Disclosed herein are methods for degrading polyurethane foam from mounted polyurethane foam-containing tires, methods for separating a wheel from a mounted polyurethane foam-containing tire, methods for preparing a degradable foam-containing tire, and degradable foam-containing tires. The methods include applying a solution comprising at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof to the polyurethane foam inside of a tire, incorporating a degradant comprising at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof into the polyurethane foam, or both, and then heating to degrade the foam. Degradation of the foam allows for separation of the wheel from the rubber carcass of the tire.

A fire-stopping material for use in sandwich panels is provided, wherein the fire-stopping material comprises a resilient, porous material at least partially impregnated with an intumescent agent. A panel for an internal wall and an internal wall are also provided, comprising the fire-stopping material disposed between two substantially parallel boards, such as plaster boards. A method of providing a service penetration through an internal wall is also provided.

A composition includes a 4-methyl-1-pentene-based polymer in which at least one or more temperatures showing a local maximum value of a loss tangent (tan δ) are present in a range of 10° C. or higher and 100° C. or lower, and the local maximum value of the loss tangent is 0.5 or more and 3.5 or less, and an organic compound, in which a content of the organic compound is 5 to 250 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the 4-methyl-1-pentene-based polymer, and the organic compound has a viscosity (mPa.Math.s) in a range of 65 to 120, or a ratio between a melt flow rate (g/10 min.) of the 4-methyl-1-pentene-based copolymer and a melt flow rate (g/10 min.) of the organic compound is 1:1.0 to 0.1.

A method for producing a polyurethane polymer comprises the steps of: (a) providing a polyol; (b) providing an additive composition comprising a polyethylenimine compound and a sulfite compound; (c) combining the polyol and the additive composition to produce a polyol composition; (d) providing an isocyanate compound; and (e) combining and reacting the polyol composition and the isocyanate composition to produce a polyurethane polymer.

A composite material according to the present invention includes a solid portion including inorganic particles and a resin. The composite material has a porous structure including a plurality of voids surrounded by the solid portion. The composite material compressed by 10% has a reaction force of 0.1 kPa to 1000 kPa, and the composite material has a heat conductivity of 0.5 W/(m.Math.K) or more. The heat conductivity is a value measured for one test specimen in a symmetric configuration according to an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard (ASTM) D5470-01.

The present invention provides a thermally expandable microcapsule that has excellent heat resistance and compression resistance and that enables the production of a foam molded article that is less likely to undergo deterioration or appearance defects over a long period of time, as well as a foamable masterbatch and a foam molded article each produced using the thermally expandable microcapsule. Provided is a thermally expandable microcapsule including a shell and a volatile expansion agent as a core agent encapsulated by the shell, the shell containing a black material and a polymer compound.

A polymer composition may include a polymer produced from ethylene, one or more branched vinyl ester monomers, optionally vinyl acetate (VA), and a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). A method of preparing a polymer composition may include blending a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and an ethylene based polymer produced from ethylene, one or more branched vinyl ester monomers, and optionally vinyl acetate (VA); and to form a blended mixture; and extruding the blended mixture to form the polymer composition

A poly(arylene ether) copolymer is the product of oxidative copolymerization of monomers including a monohydric phenol and a dihydric phenol of the formula

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wherein R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are as defined herein. The poly(arylene ether) copolymer includes less than 0.1 weight percent of incorporated amine groups. A method of the manufacture of a poly(arylene ether) copolymer is also disclosed. A curable composition including the poly(arylene ether) copolymer and cured products derived therefrom are also described.

A method of foam production is described. The method includes providing a foam precursor including one or more components, the one or more components including at least one of chitin, chitosan, or chitosan oligosaccharide and a solvent. The method further comprises exposing the foam precursor to radiation. The radiation is of a wavelength to heat the foam precursor. A system for foam produced is described, the system including a mixer configured to output a foam precursor including one or more components. The one or more components include at least one of chitin, chitosan, or chitosan oligosaccharide. The system further includes a radiation emitting system positioned to receive the foam precursor from the mixer and expose the foam precursor to radiation to heat the foam precursor to form a solid foam.

The hollow microballoons for CMP polishing pad of the invention are formed of at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a melamine resin, a urea resin and an amide resin and have an average particle size of 1 to 100 μm. According to the invention, there can be provided hollow microballoons for CMP polishing pad, which, when used in CMP polishing pad, exhibit excellent polishing characteristics, and can stably produce CMP polishing pad even in production of CMP polishing pad.