Pitch granules including a core made up of a first composition including at least one pitch, the composition having a penetrability at 25? C. of 0 to 45 1/10 mm, a ring-and-ball softening temperature (TBA) of 55? C. to 175? C., understanding the penetrability as measured according to standard EN 1426 and the TBA as measured according to standard EN 1427, and a layer encapsulating at least one portion of the surface of the core, the layer being made up of a coating composition including at least one anti-caking agent.

A functionalization is performed with a dissolved oligo- or polysaccharide derivative which contains at least one free functional group, especially an amino group, linked through a polar carbamate linkage and a spacer (X), according to the general formula I: ##STR00001##

Foamable aqueous compositions can be foamed and applied to porous substrates to make light-blocking dry opacifying elements. Such compositions have 0.05-15 weight % of porous particles; at least 20 weight % of a binder; at least 0.0001 weight % of additives (including a surfactant); water; and at least 0.001 weight % of an opacifying colorant. Each porous particle includes a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores; a mode particle size of 2-50 m; and a porosity of 20-70 volume %. The continuous polymeric phase T.sub.g is >80 C. and has a polymer viscosity of 80-500 centipoises at an ethyl acetate shear rate of 100 sec.sup.1 at a concentration of 20 weight % at 25 C. The dry opacifying element light blocking value is at least 4 and has a luminous reflectance >40% as measured by the color space Y tristimulus value. The foamed aqueous composition has a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm.sup.3.

A flavoring sheet with improved physical properties, a smoking article including the same, and methods of producing the flavoring sheet and the smoking article are provided. The flavoring sheet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may include a hydrocolloid material configured to form a sheet, a flavoring, and a plasticizer. The plasticizer can improve physical properties of the flavoring sheet and thus enhance workability of a process of cutting the flavoring sheet.

Foamable aqueous compositions can be foamed and applied to porous substrates to make light-blocking dry opacifying elements. Such compositions have 0.05-15 weight % of porous particles; at least 20 weight % of a binder; at least 0.0001 weight % of additives (including a surfactant); water; and at least 0.001 weight % of an opacifying colorant. Each porous particle includes a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores; a mode particle size of 2-50 m; and a porosity of 20-70 volume %. The continuous polymeric phase T.sub.g is >80 C. and has a polymer viscosity of 80-500 centipoises at an ethyl acetate shear rate of 100 sec.sup.1 at a concentration of 20 weight % at 25 C. The dry opacifying element light blocking value is at least 4 and has a luminous reflectance >40% as measured by the Y tristimulus value. The foamed aqueous composition has a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm.sup.3.

A method for producing a porous film having a water content percentage of less than 1000 ppm, the method including the steps of: (1) obtaining a porous film (A) having a water content percentage of not less than 1000 ppm; (2) obtaining a package by causing the obtained porous film (A) and a drying agent to be contained in a water vapor barrier packaging container and sealing the water vapor barrier packaging container; and (3) storing the obtained package.

A method for producing a porous film having a water content percentage of less than 1000 ppm, the method including the steps of: (1) obtaining a porous film (A) having a water content percentage of not less than 1000 ppm; (2) obtaining a package by causing the obtained porous film (A) and a drying agent to be contained in a water vapor barrier packaging container and sealing the water vapor barrier packaging container; and (3) storing the obtained package.

An artificial timer and preparing method thereof. The artificial timber includes the following components in parts by weight: 35-50 parts of cellulose, 20-35 parts of hemicellulose and 15-35 parts of lignin, wherein the artificial timber has a density of 0.01-0.05 g/cm.sup.3. The preparing method includes: (1) dissolving 15-35 parts by weight of lignin, 35-50 parts by weight of cellulose and 20-35 parts by weight of hemicellulose with an ionic liquid; (2) cleaning and replacing it with water to obtain a lignocellulose hydrogel; and (3) drying the lignocellulose hydrogel to obtain an artificial timber. The prepared artificial timber is large in specific area, low in density, low in material energy consumption, moderate in condition and easy for operation. The obtained artificial timber is regular in shape and shaped like a sandy beige cylinder without obvious damage and deformation, which indicates that such artificial timber with high specific area has well molding capacity.

Provided herein is a cellulose nanofiber-containing composition producing method for producing a cellulose nanofiber-containing composition that can be easily combined with compounds having a reactive double-bond group, and that contains only a small amount of uncured material that acts as a plasticizer in a molded product, using a simple producing method that does not require any process involving solvent displacement or solvent removal. A high-strength molded body prepared by using the cellulose nanofiber-containing composition is also provided. In refining cellulose in a mixture containing a compound having a reactive double-bond group and a hydroxyl group of 10 KOHmg/g or less and a defibrating resin as essential components, the cellulose has a moisture content of 4 to 25 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the amount of the cellulose converted on the assumption that the percentage moisture of the cellulose is 0%.

Foamable aqueous compositions can be foamed and applied to porous substrates to make light-blocking dry opacifying elements. Such compositions have 0.05-15 weight % of porous particles; at least 20 weight % of a binder; at least 0.0001 weight % of additives (including a surfactant); water; and at least 0.001 weight % of an opacifying colorant. Each porous particle includes a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores; a mode particle size of 2-50 m; and a porosity of 20-70 volume %. The continuous polymeric phase T.sub.g is >80 C. and has a polymer viscosity of 80-500 centipoises at an ethyl acetate shear rate of 100 sec.sup.1 at a concentration of 20 weight % at 25 C. The dry opacifying element light blocking value is at least 4 and has a luminous reflectance>40% as measured by the Y tristimulus value. The foamed aqueous composition has a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm.sup.3.