The present invention relates to a method for preparing a foamed thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer product, comprising the steps of: 1) coating a binder: coating the binder on the surfaces of expandable thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer particles; 2) curing and molding: adding the product obtained from step 1) to a mold and then placing it in a vulcanizing machine for curing and molding; and 3) cooling and setting: cooling the mold after the molding in step 2) to obtain the product of the present invention. By means of pre-coating the binder on the surfaces of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer particles according to the present invention, the weight of the binder can be reduced, and the properties of the expanded thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer particles can be utilized to the maximum extent.

A thermally expandable sheet includes: a first thermally expansive layer that is formed on one side of a base and contains a first thermally expandable material and a first binder, the first thermally expansive layer having a first ratio of the first thermally expandable material with respect to the first binder; and a second thermally expansive layer that is formed on the first thermally expansive layer and contains a second thermally expandable material and a second binder, the second thermally expansive layer having a second ratio of the second thermally expandable material with respect to the second binder, wherein the first ratio is lower than the second ratio.

Provided are composite particles in which reinforcing fibers adhere to the surface of thermoplastic resin expanded beads via a thermosetting resin being in an uncured state, a cured product of the composite particles, an in-mold molded article of the composite particles, a laminate of the composite particles and a reinforcing fiber sheet material, a composite of the composite particles, and a method for producing composite particles.

A method of freeze-drying comprising rapidly freezing either liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide in and around a material having pores at a rate of at least 0.2° C./min to limit the size of crystals formed from the carbon dioxide so as to avoid the formation of gas bubbles and damage to the pores and exposure of the material to gas-liquid interfaces. During freezing a solid layer primarily of solid carbon dioxide is formed on and surrounding the material by transferring heat with a cryogenic liquid circulating about the material. This solid layer protects the material from gas-liquid interfaces and surface tension before decreasing pressure about the material by venting carbon dioxide.

The invention relates to shaped parts produced from popcorn which has previously been hydrophobised with a polymer. This allows very light and flexible shaped parts to be produced.

A process for producing shaped parts from particle foams comprising providing particle foam particles, wetting the particle foam particles with an aqueous emulsion of at least one polyolefin and thereby obtaining functionalisable particle foam particles, drying the wetted and functionalisable particle foam particles, shaping the functionalisable particle foam particles, heating the shaped functionalisable particle foam particles to a temperature below the melting range of the particle foam particles and thereby functionalising the shaped functionalisable particle foam particles, heating the shaped, functionalisable particle foam particles to a temperature below the melting range of the particle foam particles and thereby functionalising the shaped, functionalisable particle foam particles, wherein the particle foam particles are bonded together, and cooling and thereby obtaining the particle foam moulding, wherein the aqueous emulsion of the at least one polyolefin is an aqueous emulsion comprising at least one polyolefin converted to the liquid state with an anhydride of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and modified with methacrylic acid ester copolymers.

Disclosed are a three-dimensional porous structure, a method of preparing the same, and applications thereof. The method includes coating a coating material including coal ash on a surface of a combustible organic particle to form a core-shell particle, wherein the core-shell particle includes a combustible organic particle core, and a coating shell covering at least a portion of the combustible organic particle surface; mixing a plurality of the core-shell particles with an organic or inorganic binder to form a three-dimensional structure in which the core-shell particles are bonded to each other; and performing thermal treatment of the three-dimensional structure, wherein in the thermal treatment of the three-dimensional structure, at least portion of the combustible organic particle in the core-shell particle is removed away, thereby forming a hollow inside the particle core, and forming a number of fine pores in the coating shell.

A composite structure including a metal form. The composite structure further includes an aerogel matrix formed of an aerogel, with the aerogel matrix being nanoporous and including a plurality of aerogel pores. A polymer occupies at least a portion of the aerogel pores of the aerogel matrix. The polymer is a thermoplastic. The thermoplastic is nanoporous and includes a plurality of thermoplastic pores. The thermoplastic pores are less than 10 nanometers in size. The polymer is impregnated within the aerogel pores of the aerogel matrix. The aerogel comprises at least 20% by weight of the composite structure. The aerogel pores are less than 10 nanometers in size. The composite structure further contains filler material. The filler material may be graphene. The composite structure further contains reinforcing agents.

A method of producing a metal form containing dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers comprising a method of impregnating an aerogel with polymers, placing the aerogel impregnated with polymers within a dissolved polymer, cooling the dissolved polymer to create a polymer form with dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers, adding molten metal to the polymer form, vaporizing the polymer form, replacing the polymer form with molten metal, and cooling the molten metal to yield a metal form containing dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers. Dispersing the aerogel particles impregnated with polymers within the polymer form prior to adding molten metal allows the aerogel particles to be fully dispersed throughout the metal form.

A composite structure including a metal form. The composite structure further includes an aerogel matrix formed of an aerogel, with the aerogel matrix being nanoporous and including a plurality of aerogel pores. A polymer occupies at least a portion of the aerogel pores of the aerogel matrix. The polymer is a thermoplastic. The thermoplastic is nanoporous and includes a plurality of thermoplastic pores. The thermoplastic pores are less than 10 nanometers in size. The polymer is impregnated within the aerogel pores of the aerogel matrix. The aerogel comprises at least 20% by weight of the composite structure. The aerogel pores are less than 10 nanometers in size. The composite structure further contains filler material. The filler material may be graphene. The composite structure further contains reinforcing agents.