The present invention relates to a method of preparing a polyrotaxane, said method comprising: performing a radical copolymerization of at least (a) a first polymerizable monomer having a stopper group, and of at least (b) a second polymerizable monomer, wherein said second monomer is complexed by a ring-shaped molecule; wherein during said copolymerization a copolymer threading said ring-shaped molecule is formed, wherein during said copolymerization said first monomer having a stopper group is incorporated into the chain of said copolymer at least partially between the ends thereof, and wherein said stopper groups prevent said ring-shaped molecule from disassembling from the copolymer; and wherein the amount of said first monomer having a stopper group is of from 0.1 mol % to 20 mol % based on 100 mol % of the total amount of polymerizable monomers. The present invention also relates to polyrotaxanes which can be prepared by using such a method. The present invention further relates to cross-linked polyrotaxanes, products which contain polyrotaxanes or cross-linked polyrotaxanes or which can be prepared from polyrotaxanes or cross-linked polyrotaxanes, and the use of polyrotaxanes or cross-linked polyrotaxanes.

A method for core impregnation of a finished part made of plastic material with an additive, including: dissolving the additive in a liquid medium to form a solution; placing the plastic part at ambient pressure in a pressure enclosure; hermetically sealing the chamber; impregnating the plastic part with the solution by a fluid at supercritical or near supercritical conditions in the enclosure at a pressure between 3 MPa and 6 MPa, at a temperature between 25 C. and 65 C. for a duration between 1 minute and 15 minutes; releasing the pressure inside the enclosure so that the liquid medium diffuses outside the plastic part and to trap the additive inside the plastic part.

The invention relates to a process for modifying polymer particles of an aqueous polymer dispersion in which positively or negatively charged polymer particles are provided with an inorganic salt shell. The inorganic shell leads to an improved drying ability and storage stability of the latex and improves the storage stability of the resulting polymer powder. The obtained polymer powder exhibits an improved viscosity and faster skin-forming time in the final application and is therefore particularly useful in a building material composition.

An optical film having a heat resistance of 120 C. or higher, a tear strength of 1.5 N/mm or more, a water vapor transmission rate of 50 g/m.sup.2.Math.day or less, and having absolute values |Re| and |Rth| of an in-plane retardation Re and a thickness-direction retardation Rth each being 1 nm or less; and a polarizing plate having the same. Preferably, the optical film includes a polymer containing a block A having the unit (a) of the hydrogenated product of the aromatic vinyl compound; and a copolymer block B having the unit (a) of the hydrogenated product of the aromatic vinyl compound and the unit (b) of the hydrogenated product of the diene compound.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness. 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.

Provided is a multi-component copolymer comprising conjugated diene units, non-conjugated olefin units and aromatic vinyl units, wherein: a peak top molecular weight of chain parts, divided by the conjugated diene units and each containing one or more of the non-conjugated olefin units and/or one or more of the aromatic vinyl units, is less than 2,000. A rubber composition comprising the multi-component copolymer, a crosslinked rubber composition, and a rubber article comprising the crosslinked rubber composition are also provided.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness. 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.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness. 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.

Provided is a method for producing a resin molded article including an introducing step of introducing a plurality of resin foam particles and a heat medium substance into a forming mold, and a molding step of, after the introducing step, heating the forming mold to a temperature at which the heat medium substance can be vaporized, thereby obtaining a resin molded article including the plurality of resin foam particles.

A latex of an acid-modified conjugated diene polymer including the acid-modified conjugated diene polymer obtained by modifying a conjugated diene polymer with an acid group-containing compound, in which a content of a structural unit derived from the acid group-containing compound is 0.2 to 0.7 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the acid-modified conjugated diene polymer; a content of a water-soluble polymer in the latex is 2 parts by weight or less with respect to 100 parts by weight of the acid-modified conjugated diene polymer; when a solids content of the latex is adjusted to 60 wt %, a viscosity at 25 C. is 800 mPa.Math.s or less; and when the solids content of the latex is adjusted to 50 wt %, the viscosity at 25 C. is 300 mPa.Math.s or less.