Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

Methods of making blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers and blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers. The generation of blended membranes by mixing two chemically distinct block copolymers in the casting solution demonstrates a pathway to advanced asymmetric block copolymer derived films, which can be used as ultrafiltration membranes, in which different pore surface chemistries and associated functionalities can be integrated into a single membrane via standard membrane fabrication, i.e. without requiring laborious post-fabrication modification steps. The block copolymers may be diblock, triblock and/or multiblock mixes and some block copolymers in the mix may be functionally modified. Triblock copolymers comprising a reactive group (e.g., sulfhydryl group) terminated block and films comprising the triblock copolymers.

Dual composition block copolymers made from conjugated diene and monovinyl aromatic monomers in batch organolithium initiated polymerization show advantageous performance in the production of crosslinked microcellular rubber compounds and pressure sensitive hot melt adhesives. The block copolymers are partially coupled molecules with a coupling agent linking inner monovinyl aromatic blocks. An un-coupled low molecular weight fraction has greater monovinyl aromatic repeat unit content than a coupled high molecular weight fraction. Crosslinked microcellular rubber articles made from the block copolymers exhibit lower density, smaller and more homogeneous cell size, higher softness and higher resiliency than prior art block copolymers. Rubber compounding of formulations comprising the block copolymers proceed at slightly lower torque and slightly lower temperature than with prior art block copolymers. Pressure sensitive hot melt adhesives formulated with the block copolymers are very well suited for labels, exhibiting higher tack and higher softening temperature than those made from prior art block copolymers.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

This invention is in the field of surface modification. In particular, the invention relates to the surface modification of microfluidic devices to alter surface hydrophobicity characteristics.

Provided is a resin film for an electronic device including: a resin containing a polymer; hygroscopic particles dispersed in the resin and having a primary particle diameter of 200 nm or less; and a dispersant, wherein an absolute value of a difference in refractive index between the resin and the particles is 0.05 or less. The resin is preferably a thermoplastic resin, and more preferably a thermoplastic elastomer. The polymer is preferably one or more types selected from an aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene copolymer and a hydrogenated aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene copolymer. An electronic device including the resin film for an electronic device is also provided.

A method of treating a wearable device to resist sebum, the method including providing a body having an elastic material having a polymeric backbone where a portion of the polymeric backbone is unsaturated and the body has an outer surface. The method further includes forming a crosslinked matrix within an outer layer of the body surrounding an inner layer of the body such that the outer layer has less affinity to sebum than the inner layer of the body.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a high energy return foam having improved abrasion resistance. 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 and an improved abrasion resistance. 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.

Brominated vinylaromatic-diene block copolymers (Br-SBC) comprising a vinylaromatic polymer block S and a brominated diene polymer block BB, wherein before bromination the weight-average molar mass M.sub.w of the block S is greater than or equal to M.sub.w of the block BB, use thereof as flame retardants, and also polymer compositions comprising these for unfoamed and foamed thermoplastic polymers, for example EPS and XPS.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.