Provided are solvent cement formulations comprising some or all of tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, a thermoplastic resin, silica, and, a solvent soluble acrylic copolymer associative thickener. The disclosed formulations contain a reduced complement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) relative to conventional cement formulations, yet are capable of meeting the requirements for regular-, medium-, and heavy-duty applications. The use of specialized associative thickener components confers a required degree of viscosity while enabling a reduction in the concentration of VOCs, such as tetrahydrofuran.

A method of providing a foamed insulation coating on at least a portion of a pipe, including extruding a melt stream over the pipe portion. The melt stream includes a matrix polymer and expandable fillers in an unexpanded state, the melt stream being maintained at a sufficiently high temperature to maintain the matrix polymer in extrudable form and at a sufficiently high pressure to maintain the expandable fillers in the unexpanded state. Once extruded, the expandable fillers are permitted to expand into an expanded state at a lower pressure.

A method of preparing a solution capable of etching a platable plastic. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an electrolyte comprising a solution of manganese(II) in a solution of 9 to 15 molar sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid to an electrolytic cell; (b) applying a current to the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an anode and a cathode; and (c) oxidizing the electrolyte to form manganese(III) ions, wherein the manganese(III) ions form a metastable sulfate complex. Thereafter, a platable plastic may be immersed in the metastable sulfate complex for a period of time to etch the platable substrate prior to subsequent plating steps.

An improved graft polymerization method from general graphitic structures with organic based monomers through the mechanism of Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization was developed. Organic hybrid nanomaterials comprising graphitic structures are covalently bonded via chemically reactive groups on the outer walls of the structure. Methods for forming the covalently bonded structures to many organic based monomers and/or polymers may occur through RAFT polymerization utilizing dithioester as a chain transfer agent. The method may also comprise nanocomposite formation of such organic hybrid nanomaterials with common plastic(s) to form graphitic nanocomposite reinforced plastic articles.

In one embodiment, a polymeric sheet, comprising: a foamed layer comprising a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material has a Tg of greater than or equal to 100? C.; and wherein the sheet has a weight reduction of 10% to 60%, as compared to a solid sheet of the same geometry and size formed from the same polymeric material. The sheet, at the thickness of 1.0 mm, has a smoke density of less than or equal to 200 particles after four minutes of burning according to ASTM E662-06. The sheet is thermoformable.

Chemically resistant polymers are etched using a chrome-free etch solution which is aqueous and alkaline. The chrome-free etch aqueous alkaline solution is environmentally friendly and can be used in the preparation of chemically resistant polymers for electroless metal plating including the plating of through-hole walls in the manufacture of printed circuit boards.

A composite is provided that is formed by melt-blending particles of thermoplastic polymer that have been coated with a chitin nanowhisker gel, wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. A composite comprising chitin nanowhiskers dispersed in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is also provided.

The present disclosure provides methods of improving adhesion of a non-di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to an acrylic-based polymer or an ABS-based polymer. Such methods may comprise blending the acrylic-based polymer or ABS-based polymer with an impact modifier so that a rubber content in the acrylic-based polymer or ABS-based polymer is greater than 12% (w/w). Also provided are components of a device (e.g., a medical device) made by the disclosed methods.

The present invention relates to a multilayer composition comprising a surface layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer A and a substrate layer comprising a polymeric composite material based thermoplastic (meth)acrylic matrix and a fibrous material as reinforcement. The multilayer composition is suitable for mechanical or structured parts or articles with a decorative surface aspect. The present invention concerns also a manufacturing process for multilayer mechanical or structured parts or articles and three-dimensional mechanical or structured parts.

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.