A process of foaming a polyolefin, e.g., polyethylene, composition using as a nucleator a combination of (A) azodicarbonamide, and (B) a mixture of (1) a first component consisting of at least one of citric acid and an alkali metal citrate, and (2) a second component consisting of at least one of an alkali metal citrate, a di-alkali metal hydrogen citrate, an alkali metal dihydrogen citrate and an alkali metal bicarbonate, with the proviso that the mixture is not solely composed of alkali metal citrate.

Disclosed are polyurethane-based foams. The foams may have one or more vicrucidal/bactericidal agents. The foams may be used as filters that capture and/or inactivate viral particles, such as, virions associated with COVID-19. Also described are methods of making the foams and methods of using the foams.

Provided is a foamable polyamide composition comprising a) at least one polyamide comprising at least one carboxylic group; b) at least one thermoplastic rubber; and c) at least one compound having at least one isocyanate group; and optionally d) at least one filler and e) at least one additive.

A composition for forming polyurethane foams is provided using epoxidized triglycerides with unopened rings. The composition further includes a polyol, a blowing agent, and a catalyst that catalyzes the reaction of polyols with isocyanates to form polyurethanes. The polyol is a polyoxyalklylene and the epoxidized triglyceride is an epoxidized soybean oil. A method for forming polyurethane foam using the aforementioned composition is also provided.

Porous conductive resin is produced by: mixing a hydrogen bond donor compound and a hydrogen bond acceptor compound to produce deep eutectic liquid (DEL); adding conductive materials to the DEL to produce gel; adding resin that is insoluble in the DEL to the gel to produce ink made of the gel dispersed in the resin; forming the produced ink into a formed object having a desired shape; curing the resin in the formed object; and evaporating the DEL in the formed object including the cured resin.

The invention relates to novel a high-volume swelling hydrogel which comprises a plurality of pores which are defined by an interpenetrating network, and/or a semi-interpenetrating network and/or simple cross-linked arrangement of a plurality of one or more species of hydrophilic polymers, optionally together with one or more biocompatible polymers and optionally together with one or more plasticising agents, characterised in that at least some of the pores are at least partially collapsed and/or flattened, and further characterised in that the interpenetrating network and/or semi-interpenetrating network and/or cross-linked arrangement which defines the collapsed and/or flattened pores is substantially unbroken. The invention also relates to a process for preparing such hydrogels, and to their use as an appetite suppressant.

Provided is a method for producing hollow resin particles in which a residual amount of a hydrocarbon solvent once held inside particles in a production process is reduced and particle breakage is suppressed. The method for producing hollow resin particles, which include preparing a mixture liquid containing a polymerizable monomer, a hydrocarbon solvent, a polymerization initiator and an aqueous medium, suspending the mixture liquid to prepare a suspension, subjecting the suspension to a polymerization reaction to prepare a precursor composition containing precursor particles having a hollow portion and including the hydrocarbon solvent in the hollow portion, and removing the hydrocarbon solvent from the precursor particles, wherein the polymerizable monomer contains a crosslinkable monomer in an amount of from 40% by mass to 100% by mass, and wherein the removal of the hydrocarbon solvent is performed by a specific method.

A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, said chemical blowing agent comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; in derivatives thereof (such as esters); salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent. A process for manufacturing a foamed polymer, such as foamed PVC, comprising shaping and heating the foamable polymer composition, and a foamed polymer obtained by such process.

A chemical blowing agent for foaming a thermoplastic polymer, for example PVC plastisol or a polymer resin in an extrusion process, comprising a functionalized particulate bicarbonate containing at least one additive, preferably excluding an exothermic blowing agent. The additive may be selected from the group consisting of polymers; inorganic salts; oils; fats; resin acids, any derivative thereof, and salts thereof; amino acids; fatty acids; carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, soaps; waxes; derivatives thereof; salts thereof; or any combinations thereof. The particulate bicarbonate may be functionalized by spray-drying, coating, extrusion or co-grinding with at least one additive. The functionalized particulate bicarbonate may comprise 50 wt % to less than 100 wt % of the bicarbonate component, and 0.02-50 wt % of the additive. A foamable polymer composition comprising such chemical blowing agent. A process for manufacturing a foamed polymer, such as foamed PVC, comprising shaping and heating the foamable polymer composition, and a foamed polymer obtained by such process.

A flexible foam composition comprising a flexible foam structure comprising a plurality of struts, and a plurality of fibers, where a majority of the fibers are associated with the struts. The fibers may be thermally conductive fibers. The fibers include, but are not necessarily limited to, homopolymer and/or copolymer fibers having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of −50° C. (−58° F.) or greater, carbon fibers, animal-based fibers, plant-based fibers, metal fibers, and combinations thereof. The presence of fibers can impart to the flexible foam composition greater indentation force deflection (IFD), greater static thermal conductivity, improved compression set, improved height retention or durability, and/or a combination of these improvements. The flexible foam composition may be polyurethane foam, latex foam, polyether polyurethane foam, viscoelastic foam, high resilient foam, polyester polyurethane foam, foamed polyethylene, foamed polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, foamed silicone, melamine foam, among others.