Provided is a resin composition capable of forming a coated product that exhibits low adhesion to a metal roll during production and is superior in oxygen barrier property and capable of forming a film or sheet superior in oxygen barrier property, impact strength under low humidity and color tone. The resin composition of the present invention contains 50 to 98 parts by mass of a modified starch (A), 2 to 50 parts by mass of a polyvinyl alcohol (B), 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of a polyoxyalkylene (C), and optionally 0 to 5 parts of a polyol plasticizer (D), wherein the total content of the (A), (B), (C) and (D) is 100 parts by mass.

Foamed articles including a foamed thermoplastic elastomeric material, methods of making the articles, and methods for manufacturing articles of footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment incorporating the articles are provided. One exemplary method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable fibrous element and carbon dioxide in a vessel, the foamable fibrous element comprising a plurality of filaments, fibers, and/or yarns, wherein each member of the plurality comprises a foamable material; maintaining the vessel at a first pressure and first temperature at which the carbon dioxide is a liquid and carbon dioxide is soluble in the foamable material; optionally exposing the infused article to a second temperature and second pressure; and subjecting the article to a third pressure and third temperature at which the infused carbon dioxide phase transitions to a gas, thereby expanding the foamable material into a foamed material and forming the foamed article.

A method for discriminating a polyvinyl alcohol resin film containing a polyvinyl alcohol resin in which all or a part of carbon is derived from bio-derived ethylene from a polyvinyl alcohol resin film containing only a polyvinyl alcohol resin derived only from fossil fuel-derived ethylene by measuring an abundance ratio .sup.14C/C of carbon 14 (.sup.14C) in total carbon.

A process for making microwave-irradiated nanocomposites comprising graphene nanoplatelets dispersed in a polymer matrix, showing improved structural and electrical properties, is provided. The nanocomposites may be made using a solution casting technique, and may have a bilayer structure comprising a graphene-enriched layer in contact with a polymer-enriched layer. The nanocomposite may be used as a shielding material on electrical devices to decrease electromagnetic interference.

A water-soluble film for a liquid detergent-packaging capsule does not cause discoloration, can prevent precipitate of inorganic salts such as sulfites and sulfates contained in the packaging capsule or the liquid detergent, can prevent whitening due to precipitate, can maintain the haptics of the packaging capsule containing the liquid detergent and keep a good appearance over time. A liquid detergent is sealed in the water-soluble film. The film contains an anionic-group modified polyvinyl alcohol resin, a plasticizer including glycerin and sorbitol at a mass ratio of 1:2.1 to 5.3, and a sulfite, and is characterized in that the total contained amount of the glycerin and the sorbitol is 21-39 parts by mass, and the contained amount of the sulfite is 0.1-1.9 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the anionic-group modified polyvinyl alcohol resin.

A multilayer foam film comprising high density polyethylene for direct and non-direct food contact and aseptic packaging application is disclosed. In an embodiment, the film has a bulk density of less than 0.962 gr/cm.sup.3 wherein more than 50% of the cells in the foam layer are closed cells. In an embodiment, the foam films are thick (generally more than 8 mils thick) and have a bending stiffness value of more than 18, in Taber stiffness unit configuration according to TAPPI/ANSI T 489 om-15, and the ratio of the mass per unit area (the mass of a unit area of the film in gram per meter-squared (gr/m.sup.2)) over the stiffness value in Taber unit configuration is equal to or less than 13. In an embodiment, the film has a very smooth surface with a smoothness value of less than 25 in Sheffiled smoothness unit configuration according to TAPPI T 538. The described foam film can have a water vapor transmission rate value of less than 1 gr/m.sup.2/24 hr, according to ASTM E398-13. The described foam film can have an oxygen transmission rate value of less than 10 cc/m.sup.2/24 hr, according to ASTM D3985.

A PVA film containing PVA that does not increase carbon dioxide existing in the global environment or has a small increase amount even when carbon dioxide is generated by a biodegradation treatment or an incineration treatment. A polyvinyl alcohol resin film having a polyvinyl alcohol resin with an abundance ratio of carbon 14 in total carbon constituting the polyvinyl alcohol resin of 1.0×10.sup.−4 or more. A method for discriminating a polyvinyl alcohol resin film, the method including discriminating a polyvinyl alcohol resin film containing a polyvinyl alcohol resin (Ab) in which at least part of the carbon is derived from bio-derived ethylene.

A conductive film includes a cured material having a composition containing a conductive polymer and a binding resin, wherein a water content of the cured material after water absorption is 70% or less.

Methods for making films including a water-soluble polymeric material and a vapor-deposited inorganic coating are disclosed. The method comprises providing a layer of water-soluble polymeric material and vapor depositing an inorganic coating to at least one surface of the layer of water-soluble polymeric material, wherein the inorganic coating comprises a metal oxide. The method further comprises forming a plurality of microfractures extending along the surface of the inorganic coating.

A water-soluble film is provided, which is less susceptible to curling even after long-term storage. The water-soluble film includes a polyvinyl alcohol resin (A) , and has a first surface, which has a crystal Unity index Xa, and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface and has a crystallinity index Xb, where: Xa≥Xb; Xa−Xb is from 0.015 to 0.10; and the crystallinity indexes Xa and Xb are measured through an infrared spectroscopic analysis by an attenuated total reflection method and represented by: ABS.sub.1141/ABS.sub.1093, wherein ABS.sub.1141 and ABS.sub.1093 are absorbances at wavenumbers of 1141 cm.sup.−1 and 1093 cm.sup.−1, respectively.