In methods for forming thermoplastic vulcanizates, and thermoplastic vulcanizates formed by such methods, a masterbatch comprising one or more additives in a carrier resin comprising propylene- or ethylene-based copolymer is added to the thermoplastic vulcanizate formulation. The resulting thermoplastic vulcanizate may additionally be passed through a 200 mesh or finer screen and thereafter extruded. The thermoplastic vulcanizates may exhibit increased extrusion throughput rates and enhanced surface smoothness.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.

An extrusion composition containing at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene homopolymers, polypropylene random copolymers, and polypropylene impact copolymers. The extrusion composition also contains at least one phosphate ester-based nucleating agent provided in the composition at a use level of between about 0.01 and 0.15 parts by weight, in relation to 100 parts by weight of the resin. The extrusion composition also contains at least one co-additive selected from the group of poly(ethylene glycol) and copolymers containing segments of ethylene oxide, where the co-additive has a number average molecular weight of about 300 or more, and where the use level of the co-additive is about 0.005 parts by weight or more. The extrusion composition further contains a metal salt of a fatty acid at a use level of between about 0.01 and 0.15 parts by weight.

A highly loaded and well-dispersed masterbatch composition and process for making thereof from a split stream process. The masterbatch composition includes a colorant, a thermoplastic carrier, a metallocene polymer processing aid, and optionally an additive. The split stream may be formed of a primary feed and a secondary feed. The primary and second feeds are combined by at least one of the following: supplying the secondary feed in either the same feed port as the primary feed, in a stream located upstream the primary feed, in a stream located downstream the primary feed, or a combination thereof.

Expanded polypropylene resin particles include a polypropylene resin as a base material resin, wherein the polypropylene resin has a flexural modulus of 750 MPa to 1100 MPa. The flexural modulus and a melting point of the expanded polypropylene resin particles satisfy Expression (1): [Flexural modulus (MPa)]<31.19[Melting point ( C.)]3500, wherein the melting point of the expanded polypropylene resin particles is a melting point of 141.5 C. to 150.0 C. in a second differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve of a second temperature increase, the second DSC curve being obtained when the expanded polypropylene resin particles are heated from 40 C. to 220 C. at a temperature increase rate of 10 C./min in a first temperature increase, then cooled from 220 C. to 40 C. at a temperature decrease rate of 10 C./min, and heated again from 40 C. to 220 C. at a temperature increase rate of 10 C./min in the second temperature increase.

A foamable composition comprising from 60 to 99.88% by weight (% wt.) of at least one poly(aryl ether sulfone), from 0.10 to 10.00% by weight (% wt.) of at least one olefinic polymer, from 0.01 to 5.00% by weight (% wt.) of at least one tetrazole compound and from 0.01 to 2.50% by weight (% wt.) of at least one additive selected from the group of titanium dioxide (TiO2), clays, talc, silicates, silica, aluminates, barites, titanates, borates, nitrides, carbon-based materials or combinations thereof, all % wt. are relative to the total weight of the composition (C). Foam materials made from said foamable compositions and articles made from said foam materials.

Provided is a polyethylene film showing more excellent blocking resistance in unwinding from the film roll state and more excellent blocking resistance between sealants after lamination with a base material, and having transparency and excellent heat sealing property even at low temperatures. A polyethylene film wherein in at least either face, a ratio between an arithmetic mean roughness in a machine direction of film (Ra(MD)), and an arithmetic mean roughness in a direction perpendicular to the machine direction (Ra(TD)) satisfies the following formula (1):

1.2Ra(TD)/Ra(MD)3.6(1)

(Ra(MD): arithmetic mean roughness [m] measured in the machine direction of film, and Ra(TD): arithmetic mean roughness [m] measured in the direction perpendicular to the machine direction of film).

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.

Provided is a thermoplastic elastomer composition with which it is possible to obtain a molded article having exceptional low-temperature impact resistance. A thermoplastic elastomer composition is produced that contains a crystalline olefin polymer (A) and an ethylene--olefin (C.sub.4-.sub.20)unconjugated polyene copolymer (B) that satisfies requirements (1) and (2). (1) The B value represented by the equation: ([EX]+2[Y])/(2[E]([X]+[Y])) is 1.20 or higher. [E], [X] and [Y] respectively indicate the molar fraction of structural units derived from ethylene, the molar fraction of structural units derived from C.sub.4-.sub.20 -olefin and the molar fraction of structural units derived from unconjugated polyene, and [EX] indicates the diad chain fraction of structural units derived from ethylene-structural units derived from C.sub.4-.sub.20 -olefin. (2) The molar ratio of structural units derived from ethylene with respect to structural units derived from -olefin (C.sub.4-.sub.20) of copolymer (B) is 40/60-90/10.

A thermoplastic copolymer is made by first de-vulcanizing a sulfur-crosslinked elastomeric material to produce a liquid phase component. The liquid phase component is subsequently mixed with a compatible thermoplastic polymer at a temperature above its melting point thereof, and the resulting mixture is cooled to produce a solid product.