Foam compositions are provided including a polylactic acid polymer; second (e.g., polyvinyl acetate) polymer having a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of at least 25° C.; and plasticizer. Also described are articles comprising the foam compositions, such as a sheet or hearing protection article. Methods of making and using the foam compositions are further described herein.

A polyimide precursor solution, includes: a polyimide precursor; resin particles having a volume average particle diameter of 5 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and having a volume particle size distribution wherein a ratio of a volume frequency of resin particles having a particle diameter of 150 nm or more to a volume frequency of all of the resin particles in the polyimide precursor solution is 5% or less; and an aqueous solvent containing water.

A method for dielectrically heating foamable composition to foam and set the composition is described. In particular, radio frequency (RF) heating is used to heat the foamable composition to provide insulation in the manufacture of an article.

A novel polymerizable composition, which can be used in 1K aerosol can systems for forming a foam, include a reactive precursor mixture, which is subjected to one or more deoxygenation measures so that it does not react during storage, and an alkyl metal compound, such as an organic borane compound as initiator. Since the initiation of the polymerization is enabled by oxygen, particularly oxygen from ambient air, the curing of the composition is not dependent on ambient moisture and proceeds even at low temperatures, including those below 0° C. The composition has a fast curing time when contacted with oxygen or air, and the resulting final cured product has a high quality.

A foaming composition useful to make an extruded foam is comprised of comprising a plurality of chains of a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated acids, the copolymer having about 0.01 to about 15.0 percent by weight of the one or more unsaturated acids wherein the acid groups are pendant from the copolymer a metal salt, metal oxide or combination thereof, the metal having a valence of at least 2; and one or more blowing agents. The foaming composition may be made into a foam by heating the foaming composition to a temperature sufficient to melt and ionically crosslink said copolymer which is then extruded through a die forming a foam. The foam is comprised of an ionically crosslinked aforementioned copolymer, wherein the copolymer is crosslinked through ionic bonds between the unsaturated acids and the metal of the metal salt or metal oxide.

A novel PVC board and method of manufacture. The board includes a compressible layer to provide flooring that is comfortable to walk on, and a polyurethane surface that is easy to clean. The method of manufacture simplifies the production process, and improves production time and efficiency.

A polyurethane foam is disclosed having unique load bearing characteristics rendering it suitable for a variety of applications. The foam exhibits high surface-softness and smoothness properties, making it well-suited for use in articles such as pillows and mattress toppers. However, upon continued application of pressure, the resilience of the foam increases sharply, translating into a remarkable support characteristics that make the foam suitable for use in the seat portions of chairs and sofas, as well as in the base portion of mattresses. The foams therefore address the limitations of conventional, high-resilience and visco-elastic polyurethane foams. A process of making the foam and its use in various articles is also disclosed.

This disclosure describes processes for producing polymer foams, and compositions of matter relating to these processes. A process includes the steps of dispersing an organic nucleating agent in a dispersing medium to obtain an additive dispersion, contacting the additive dispersion with a mineral nucleating agent to obtain a hybrid nucleating agent containing the organic nucleating agent localized on at least a portion of a surface of the mineral nucleating agent, and contacting the hybrid nucleating agent with a polymer in the presence of a foaming agent to obtain a polymer foam. A foamed polymer of the present disclosure includes a cellular matrix containing a polymer material, and a mineral matrix of particles containing a hybrid nucleating agent dispersed in the cellular matrix, in which the hybrid nucleating agent contains an organic nucleating agent localized on at least a portion of a surface of an inorganic material.

Foamed compositions that include: one or more foamable polymers; one or more ionomeric additives; and wherein the foam composition exhibits shrinkage as determined at 70° C.*1 h according to the PFI method between 0.1 and 3.5%. Methods may include preparing a polymer composition by combining one or more foamable polymers and one or more ionomeric additives in a mixer to produce the polymer composition; and foaming the polymer composition to generate a polymer foam exhibiting shrinkage as determined at 70° C.*1 h according to the PFI method of between 0.1 and 3.5%.

Photoactive polymer coatings and methods of making the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a polymer coating comprises a polymer matrix having a porous structure extending throughout the polymer matrix, wherein the porous structure is present at an exposed surface of the polymer coating creating a roughened surface, and a modified support particle disposed within the polymer matrix, wherein the modified support particle includes a substituted phthalocyanine and a support particle. In some embodiments, the substituted phthalocyanine is a halogenated phthalocyanine.