASTM 1761 at 140° F. Methods of making the article, specific embodiments of the reinforcement material in the form of a polymeric binder, and methods of forming a roofing shingle from the article are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an oxygen barrier film having an oxygen barrier layer and a treated substrate, comprising the steps of: a) subjecting a polyolefin substrate to a surface treatment to obtain the treated substrate wherein the surface under the parts of the curves corresponding to the C—O, C—N and C═O groups is at least 10% based on the total surface under the curve as obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), b) applying an aqueous or hydroalcoholic coating composition comprising 0.1 to 25 wt % of polyvinyl alcohol, 0.1 to 30 wt % of a metal alkoxide and optional silicate minerals on the treated substrate obtained by step a) and c) drying the coating composition to obtain the oxygen barrier layer resulting in the oxygen barrier film, wherein the amount of the optional silicate minerals in the coating composition is less than 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinyl alcohol in the coating composition.

An improved method forms and employs a wax to modify asphalt. The method includes: (a) selecting a solid polymeric material, (b) heating the solid polymeric material in an extruder to produce a molten polymeric material, (c) filtering the molten polymeric material, (d) placing the molten polymeric material through a chemical depolymerization process in a reactor to produce a depolymerized polymeric material, and (e) adding the depolymerized material to a pre-wax mixture to produce a polymer-modified asphalt. The addition of wax reduced the mixing time necessary to achieve improved polymer dispersion compared to the control formulation modified bitumen and reduced the viscosity of the neat bitumen. Pre-polymer addition of wax is detrimental to most properties of the resulting modified asphalt. Post-polymer addition improved viscosity reduction, higher softening point and improved dimensional stability.

Catalytic compositions for depolymerizing polyolefin-based waste material into useful petrochemical products and methods of use are described. The compositions are a composite of at least one zeolite catalyst with one or more co-catalyst(s) that is a solid inorganic material. These composite catalysts, along with heat, are used to both increase the depolymerization reaction rate of the feed streams and suppress poisoning effects of non-polyolefin polymers that may be present. This results in a shorter residence time in the depolymerization unit and more efficient process.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a hydrophilic composite porous membrane including: a polyolefin microporous membrane, and an olefin/vinyl alcohol-based resin with which at least one main surface and inner surfaces of pores of the polyolefin microporous membrane are coated, in which a ratio t/x of a membrane thickness t (μm) to an average pore diameter x (μm), as measured with a perm porometer, is from 50 to 630.

The present invention is directed to film-forming compositions comprising: a) a non-chlorinated, linear polyolefin polymer comprising 0.5 to 10 percent by weight residues of an ethylenically unsaturated anhydride or acid; b) an aminoplast; and c) a component comprising: i) at least one non-chlorinated hydrocarbon having at least 18 carbon atoms and optionally aromatic groups and/or oxygen heteroatoms; and/or ii) an alkyd resin. The present invention is also drawn to methods of improving fuel resistance of a coated article, comprising: (1) applying the film-forming composition to a substrate to form a coated substrate; (2) optionally subjecting the coated substrate to a temperature for a time sufficient to cure the film-forming composition; (3) applying at least one curable film-forming composition to the coated substrate to form a multi-layer coated substrate; and (4) subjecting the multi-layer coated substrate to a temperature and for a time sufficient to cure all of the film-forming compositions.