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.

Disclosed are a foaming agent composition for polyurethane including glycerol carbonate as a chemical foaming agent and a physical foaming agent or a chemical foaming agent in a predetermined ratio (physicochemical foaming agent), and polyurethane foam prepared using the same. The polyurethane foam has very low global warming potential and ozone depletion potential and simultaneously improved properties such as thermal conductivity, water absorption, flexural strength, and compressive strength that meet the standard for thermal insulation materials made of rigid urethane foam, and is effective at preventing internal shrinkage.

Foamed thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer articles are made with a combination of a supercritical fluid and a non-supercritical fluid blowing agent.

Azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are disclosed. The azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are mixtures of HFO-E-1,3,4,4,4-pentafluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-1-butene with a second compound selected from the group consisting of methyl formate and HFO-E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene. Also disclosed are processes of preparing a thermoplastic or thermoset foam by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as blowing agents; of producing refrigeration by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions; of producing cooling; of producing heating; of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as solvents; of producing an aerosol product by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions; of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as heat transfer media; of extinguishing or suppressing a fire by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions; and of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as dielectrics.

Azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are disclosed. The azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are mixtures of HFO-E-1,3,4,4,4-pentafluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-1-butene with a second compound selected from the group consisting of methyl formate and HFO-E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene. Also disclosed are processes of preparing a thermoplastic or thermoset foam by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as blowing agents; of producing refrigeration by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions; of producing cooling; of producing heating; of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as solvents; of producing an aerosol product by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions; of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as heat transfer media; of extinguishing or suppressing a fire by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions; and of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as dielectrics.

A method of making personal protective equipment, such as a push-in earplug, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of covering a substrate with an outer layer that includes an unactivated foaming agent, positioning at least a portion of the outer layer in a mold, and activating the foaming agent such that a portion of the outer layer expands.

A thermally expandable composition, including at least one polymer, cross-linkable by peroxide, at least one peroxide, preferably at least one antioxidant, at least one chemical blowing agent, and at least one activator, wherein the activator includes at least one compound selected from formula (I),

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wherein radicals R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 represent hydrogen atoms or monovalent alkyl radicals with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which optionally include oxygen atoms; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent hydrogen atoms or monovalent alkyl radicals with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which optionally include oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms, and/or aromatic moieties or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together form a divalent alkyl radical with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which optionally includes oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms or aromatic moieties. The composition shows excellent properties in terms of expansion stability over a wide temperature range, can be expanded at temperatures below 150 C. and is suitable for baffle and/or reinforcement elements.

Strain-induced articles such as foamed, blow molded, or thermoformed articles comprising styrenic copolymers such as poly(vinylbiphenyl-co-styrene) having improved strain hardening and extensional viscosity for foaming and other applications, having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 100 kg/mole, comprising within the range from 5 to 80 wt % styrene derived units, and a process to form such styrenic copolymers, the process comprising combining styrene, a second aryl-containing monomer such as 4-vinylbiphenyl, and an initiator.

The use of an alcoholic compound to improve the miscibility of ammonia with 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, as well as to compositions of ammonia, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and an alcoholic compound, and the use thereof, in particular in heat-transfer applications. A composition including 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, ammonia and an alcoholic compound having a melting point less than or equal to 0 C.

The present invention relates to a process for producing rigid polyisocyanurate foams, wherein (A) polyisocyanates are mixed with (B) compounds having isocyanate-reactive hydrogen atoms, (C) flame retardants, (D) blowing agents, (E) catalyst at an isocyanate index of at least 220 to afford a reaction mixture and cured to afford the rigid polyisocyanurate foam, wherein the component (B) comprises at least one aromatic polyester polyol (b1) and at least one polyether polyol (b2), the polyester polyol (b1) has an average total functionality of ?3.0 and ?1.7 and the polyether polyol (b2) has a hydroxyl number of 160-350 mg KOH/g and is produced by alkoxylation of a starter or starter mixture having an average total functionality ?3.5 and ?1.5, wherein as the alkylene oxide for producing polyether polyol (b2) at least 80%by weight of ethylene oxide is employed and comprises at least 90% primary hydroxyl end groups and wherein the mass ratio of the component (b1) to component (b2) is ?3 and ?1 and the blowing agent (D) comprises chemical and physical blowing agents, wherein the chemical blowing agent is selected from the group consisting of formic acid-water mixtures and formic acid. The present invention further relates to a rigid polyisocyanurate foam obtainable by the process according to the invention.