A process for manufacturing a masterbatch comprises the following steps: (a) bringing at least one initial polymer comprising at least one carbon-carbon unsaturation into contact with at least one 1,3-dipolar grafting agent bearing at least one nitrile oxide dipole in the presence of at least one organophosphorus additive selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid triesters, phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphine oxides and the mixtures of these compounds, and (b) recovering the masterbatch obtained in the preceding step. The masterbatch and compositions containing it and also tires comprising such compositions are also disclosed.

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

The present disclosure is directed to articles that include one or more coated fiber(s) (i.e., fiber(s) with a cured coating disposed thereon), where the coating includes a matrix of crosslinked polymers and optionally a colorant (e.g., pigment particles or dye or both). The cured coating is a product of crosslinking a coating composition including uncrosslinked polymers (e.g., a dispersion of uncrosslinked polymers in a carrier, wherein the uncrosslinked polymers are crosslinked to form the matrix of crosslinked polymers). The present disclosure is also directed to articles including the coated fibers, methods of forming the coated fibers and articles, and methods of making articles including the coated fibers.

A thermoplastic elastomer compound includes polyolefin elastomer, high softening point tackifier, and, optionally, styrenic block copolymer. When styrenic block copolymer is present, the weight ratio of polyolefin elastomer to styrenic block copolymer is no less than about 1:1. The polyolefin elastomer has a POE Tan Delta Peak Temperature, the styrenic block copolymer has a SBC Tan Delta Peak Temperature, and the thermoplastic elastomer compound has a Compound Tan Delta Peak Temperature. The Compound Tan Delta Peak Temperature is greater than the POE Tan Delta Peak Temperature. When styrenic block copolymer is present, Compound Tan Delta Peak Temperature is also greater than the SBC Tan Delta Peak Temperature. The thermoplastic elastomer compound exhibits useful damping properties at or above room temperature and can be formed into plastic articles, including foamed plastic articles and/or crosslinked plastic articles, which can be useful for a variety of damping applications.

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

A soft structure fiber reinforcement and actuation technology is provided. In an example embodiment, the tendon-driven, fiber-reinforced elastomer membrane comprises an elastomer matrix material and a fiber array embedded within the elastomer matrix material. The one or more tendons are not mechanically bonded to the elastomer matrix material, such that the one or more embedded tendons are able to move through the elastomer matrix material. One or more apparatuses may employ one or more such tendon-driven, fiber-reinforced elastomer membranes for use in a variety of applications.

Although polyolefin elastomers are widely employed commodity polymers, there are shortcomings of this class of polymers for certain applications. For example, the rheological properties of some polyolefin elastomers may be insufficient to provide the green strength or low shear viscosity necessary to form stable foams, or to provide sufficient viscosity modification effects when present in a solvent. Cationomeric modification of polyolefin elastomers may alleviate these difficulties. Such polyolefin elastomers may feature a random cationomeric polyolefin copolymer comprising at least a first monomer and a second monomer, in which the first monomer is a neutral monomer and the second monomer has a side chain bearing a cationic moiety. The polyolefin elastomers may be present in foamed polyolefin compositions comprising a gas component and/or in liquid compositions comprising a solvent in which the polyolefin elastomer is dissolved.

A coated fiber for polymer reinforcement is disclosed. The coated fiber comprises a fiber and a coating disposed about said fiber. The fiber has a denier of from about 250 to about 3,000. The coating comprises a branched polyethylene imine. The fiber is present in the coated fiber in an amount of from about 80 to about 99.8 percent by weight and the coating is present in the coated fiber in an amount of from about 0.2 to about 20 percent by weight, with percent by weight based on the total weight of the coated fiber. A method of producing the coated fiber is also disclosed.

Molded articles contain a foam composed of a thermoplastic elastotner (TPE-1). The foam has a storage modulus (G modulus) at 25° C. and 1 Hz within the range from 0.01 to 0.5 MPa, a molding density within the range from 20 to 400 kg/m.sup.3, and a comfort factor of greater than 4. A process produces molded articles of this kind, and the molded article can be used for producing floors, mattresses, seating furniture, bicycle saddles, car seats, motorcycle seats, components of a shoe, shoe inserts, packaging, shock absorbers, protectors, fall protection mats, elastic insulating material, or sealing material.

A shoe sole member formed by a foam includes cells having a certain size and being excellent in transparency in order to provide a shoe sole member being lightweight and excellent cushioning properties while having transparency.