A method of reducing foamed density that results in a foamed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) component exhibiting reduced density. The foamed PVC component contains at least a PVC resin and a process aid blend. The process aid blend contains from 1 weight % to 60 weight % (based on the weight of the blend) of a functionalized process aid, and from 99 weight % to 40 weight % (based on the weight of the blend) of a non-functionalized process aid. The functionalized process aid includes at least one base polymer functionalized with a reactive epoxy, hydroxyl, β-keto ester, β-keto amide, or carboxylic acid functional group. The foamed PVC component containing the process aid blend has a lower density than a reference foamed PVC component made using the same process conditions and additives, but which contains only non-functionalized process aid and not the functionalized process aid.

A skin material-coated foamed particle molded body includes a skin material made of a polypropylene-based resin molded body and a polypropylene-based resin foamed particle molded body coated with the skin material. The skin material has a multilayer structure including an inner layer adhered to the foamed particle molded body and an outer layer outside the inner layer. The outer layer contains a polypropylene-based resin and a reinforcement fiber. The inner layer contains the polypropylene-based resin and a reinforcement fiber in a lower content ratio than a content ratio of the reinforcement fiber contained in the outer layer or contains the polypropylene-based resin and substantially no reinforcement fiber. An average value of the outer layer thickness ratio to a sum of the outer and inner layer thicknesses is 0.20 or more and 0.65 or less, and a coefficient of variation Cv of the ratio is 30% or less.

A method of forming foam includes providing a foam with at least one of chitosan, chitin, or chitosan oligosaccharide, where the foam has a density of 1 g/cm.sup.3 or less. The method further includes placing the foam between tooling, applying heat to the foam, and pressing the foam into a shape using the tooling.

A method of forming foam includes providing a foam with at least one of chitosan, chitin, or chitosan oligosaccharide, where the foam has a density of 1 g/cm.sup.3 or less. The method further includes placing the foam between tooling, applying heat to the foam, and pressing the foam into a shape using the tooling.

The present invention relates to an artificial turf suitable for sports fields consisting at least of a substrate to which first artificial grass fibres are attached and of a granular infill, which is provided between said first artificial grass fibres, wherein said granular infill is made of a foam material comprising polylactic acid or a derivative thereof.

The present invention relates to an artificial turf suitable for sports fields consisting at least of a substrate to which first artificial grass fibres are attached and of a granular infill, which is provided between said first artificial grass fibres, wherein said granular infill is made of a foam material comprising polylactic acid or a derivative thereof.

The disclosed latex system comprises a one-component, closed-cell, semi-foam, mastic sealant using gas-filled, flexible, organic microspheres to create a product that is elastic and compressible under pressure without protruding in an outward direction when compressed, thereby allowing the applied sealant to compress in an enclosed, maximum-filled channel unlike typical mastic sealants (while retaining the ability to rebound). This allows the sealant to function as a gasket, and, once fully cured, to have properties including vibration damping, insulating, and condensation resistance. The sealant can be formulated as an air barrier or a vapor barrier and at various degrees of moisture resistance. It may be applied by different packaging variations including aerosol can (bag in can or bag on valve), airless sprayer, cartridge tubes, foil tubes, squeeze tubes, and buckets to be applied using a brush, trowel, spatula, etc. The disclosed mastic sealant can also be formulated to be smoke-resistant and flame-resistant.

Cellulose ester compositions for expanded foam applications are provided. Specifically, production of melt processed cellulose esters has historically been limited to standard extrusion, molding and solvent casting methods. A combination of cellulose ester formulation and selected blowing agents have been found to produce articles of good density and good dimensional stability for an expanded foam process using conventional polystyrene processing equipment.

Cellulose ester compositions for expanded foam applications are provided. Specifically, production of melt processed cellulose esters has historically been limited to standard extrusion, molding and solvent casting methods. A combination of cellulose ester formulation and selected blowing agents have been found to produce articles of good density and good dimensional stability for an expanded foam process using conventional polystyrene processing equipment.

A foam bead intended in particular for the production of molded parts is also intended to be particularly suitable for novel, hitherto unknown applications, especially after processing into a corresponding molded part. For this purpose, the foam bead comprises, according to the invention, a core formed by a first plastic and a shell formed by a second plastic and at least partially surrounding the core, the second plastic forming the shell having a lower melting point than the first plastic forming the core.