Solid gel beads formed from a gel product of a 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkane phase change material, 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkene phase change material, or a combination thereof and a styrene-based polymer are homogeneous, has an uneven exterior surface, and a major axis length in a range of 1000 μm to 100 mm. Methods for making the solid gel bead include providing water having a preselected temperature based on a linear relationship to the melting point of a phase change material composition, mixing the phase change material composition with the styrene-based polymer at or below the preselected temperature with stirring to form a pulp, and mixing the pulp into the water with turbulent mixing while maintaining the temperature of the mixture at the preselected temperature.

A foamed article formed by foam injection molding or foam extrusion of a composition is disclosed. The article is formed from a molding composition consisting essentially of: 100 phr of at least two different hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers (HSBC), a first HSBC and a second HSBC, having different molecular weights, a molecular weight ratio of at least 1.2:1, respectively; and a weight ratio of ranging from 5:95 to 95:5, respectively; 10-55 phr of a polypropylene having a melt flow of at least 2 g10/min; and optionally up to 55 phr of a plasticizer, selected from hydrocarbon based oils, fatty acids, triglyceride oils, and mixtures thereof. The composition has a melt flow rate of 2-50 g/10 min, a Shore A hardness of 60-90, a melt strength (F) of at least 0.010 N, and a melt strength (V) of at least 10.

A bipolar membrane in which a cation-exchange membrane and an anion-exchange membrane are joined to each other, wherein a leakage ratio of gluconic acid at 60° C. is not more than 1.0%, and the cation-exchange membrane is supported by a polyolefin reinforcing member and, further, contains a polyvinyl chloride.

The present invention aims to provide a foam that is less likely to deflate even after prolonged or repeated load application, has low density, and has good appearance quality, and a method for producing the foam. Provided is a foam including cells dispersed in an elastomer resin, the cells having an average diameter of 40 to 60 μm and an average circularity of 0.990 or greater.

The heat-shrinkable film includes a block copolymer comprising a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon-derived structural unit and a conjugated diene-derived structural unit as a main component.

The present invention provides a thermally expandable microcapsule that has excellent heat resistance and compression resistance and that enables the production of a foam molded article that is less likely to undergo deterioration or appearance defects over a long period of time, as well as a foamable masterbatch and a foam molded article each produced using the thermally expandable microcapsule. Provided is a thermally expandable microcapsule including a shell and a volatile expansion agent as a core agent encapsulated by the shell, the shell containing a black material and a polymer compound.

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.

A crosslinked polymeric composition comprising a base polymer containing unconjugated carbon-carbon double bonds of the formula —CR.sup.a═CR.sup.b—, wherein a portion of said unconjugated carbon-carbon double bonds in said base polymer are interconnected by a crosslinker (L) as shown in the following structure:

##STR00001##

wherein: R.sup.a and R.sup.b are independently selected from hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups, wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b may optionally interconnect to form a ring; x represents the molar percentage of segments that are linked with the linker L throughout the crosslinked polymeric composition; L is a crosslinker having the formula: —S—R.sup.1-L.sup.a-R.sup.2-L.sup.b-R.sup.1—S—; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from hydrocarbon linking groups containing at least one carbon atom; L.sup.a and L.sup.b independently represent dynamic reversible crosslinking groups; and Z.sup.a and Z.sup.b independently represent remaining portions of the base polymer.

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.

Polymer compositions comprising stiff and tough star shaped styrene butadiene block-copolymers A1 and A2 can be used for making shrink films. Block copolymer A2 preferably has the structure

##STR00001##

with hard blocks S.sub.e and S.sub.i, hard random copolymer blocks (B/S).sub.Ae, soft random copolymer blocks (B/S).sub.B coupled by a coupling agent X.