An illustrative embodiment of a manufactured surface component may be comprised of a textile material on a first face and an elastomer material on a second face, wherein said elastomer material is bonded to said textile material, wherein said manufactured surface component is substantially planarly configured, wherein an area of said first face and said second face is from about 0.04 square inches to about 4.0 square inches, wherein a thickness of said manufactured surface component is from about 0.3 mm to about 2.5 mm, and wherein said manufactured surface component is substantially free of any petrochemical-derived plastics, petrochemicals, and toxins.

An illustrative embodiment of a manufactured surface component may be comprised of a textile material on a first face and an elastomer material on a second face, wherein said elastomer material is bonded to said textile material, wherein said manufactured surface component is substantially planarly configured, wherein an area of said first face and said second face is from about 0.04 square inches to about 4.0 square inches, wherein a thickness of said manufactured surface component is from about 0.3 mm to about 2.5 mm, and wherein said manufactured surface component is substantially free of any petrochemical-derived plastics, petrochemicals, and toxins.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a production method that enables PHA (e.g. PHA powder) to be produced with high productivity. The above is achieved by providing: a method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate, including the steps of (a) preparing an aqueous suspension that contains a polyhydroxyalkanoate and an alkylene oxide-based dispersing agent and has a pH of not more than 7 and (b) spray-drying the aqueous suspension prepared in the step (a); and the like.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a production method that enables PHA (e.g. PHA powder) to be produced with high productivity. The above is achieved by providing: a method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate, including the steps of (a) preparing an aqueous suspension that contains a polyhydroxyalkanoate and an alkylene oxide-based dispersing agent and has a pH of not more than 7 and (b) spray-drying the aqueous suspension prepared in the step (a); and the like.

The present invention relates to an organic solvent-soluble copolymerized polyester, a composition for forming an ultrafiltration membrane including the same, and a high water-permeability reverse osmosis membrane prepared therefrom. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polyester that has a high solubility in organic solvents at room temperature and thus can be used to produce ultrafiltration membranes at low cost, a composition for forming an ultrafiltration membrane including the same, and a high water-permeability reverse osmosis membrane prepared therefrom, wherein the reverse osmosis membrane has a reduced production cost and high water permeability.

A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce at least one of six different materials, wherein each type of material may be configured as a thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages. The materials may be configured as a leather-like material, a foam material, a molded elastomer, a coating, an adhesive, and/or a rigid or semi-rigid material. Illustrative articles made from any combination of the six materials may be recycled using a mechano-chemical process to de-crosslink the thermosetting elastomer.

A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce at least one of six different materials, wherein each type of material may be configured as a thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages. The materials may be configured as a leather-like material, a foam material, a molded elastomer, a coating, an adhesive, and/or a rigid or semi-rigid material. Illustrative articles made from any combination of the six materials may be recycled using a mechano-chemical process to de-crosslink the thermosetting elastomer.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyester polyols and also to the polyester polyols obtainable by the process.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyester polyols and also to the polyester polyols obtainable by the process.

In one aspect, the present invention encompasses integrated processes for the conversion of epoxides to acrylic acid derivatives and polyesters. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention comprise the steps of: providing a feedstock stream comprising an epoxide and carbon monoxide; contacting the feedstock stream with a metal carbonyl in a first reaction zone to effect conversion of at least a portion of the provided epoxide to a beta lactone; directing the effluent from the first reaction zone to a second reaction zone where the beta lactone is subjected to conditions that convert it to a compound selected from the group consisting of: an alpha beta unsaturated acid, an alpha beta unsaturated ester, an alpha beta unsaturated amide, and an optionally substituted polypropiolactone polymer; and isolating a final product comprising the alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid, the alpha-beta unsaturated ester, the alpha-beta unsaturated amide or the polypropiolactone.