A foamable polymer composition comprising a crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking peroxide compound, and a chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid, a rosin acid, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; or any combinations thereof, such as comprising abietic acid, dihydroabietic acid, neoabietic acid, a rosin acid ester, linoleic acid, or mixtures thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be preferably functionalized by spray-coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may further comprise 0.1-5 wt % silica. A process for manufacturing a foamed crosslinked polymer, such as EVA and/or crosslinked polyolefins, and a foamed crosslinked polymer obtained by such process.

A fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composition includes 5 to 50 parts by weight of reinforcing fibers (A) containing at least carbon fibers, 20 to 94.5 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin (B), and 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of a rosin resin (C), wherein the rosin resin (C) has an acid value and/or hydroxyl value of 100 mgKOH/g or more. Since the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composition contains the reinforcing fibers containing at least carbon fibers and the specific rosin resin, a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin molded article high in reinforcing effect due to the reinforcing fibers and excellent in tensile strength, impact strength and appearance quality, particularly blackness, can be obtained.

Disclosed herein are methods of preparing a composite, comprising mixing a solid elastomer, a wet filler, and a resin. Single-stage or multi-stage mixing methods can be used. Also disclosed are composite comprising the filler dispersed in the elastomer at a loading of at least 20 phr, wherein the composite has a liquid content of no more than 10% by weight based on total weight of said composite.

A process for the preparation of a shaped rubber composition comprising combining a rubber compound with an extender compound to produce a mixture; drying the mixture to produce a dried mixture; and shaping the mixture wherein the extender compound comprises a natural or hydrocarbon resin, which possesses a glass transition temperature of at equal to or greater than about 70 C. and an acid value of 50 mg KOH/g or less and wherein the mixture is shaped into particles or bales.

A method of forming a vulcanizable rubber composition includes a sequence of non-productive mixing steps. In a first of the non-productive mixing steps, a composite blend is mixed with a first elastomer to generate a first mixture. The composite blend includes a second elastomer, which may be the same as, or different from, the first elastomer, and carbon black. In a second of the non-productive mixing steps, a third elastomer, different from the first elastomer, is mixed with the first mixture, or with a mixture generated from the first mixture, to generate a second mixture. In a productive mixing step, a curing agent is mixed with the second mixture, or with a mixture generated from the second mixture, to generate the vulcanizable rubber composition, which includes the first, second, and third elastomers, carbon black from the composite blend, and an additional amount of a reinforcing filler.

Provided is a basketball with EVA cover panels, which comprises a basketball carcass, and at least two cover panels disposed on a surface of the basketball carcass; wherein the at least two cover panels are made by foaming a cover panel material, and the cover panel material comprises ethylene vinyl acetate, a foaming agent, a filler, polyethylene, natural rubber, a crosslinking agent, zinc oxide, stearic acid and an anti-wear agent. The basketball with EVA cover panels of the present invention can have good elasticity, good touch and non-slip at the same time.

Interleavant particles for location between adjacent stacked glass sheets that include an organic polymer core with an outer coating comprising rosin. The organic polymer core has a softening point greater than 60 C., a solubility in water of less than 2 g/L, a compressive strength of at least 3 MPa and a volumetric mass density less than 1.6 g/cm.sup.3. A composition, methods of producing the particles and stacking glass sheets, use of the particles to space the glass sheets and a stack of glass sheets. In one method, a solid organic polymer core and a solid outer coating material are combined by high shear mixing wherein the outer coating material has a lower melting point than the core material and the high shear mixing is effective to melt the outer coating material and to effect coating thereof onto the solid organic polymer core.