A method of forming a polymeric foam material is provided and includes providing a precursor material having a first thickness, the precursor material being an open-cell foam material and applying a uniaxial compressive force to the precursor material to compress the precursor material to a second thickness, the compressive force causing a cell structure of the precursor material to collapse. The method also includes heating the precursor material at a molding temperature for a first time period while the compressive force is applied, the first time period being sufficient to heat the precursor material to a softening temperature, removing the compressive force from the precursor material, and maintaining the cell structure of the precursor material in a collapsed state.

A method, a device, and a composition are disclosed. The method includes providing a polyol blend that includes a polyol resin and an electromagnetic (EMA) additive, providing an isocyanate resin selected such that blending the isocyanate resin with the polyol blend results in an EMA spray foam. The device includes a first compartment containing an isocyanate resin and a second compartment containing a polyol blend, which includes a polyol resin and an EMA additive. The composition includes a polyurethane spray foam and an EMA additive blended into the polyurethane spray foam.

Disclosed herein is a fiber composite material including: (a) a polyurethane obtained reaction of at least the components: (i) a polyisocyanate composition; and (ii) a polyol composition including at least 15% by weight of an at least trifunctional alcohol (ii.1), which exhibits at least two primary hydroxyl groups (ii.1); and (b) fibers which are at least partially embedded in the compact polyurethane.

Further disclosed herein are a process for producing a fiber composite material, a fiber composite material obtained by this process, and a method of using the fiber composite material for producing a pipe, in particular a conical pipe, a pipe connector, a pressure vessel, a storage tank, an insulator, a mast, a bar, a roller, a torsion shaft, a profile, a piece of sports equipment, a molded part, a cover, an automotive exterior part, a rope, a cable, an isogrid structure or a semi-finished textile product.

A laminate, including a substrate having a microstructure on a surface thereof; and a coating layer formed on the substrate and encapsulating the microstructure of the substrate. A glass transition temperature T.sub.1 of the substrate is higher than a glass transition temperature T.sub.2 of the coating layer. A method of producing an ophthalmic lens, including deforming the laminate into a shape of the ophthalmic lens by applying heat and/or pressure at a temperature of lower than T.sub.1.

Provided herein is a method of recycling reactive prepolymers from additively manufactured articles or recovered coating material that comprises a crosslinked polymer formed from a single-cure resin comprising a reactive blocked prepolymer and a crosslinker, by forming and recovering a regenerated reactive prepolymer. Light-polymerizable resins, methods of making recyclable objects from such resins, and methods for sustainable manufacturing are also provided.

Shapeable composites and methods of use and manufacturing arc described herein. The shapeable composites may include a polymer and a functional filler, e.g., the functional filler present in an amount greater than or equal to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the shapeable composite. The shapeable composite may be a foam composite having a viscoelasticity, such that the shapeable composite is configured to be reshaped.

Disclosed are a polyol composition using carbon dioxide, a method for preparing a polyurethane foam using the polyol composition, and a polyurethane foam prepared using the method. A method for preparing a polyurethane foam includes reacting isocyanate with a polyol composition containing a polyol compound having a synthetic polyol containing carbon dioxide, a chain extender, and a foaming agent.

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 method for preparing a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer material with micro air holes is provided. The method comprises the following steps: (1) is feeding liquid raw materials such as diisocyanate molecules and solid additives into a double-screw reactor to trigger a polymerization type chain extension reaction and then obtain a macromolecular weight hot melt. (2) is pushing the macromolecular weight hot melt into a mixing extruder and allowing the reaction to continue to obtain a macromolecular thermoplastic polyurethane melt. (3) is continuously adding the obtained macromolecular thermoplastic polyurethane melt together with polymer particles into a foaming extruder, and extruding the high-pressure hot melt from a mold head into an underwater granulation chamber. (4) is delivering the particles obtained after granulation into a separator by process water via a multi-stage pressure-release process water pipeline, separating, screening and drying the required particles to obtain the target product.

Disclosed are embodiments of polymer compositions and systems that contain antimicrobial and wavelength-shifting metal nanoparticles. The polymer compositions containing metal nanoparticles protect exposed materials from UV radiation. The polymer compositions containing metal nanoparticles down convert incoming UV light to light that may have a longer wavelength. Unexpectedly, by selecting at least two differently configured nanoparticle components (e.g., different in size, shape, or both), each with specific particle size distribution, it is possible to effectively protect an area from damage resulting from exposure to UV radiation. In addition, spherical silver nanoparticles do not cause bacteria to become resistant as do convention silver nanoparticles made by chemical synthesis.