A process for producing a melamine-formaldehyde foam by heating and foaming an aqueous mixture M using microwave radiation, said mixture M comprising at least one melamine-formal-dehyde precondensate, at least one curative, at least one surfactant, at least one blowing agent and at least one linear polymer with a number average molecular weight M.sub.n in the range from 500 to 10,000 g/mol and at least two functional groups selected from OH, NH.sub.2 or COOH as well as a melamine-formaldehyde foam obtainable by this process and its use.

This disclosure describes micro, sub-micro, and nano-cellular polymer foams formed from a polymer composition that includes a polymer and functionalized carbon nanotubes, and systems and methods of formation thereof. The microcellular polymer foam has an average pore size within a range of 1 micron to 100 microns, the sub-microcellular polymer foam has an average pore size within a range of 0.5 microns to 1 micron, and the nano-cellular polymer foam has an average pore size within a range of 10 nanometers to 500 nanometers. In other aspects, this disclosure describes micro, sub-micro, and nano-cellular polymer foams formed from a polymer composition that includes a polymer and non-functionalized carbon nanotubes.

The present disclosure provides a polymeric membrane. The polymeric membrane includes a first thermoplastic elastomer layer. The thermoplastic elastomer layer includes a filler component that is at least about 30 wt % of the thermoplastic elastomer layer. The polymeric membrane can further include an optional second thermoplastic elastomer layer in contact with the first polyolefin layer.

The present invention relates to predominantly (>50 vol %) open-cell (to DIN ISO 4590-5 86), cold-deformable, rigid polyurethane foams which possess high acoustic absorption and a uniform cell structure and which are suitable for producing automotive interior trim, more particularly roof linings and pillar trim.

Polyphenylene sulfide microparticles have a linseed oil absorption amount of 40 to 1,000 mL/100 g and a number average particle diameter of 1 to 200 μm. The porous PPS microparticles have a large specific surface area and therefore promote fusion of particles when molded into various molded bodies by applying thermal energy, thus enabling formation or molding of a coating layer of particles at a lower temperature in a shorter time. The porous PPS microparticles have a porous shape and therefore enable scattering light in multiple directions and suppression of specific reflection of reflected light in a specific direction, thus making it possible to impart shading effect and matte effect when added to a medium.

Tertiary amine catalysts having isocyanate reactive groups capable of forming thermally stable covalent bonds able to withstand temperatures from 120° C. and higher and up to 250° C. are disclosed. These catalyst can be used to produce polyurethane foam having the following desirable characteristics: a) very low chemical emissions over a wide range of environmental conditions and isocyanate indexes (e.g., indexes as low as 65 but higher than 60); b) sufficient hydrolytic stability to maintain the catalyst covalently bound to foam without leaching of tertiary amine catalyst when foam is exposed to water or aqueous solutions even at temperatures higher than ambient (temperature range 25° C. to 90° C.); and c) stable contact interface between the polyurethane polymer and other polymers (for example polycarbonate) with minimal migration of tertiary amine catalyst from polyurethane polymer to other polymers yielding no noticeable polymer deterioration at the point of contact even under conditions of heat and humidity.

Embodiments herein are related to hydrophilic open cell foams with particulate fillers. In an embodiment, an article is provided that has an open cell foam structure including a hydrophilic polymer and about 0.1 wt. % to about 40.0 wt. % of a particulate filler dispersed within the hydrophilic polymer. The open cell foam structure can exhibit a rate of absorption of water greater than an otherwise identical foam lacking the particulate filler. Other embodiments are included herein.

Embodiments herein are related to hydrophilic open cell foams. In an embodiment, an article is included having an open cell foam structure. The open cell foam structure can include a hydrophilic polyurethane polymer comprising a reaction product of a polyol and/or polyamine component and an isocyanate, the polyol and/or polyamine component comprising a mixture of functionalized and non-functionalized polyols and/or polyamines in a ratio by weight of about 5:95 to about 95:5 of functionalized to non-functionalized.

A one component spray polyurethane foam formulation containing a polymeric isocyanate with nominal functionality of 2.5 to 3.5, a polyol component that is at least 85 percent aliphatic and having a mole ratio of polyol with three or more functionality to total polyol of 0.2 to 0.75, 15-30 wt % of a plasticizer, 1.5-3.5 wt % phosphorous, 5.5 to 11.5 halogen and 1.5 to 5 millimoles of blowing agent per gram of formulation and that is free of expandable graphite achieves a B2 rating in DIN 4102 testing.

A method of removing and detecting the presence of substances from at least one of a body of water and the air. The method includes placing into the body of water or into the air an open-cell foam material, removing separate portions of the open-cell foam material from the water or air at different exposure times after the open-cell foam material was placed into the water or air, and determining the presence in the removed separate portions of one or more substances that were removed from the water or air by the open-cell foam material.