The present disclosure relates to a pressure sensitive adhesive foam comprising a rubber-based elastomeric material and at least one hydrocarbon tackifier, wherein the hydrocarbon tackifier(s) have a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) value of less than 1000 ppm and a Volatile Fogging Compound (FOG) value of less than 1500 ppm, when measured by thermogravimetric analysis according to the weight loss test methods described in the experimental section. The present disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing such a pressure sensitive adhesive foam and uses thereof.

In an injection molded product of the invention, an unevenness forming portion having unevenness formed by thermal expansion of thermally expandable capsules is formed. The injection molded product includes a highly expanded portion that is formed at a surface side of the unevenness forming portion in a thickness direction of the injection molded product and in which the thermally expandable capsules are thermally expanded, and a main body portion that is a portion adjacent to the highly expanded portion in the thickness direction and in which the thermally expandable capsules are substantially not thermally expanded. The thickness of the highly expanded portion is a half or smaller than the thickness of the injection molded product in the unevenness forming portion, and a polymer material of the highly expanded portion and a polymer material of the main body portion are the same polymer material.

This invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a type A hardness (i.e., the momentary value) of 55 or less in accordance with JIS K6253, which comprises 35 to 65 parts by weight of an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (A) having a type A hardness (i.e., the momentary value) of 75 or less in accordance with JIS K6253 and 65 to 35 parts by weight of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (B) having a type A hardness (i.e., the momentary value) of 60 or less in accordance with JIS K6253 (with the total amount of components (A) and (B) being 100 parts by weight) and a molded thermoplastic elastomer product obtained via molding of such composition.

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.

A shoe sole member formed by a foam includes cells having a certain size and being excellent in transparency in order to provide a shoe sole member being lightweight and excellent cushioning properties while having transparency.

Dipped formed latex articles with improved properties are formed from branched block copolymers, derived from alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon—1,3-diene monomer system, and branched polyisoprene homopolymers, derived from isoprene. The polymers are obtained by polymerization in the presence of an anionic initiator; at a temperature from 0° C. to 100° C.; followed by coupling with a multifunctional coupling agent of formula (R.sup.1O).sub.3Si—Y—Si(OR.sup.2).sub.3, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl groups; and Y is a C.sub.2-C.sub.8 alkylene group. The polymers are obtained as rubber cements having high solids content and low zero shear viscosities. The rubber cements are valuable for making latices and latex articles such as dipped goods, e.g., condoms, gloves, etc., with improved properties.

The anion exchange membranes exhibit enhanced chemical stability and ion conductivity when compared with traditional styrene-based alkaline anion exchange membranes. A copolymer backbone is polymerized from a reaction medium that includes a diphenylalkylene and an alkadiene. The copolymer includes a plurality of pendant phenyl groups. The diphenyl groups on the polymer backbone are functionalized with one or more haloalkylated precursor substrates. The terminal halide from the precursor substrate can then be substituted with a desired ionic group. The diphenylethylene-based alkaline anion exchange membranes lack the α-hydrogens sharing tertiary carbons with phenyl groups from polystyrene or styrene-based precursor polymers, resulting in higher chemical stability. The ionic groups are also apart from each other by about 3 to 6 carbons in the polymer backbone, enhancing ion conductivity. These membrane are advantageous for use in fuel cells, electrolyzers employing hydrogen, ion separations, etc.

An article comprises a laminate with a layer comprising a first latex composition containing a cross-linker component selected from sulfur, organic peroxide, vulcanizing activators, and vulcanizing accelerator; and a second layer comprising a second latex composition free of the cross-linker component. The laminate is formed by dipping a mold into the first latex composition then into the second latex composition forming a laminated film, then curing the laminated film by heating to a temperature between 90° C. to 140° C. Lastly, the laminated film is removed from the mold via inversion such that the second layer is inwards and the first layer is outwards.

A latex of a styrene-based block copolymer includes a styrene-based block copolymer and water. The styrene-based block copolymer includes a toluene insoluble content of 30 to 95 wt %. The latex of the styrene-based block copolymer is superior in the processability and can provide a molded film such as a dip-molded product having the high tear strength, the high stress retention and the soft texture.

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 dual composition block copolymers are partially coupled with a coupling agent linking inner monovinyl aromatic blocks. Their un-coupled low molecular weight fraction has greater monovinyl aromatic repeating unit content than their coupled high molecular weight fraction. Crosslinked microcellular rubber articles made from the dual composition 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 dual composition 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 dual composition block copolymers are very well suited for labels, exhibiting higher tack and higher softening temperature than those made from prior art block copolymers.