A sound-absorbing material block, a method for preparing the same and application thereof are provided. The sound-absorbing material block includes three-dimensional open-cell foam, sound-absorbing material powder, a binder, a gel, and a cross-linking agent. The sound-absorbing material powder is bonded to each other and connected to the three-dimensional open-cell foam by means of the gel, the cross-linking agent, and the binder, by mass of the sound-absorbing material powder, the gel accounts for 1 wt % to 5 wt % of the sound-absorbing material powder, and the binder accounts for 1 wt % to 8 wt % of the sound-absorbing material powder, and by mass of the gel, the cross-linking agent accounts for 1 wt % to 10 wt % of the gel. The sound-absorbing material block according to the present disclosure reduces an additive amount of the binder, and significantly improves sound-absorbing performance and strength of the material block.

A coated viscoelastic polyurethane foam includes a viscoelastic polyurethane foam having the coating thereon, the viscoelastic polyurethane foam having a resiliency of less than or equal to 20% as measured according to ASTM D3574, and a coating material on and embedded within the viscoelastic polyurethane foam, the coating material including an aqueous polymer emulsion and an encapsulated phase change material.

A double network hydrogel consists of a first network and a second network, where the first network is, or includes, a first polymer that is formed, at least in part, of CH.sub.2CH(OH) units, and the second network is, or includes, a second polymer that is formed, at least in part, of carboxyl (COOH)-containing units or salts thereof, sulfonyl (SO.sub.3H)-containing units or salts thereof, and at least one of hydroxyl (OH)-containing units or amino (NH.sub.2)-containing units, where the hydrogel may be used as a cartilage replacement.

High strength biomedical materials and processes for making the same are disclosed. Included in the disclosure are nanoporous hydrophilic solids that can be extruded with a high aspect ratio to make high strength medical catheters and other devices with lubricious and biocompatible surfaces.

High strength biomedical materials and processes for making the same are disclosed. Included in the disclosure are nanoporous hydrophilic solids that can be extruded with a high aspect ratio to make high strength medical catheters and other devices with lubricious and biocompatible surfaces.

A double network hydrogel consists of a first network and a second network, where the first network is, or includes, a first polymer that is formed, at least in part, of CH.sub.2CH(OH) units, and the second network is, or includes, a second polymer that is formed, at least in part, of carboxyl (COOH)-containing units or salts thereof, sulfonyl (SO.sub.3H)-containing units or salts thereof, and at least one of hydroxyl (OH)-containing units or amino (NH.sub.2)-containing units, where the hydrogel may be used as a cartilage replacement.

A method for producing a blend of at least one first polymer and at least one second polymer. The first polymer comprises: (a) polymerized units of 22 to 80 wt % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3-C.sub.6 carboxylic acid monomers, and (b) polymerized units of 20 to 78 wt % of one or more C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers, and has a weight-average molecular weight from 20,000 to 100,000; and the second polymer comprises polymerized units of 50 to 100 wt % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3-C.sub.6 carboxylic acid monomers and has a weight-average molecular weight from 1,000 to 45,000. The first polymer comprises from 1 to 50 wt % of total weight of the first and second polymers. At least one first polymer at a pH from 3 to 4 with at least one second polymer at a pH from 2 to 4 are combined.

The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40? C. to about 140? C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.

A thermal insulating additive, product formed therefrom, and method of making the same, wherein the thermal insulating additive comprises a plurality of hollow polymeric particles having an average particle size up to about 0.3 micrometers. The hollow polymeric particles exhibit a mechanical strength in a compression test up to about 420 psi and a thermal conductivity that is less than 0.150 W/m-k. The hollow polymeric particles are individually formed as an alkaline swellable core that is at least partially encapsulated with two or more shell layers; the alkaline swellable core prior to swelling exhibits an average particle size that is less than about 50 nanometers.

Painting in commercial, residential, and retail environments requires extreme care to avoid paint being deposited where it is not required. Drop cloths are commonly used to protect a floor or furniture during the painting process. However, these are generally simply plastic sheets to provide a barrier to the liquid paint and nothing more. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a drop sheet or tarp that supports a liquid material drying process such as by dehydration, coagulate, etc. or form solid materials thereby reducing the instances of subsequent paint transfer from the drop sheet or tarp directly or indirectly to other surfaces and/or objects. It would also be advantageous to drop sheet or tarp that provides a non-slip surface which prevents the drop sheet from sliding around and remains well in place without additional weights, tape, etc.