A plastic article made of a plastic material with metal antibacterial components and macroscopic-sized marker flakes dispersed in the plastic material.

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 foamed thermoplastic material includes a thermoplastic material exhibiting, in its unfoamed state, a particular flammability index, flame growth rate, and specific extinction area. The foamed thermoplastic material further includes a plurality of cells having a number average mean diameter of 5 to 150 micrometers present in an amount effective to provide the foamed thermoplastic material with a density that is 10 to 90 percent of the density of the unfoamed thermoplastic material. The foamed thermoplastic material exhibits a desirable tensile elongation and dielectric constant. A process for forming the foamed thermoplastic material, articles including the foamed thermoplastic material, and an article-forming process are also described.

Thermoplastic polymers, for example fluoropolymers, are foamed by use of a solid formulation comprising thermoplastic polymer and an oxalate compound which includes a moiety selected from potassium, calcium, titanium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium and barium.

An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based expanded particles and a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based foamed molded product both of which are obtained by a single expansion treatment and have a high expansion ratio. Provided are poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based expanded particles and a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based foamed molded product both of which include a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) composition containing a non-ionic water-soluble polymer.

A method of providing a foamed insulation coating on at least a portion of a pipe, including extruding a melt stream over the pipe portion. The melt stream includes a matrix polymer and expandable fillers in an unexpanded state, the melt stream being maintained at a sufficiently high temperature to maintain the matrix polymer in extrudable form and at a sufficiently high pressure to maintain the expandable fillers in the unexpanded state. Once extruded, the expandable fillers are permitted to expand into an expanded state at a lower pressure.

The present invention relates to self-foaming hot melt adhesive compositions and methods of making and using the same. Self-foaming hot melt adhesive compositions are formed by admixing a dispersion concentrate including a chemical blowing agent and a compatible carrier (liquid or molten) with a molten base hot melt adhesive composition at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the chemical blowing agent. The resolidified material is processed through a device that heats the material above the decomposition temperature of the chemical agent and cools it below such temperature before being dispensed. The device preferably includes sensors and a controller configured to prevent the material from accumulating an adverse thermal history during processing.

A method for making a low density foamed article includes placing a desired amount of thermoplastic polyurethane foam beads in a cavity of an injection mold and closing the mold; combining in an extruder connected to the mold a molten polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers and thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers with both a physical or chemical blowing agent other than a supercritical fluid present in an amount up to about 15 wt % based on molten polymer weight and a supercritical fluid that is at least one of about 0.1 to about 5 weight percent of supercritical CO.sub.2 based on molten polymer weight or about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent of supercritical N.sub.2 based on molten polymer weight, to form a mixture and injecting the mixture into the mold and foaming the mixture to form the low density foamed article.

A method of providing a foamed insulation coating on at least a portion of a pipe, including extruding a melt stream over the pipe portion. The melt stream includes a matrix polymer and expandable fillers in an unexpanded state, the melt stream being maintained at a sufficiently high temperature to maintain the matrix polymer in extrudable form and at a sufficiently high pressure to maintain the expandable fillers in the unexpanded state. Once extruded, the expandable fillers are permitted to expand into an expanded state at a lower pressure.

Provided is a foam sheet includes a composition including polylactic acid. The polylactic acid includes, as monomer units. D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid, and an amount of the D-lactic acid or the L-lactic acid in the polylactic acid is 98 mol % or greater. An amount of the polylactic acid is 98% by mass or greater relative to a total amount of organic matter in the foam sheet. Bulk density of the foam sheet is 0.063 g/cm.sup.3 or greater but 0.125 g/cm.sup.3 or less.