A composite molded article in which thermoplastic resin expanded beads are bonded via a thermosetting resin binder, wherein the composite molded article has a density of 0.05 to 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, and when heated at 100° C. for 20 minutes, the composite molded article has a volume expansion rate of 15 to 200%.

The present disclosure provides a heat sealing aqueous resin composition containing: a rosin resin (A); a biodegradable resin (B) including a resin having a structure of General Formula (1) and/or a resin (b1) having a structure of General Formula (2); and a polyvinyl alcohol (C) in which an average saponification degree is 75 mol % or more and 85 mol % or less, in which a content of the component (b1) is more than 50% by mass when a total content of the component (A) and the component (B) is 100% by mass.

—O—(CH.sub.2).sub.x—O—CO—(CH.sub.2).sub.y—CO—  General Formula (1): (in General Formula (1), x and y may be different from each other, and are integers of 1 or more and 10 or less)

—O—(CH.sub.2).sub.z—CO—  General Formula (2): (in General Formula (2), z is an integer of 3 or more and 10 or less)

Compositions comprise synergistic enzyme mixtures, and related methods, to realize near-complete depolymerization in biodegradable polymer/additive blends.

A coating composition is described that can be completely biodegradable and well suited for use in laminating films to substrates. The coating composition contains a biodegradable polymer, such as a polyvinyl alcohol polymer. The coating composition can be applied to a biodegradable film and then adhered to a substrate, such as a paper substrate.

Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg includes a double belt mechanism that is configured to compress a fiber mat, web, or mesh that is passed through the double belt mechanism, a resin applicator that is configured to apply monomers or oligomers to the fiber mat, web, or mesh, and a curing oven that is configured to effect polymerization of the monomers or oligomers and thereby form the thermoplastic polymer as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is moved through the curing oven. The double belt mechanism compresses the fiber mat, web, or mesh and the applied monomers or oligomers as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is passed through the curing oven so that the monomers or oligomers fully saturate the fiber mat, web, or mesh. Upon polymerization of the monomers or oligomers, the fiber mat, web, or mesh is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer.

A biodegradable composite may include a biodegradable plastic polymer having a biodegradability of from about 80 percent (%) to about 95% when measured according to a biodegradability test in accordance with an ASTM D6400-19 standard and a bio-derived fiber. A polymeric matrix of the biodegradable plastic polymer may have a tensile strength of from about 30 MPa to about 45 MPa and an elastic modulus of from about 2600 MPa to about 3600 MPa. The bio-derived fiber may have a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of the polymeric matrix of the biodegradable plastic polymer and an elastic modulus greater than the elastic modulus of the polymeric matrix.

An aliphatic polyester resin composition including: an aliphatic polyester resin; and calcium carbonate, wherein an amount of the calcium carbonate in the aliphatic polyester resin composition is 20% by mass or more, a number average particle diameter of the calcium carbonate in the aliphatic polyester resin composition is 0.20 μm or more but less than 0.40 μm, and a standard deviation of the number average particle diameter is 0.3 or more but 0.6 or less.

Disclosed herein are a biodegradable polymer microparticle for a filler comprising a core and a shell, wherein the core contains secondary particles including aggregates of a plurality of primary particles, the shell has a raspberry shaped structure, an average particle diameter (D.sub.50) of the biodegradable polymer microparticle ranges from 20 to 200 μm, a manufacturing method thereof, a freeze-dried body including the same, and filler injection including the same.

A process for producing a flexible foam includes introducing a masterbatch material into an extruder, the masterbatch material consisting essentially of one or more thermoplastic polymers that are recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, and/or compostable, mixing an inert gas with the masterbatch material, extruding the masterbatch material through the extruder to form a polymer melt, passing the polymer melt through a die to form an extrudate, and allowing the extrudate to expand into a foam.