Highly-swellable polymeric films are provided. Aspects also include ingestible compositions that include the highly-swellable polymeric film and an ingestible component. Aspects further include methods of making and using the compositions.

A monovalent selective ion exchange membrane is disclosed. The membrane includes a polymeric microporous substrate, a cross-linked ion-transferring polymeric layer on a surface of the substrate, and a charged functionalizing layer covalently bound to the ion-transferring layer. A method of producing a monovalent selective cation exchange membrane is also disclosed. The method may include chemically adsorbing a styrene intermediate layer to a cross-linked ion-transferring polymeric layer on a surface of a polymeric microporous substrate, chlorosulfonating the styrene intermediate layer to attach a sulfonyl chloride group layer, aminating the sulfonyl group layer to attach an amine group layer, and functionalizing the amine group layer with a charged compound layer to produce the cation exchange membrane. Water treatment systems including the monovalent selective cation exchange membrane and methods of facilitating water treatment including providing the monovalent selective cation exchange membrane are also disclosed.

A monovalent selective ion exchange membrane is disclosed. The membrane includes a polymeric microporous substrate, a cross-linked ion-transferring polymeric layer on a surface of the substrate, and a charged functionalizing layer covalently bound to the ion-transferring layer by an acrylic group. A method of producing a monovalent selective cation exchange membrane is also disclosed. The method may include chemically adsorbing an acrylic intermediate layer comprising a chlorosulfonated methacrylate group to a cross-linked ion-transferring polymeric layer on a surface of a polymeric microporous substrate, aminating the chlorosulfonated methacrylate group to attach an amine group layer, and functionalizing the amine group layer with a charged compound layer to produce the cation exchange membrane. Water treatment systems including the monovalent selective cation exchange membrane and methods of facilitating water treatment including providing the monovalent selective cation exchange membrane are also disclosed.

A recyclable thread or yarn having a dissolvable fiber and an insoluble fiber is provided and incorporated into a woven article, garment or textile. The dissolvable fiber and the insoluble fiber are twisted to form the thread or yarn. The dissolvable fiber may be a synthetic water soluble polymer and may dissolve in water at between 60° C. and 100° C. The insoluble fiber may be cotton such as extra-long staple (ELS) cotton or Supima cotton. A process for recycling a woven article, garment or textile made with the recyclable thread or yarn is also provided. The process for recycling a woven article, garment or textile made with the recyclable thread or yarn includes subjecting the woven article, garment or textile in water to a condition to cause said dissolvable fiber to lose long range order to form a slurry or solution.

There is provided a method for the production of a packaging material comprising a substrate and a gas barrier layer based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), said method comprising the steps of—applying a coating composition of said PVOH dissolved in a first solvent onto said substrate to form a coating—subjecting the coating to a first drying step to form a dried PVOH-based coating on said substrate, contacting the dried PVOH-based coating with a crosslinking solution comprising a crosslinking agent in a second solvent, to effect crosslinking of the PVOH-based coating, and—subsequent to the contact with the crosslinking solution, subjecting the PVOH-based coating to a second drying step, forming the PVOH-based barrier layer on said substrate, with the proviso that if the crosslinking solution comprises PVOH, the amount of PVOH added by the crosslinking solution is less than 20% (by weight), such as less than 10% (by weight), of the amount of PVOH added by the coating composition.

Highly-swellable polymeric films are provided. Aspects also include ingestible compositions that include the highly-swellable polymeric film and an ingestible component. Aspects further include methods of making and using the compositions.

Disclosed herein is a foamable composition comprising an olefin copolymer that comprises ethylene and an α-olefin; an unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer; a crosslinking agent; a blowing agent; and an activator; where a weight ratio of the activator to the unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer is greater than 0.3. Disclosed herein too is a method of manufacturing a foamable composition comprising blending together an olefin copolymer that comprises ethylene and an α-olefin; an unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer; a crosslinking agent; a blowing agent; and an activator to form the foamable composition; where a weight ratio of the activator to the unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer is greater than 0.3; heating the foamable composition to activate the blowing agent to form a foam; and crosslinking the foam.

A coating material for a gas barrier includes polycarboxylic acid, a polyamine compound, a polyvalent metal compound, and a base, in which (molar number of —COO— groups included in the polycarboxylic acid)/(molar number of amino groups included in the polyamine compound)=100/20 to 100/90.

Disclosed herein is a foam composition comprising an olefin copolymer that comprises ethylene and an α-olefin or propylene and an α-olefin; an unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer; a crosslinking agent; and a blowing agent; where the foam composition is substantially free from neutralized carboxylated ethylene copolymer. Disclosed herein too is a method of manufacturing a foam composition comprising blending together an olefin copolymer that comprises ethylene and an α-olefin or propylene and an α-olefin; an unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer; a crosslinking agent; and a blowing agent to form the foam composition; where the foam composition is substantially free from neutralized carboxylated ethylene copolymer; heating the foam composition to activate the blowing agent to form a foam; and crosslinking the foam.

An orthodontic protection device that includes: an extruded base material having an uncured, uncross-linked silicone high consistency rubber base where the extruded base material has at least one dry, powdered hydrophilic polymeric substance mechanically or frictionally engaged with and dispersed on a surface of the extruded base material thereby forming a finger force malleable hydrophobic base material composite configured to be applied to a surface of a tooth, a surface of an orthodontic appliance or both a surface of a tooth and a surface of an orthodontic appliance using finger pressure within about eight seconds or less.