Modification of the rheology of a liquid medium, aqueous or nonaqueous, with polymers in the form of specific particles obtained by grinding (micronizing) a porous macrogel, itself prepared by a process comprising a radical polymerization step which comprises reacting in the presence of pore formers monomers containing monomers bearing at least two ethylenic unsaturations, typically in combination with monomers bearing a single ethylenic unsaturation; a polymerization initiator; and optionally a polymerization control agent. These polymer particles keep other particles in suspension within the liquid medium, and also the stabilized suspensions are obtained.

A composition and method for preparing a polyurethane foam. The composition comprises at least one emission control agent. In embodiments, the composition comprises at least one emission control agent selected from the group consisting of (i) a phosphorous containing group; (ii) a thiocarbamate; (iii) a nitrogen containing compound; (iv) a phenolic antioxidant; or a combination of two or more thereof. The invention also relates to a method of controlling the emission of at least one aldehyde species in a raw material employed in the foam composition or that may be produced during the foam forming or foam curing or foam aging process.

Provided herein are porous polymer monolith materials and processes that enable integration of blood fractionation, specific nucleic acid amplification and/or detection of nucleic acids from whole blood.

The present invention relates to processes for producing melamine-formaldehyde foams, said processes comprising the steps of: a) producing an aqueous mixture M1) comprising 100 parts by weight of at least one melamine-formaldehyde precondensate, 2 to 4 parts by weight of at least one curative, 0.2 to 5 parts by weight of a surfactant mixture, 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of at least one salt of an inorganic acid or one salt of an organic carboxylic acid, 1 to 40 parts by weight of at least one blowing agent, 0 to 5 parts by weight of at least one dye and/or optical brightener, 0 to 20 parts by weight of one or more further additives, and 25 to 60 parts by weight of water, b) heating and foaming said mixture M1) using microwave radiation, c) crosslinking and curing the resulting foam using the curative and microwave radiation, d) drying the foam using microwave radiation, and e) annealing the dried foam using hot air, wherein as essential feature of the present invention said mixture M1) comprises a surfactant mixture comprising a mixture of 50 to 90 wt % of an anionic surfactant and 10 to 50 wt % of a nonionic surfactant, wherein the weight percentages are each based on the total weight of the surfactant mixture, and also to melamine-formaldehyde foams obtainable by the processes of the present invention and also to uses of said foams.

This document presents algae-derived antimicrobial fiber substrates, and a method of making the same. The fiber may be a synthetic fiber, but can also be formed as a cellulosic (e.g., cotton). In various implementations, an algae-derived antimicrobial fiber substrate can be made to have identical properties and characteristics of nylon-6 of nylon 6-6 polymer or the like, and yet contain antimicrobial, anti-viral, and/or flame retardant algal derived substances. Any of various species of red algae, brown algae, blue-green algae, and brown seaweed (marine microalgae and/or macroalgae) are known to contain a high level of sulfated polysaccharides with inherent antimicrobial, antiviral, and flame-retardant properties, and can be used as described herein. Additionally disclosed are algae-derived flexible foams, whether open-cell or closed-cell, with inherent antimicrobial, antiviral, and flame resistant properties. Further, a process of manufacturing is presented wherein the process may include one or more of the steps of: harvesting algae-biomass; sufficiently drying the algae biomass; blending the dried algae biomass with a carrier resin and various foaming ingredients; adding an algal-derived antimicrobial compound selected from various natural sulfated polysaccharides present in brown algae, red algae, and/or certain seaweeds (marine microalgae); and adding a sufficient quantity of dried algae biomass to the formulation to adequately create a fire resistant flexible foam material.

Lightweight composite structural articles having a shell and core comprising a specially-formulated resin, and methods of manufacturing the same. In particular embodiments, the present invention relates to a composite railroad tie comprising an outer fiber-reinforced polymer shell and a unique core formed from a thermoexpandable resin mixture with microcapsules, which railroad tie is manufactured by extruding or pultruding the shell and core through a specially adapted die having a graded cavity, allowing for controlled expansion of the core as the shell and core are passed through the die.

Provided is a conductive foam roll having a high surface opening ratio that achieves both cleaning performance and low resistance. A conductive foam roll 10 includes a shaft body 12 and a conductive foam layer 14 around the shaft body 12, wherein the conductive foam layer 14 has a surface opening ratio of 50% to 90%, and wherein the conductive foam layer 14 contains an ionic conductive agent that contains salt of diallyl-type ammonium cations, and at least one selected from the group consisting of N,N-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anions, and N,N-bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anions.

This document discloses algae-derived flexible foams, whether open-cell or closed-cell, with inherent antimicrobial and flame resistant properties, wherein a process of manufacturing includes the steps of: harvesting algae-biomass; sufficiently drying the algae biomass; blending the dried algae biomass with a carrier resin and various foaming ingredients; adding an algal-derived antimicrobial compound selected from various natural sulfated polysaccharides present in brown algae, red algae, and/or certain seaweeds (marine microalgae); and adding a sufficient quantity of dried algae biomass to the formulation to adequately create a fire resistant flexible foam material.

The present relates to flame-retardant expandable polymers and to polymer foams and to the use thereof. These flame-retardant expandable polymers and polymer foams can be contained in one or several pressurized containers. According to the present, at least one of the following phosphorus compounds is used as a flame retardant: phosphorus compound according to formula (Ia): (Ia) 10-hydroxy-9, 10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO-OH); or the salts thereof according to formula (Ib): (Ib) (DOPO-OR); or the ring-opened hydrolysates thereof according to formula (Ic): (ilc).

The present invention relates to a material for thermal and/or acoustic insulation which consists of at least 300 phr, preferably at least 400 phr, but less than 1200 phr, preferably less than 1000 phr, especially preferred less than 800 phr ingredients in total, comprising 100 phr of at least one polymer, of which at least 60 phr, preferably at least 70 phr, especially preferred at least 80 phr is chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), the process of manufacturing such material, wherein the polymeric material is expanded by decomposition of a chemical blowing agent.