An emulsifier-free process for the preparation of water expandable polymer beads, including: a) providing an emulsifier-free starting composition comprising styrene, b) prepolymerizing the starting composition to obtain a prepolymer composition, c) mixing an aqueous blowing agent with the prepolymer composition at an elevated temperature to obtain an inverse emulsion of water droplets in the prepolymer composition, wherein the aqueous blowing agent comprises water and a water soluble initiator dissolved in the water and the water droplets comprise spheres of a styrene polymer, wherein the water soluble initiator partly decomposes due to the elevated temperature leading to the formation of the inverse emulsion of water droplets in the prepolymer composition, d) suspending the inverse emulsion in an aqueous medium to yield an aqueous suspension of suspended droplets and e) polymerizing monomers in the droplets of the suspension obtained by step d) to obtain the water expandable polymer beads.

Binder compositions that are formaldehyde free and include a latex emulsion, an epoxysilane, an epoxy dispersion, a polyol or a latex emulsion, a styrenic copolymer having carboxylic acid functionality, an epoxysilane or an epoxy dispersion or a mixture of both, a polyol and, optionally, an additive, wherein the composition does not comprise formaldehyde are described.

The present application relates to an elastomeric article, such as a glove, comprising: (i) an elastomeric film comprising one or more film layers, and including an external surface and an internal surface, (ii) an antimicrobial agent that is effective against both beneficial and harmful microorganisms on the external surface of the elastomeric film, and (iii) a skin-protective agent selected from a probiotic, a prebiotic, or a combination thereof on the internal surface of the elastomeric film; wherein the inner surface of the film is free of an antimicrobially-effective amount of an antimicrobial agent that is effective against both beneficial and harmful microorganisms. The elastomeric articles may further comprise a barrier film layer that provides separation between the antimicrobial agent and the skin-protective agent. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such articles.

The present application relates to an elastomeric article, such as a glove, comprising: (i) an elastomeric film comprising one or more film layers, and including an external surface and an internal surface, (ii) an antimicrobial agent that is effective against both beneficial and harmful microorganisms on the external surface of the elastomeric film, and (iii) a skin-protective agent selected from a probiotic, a prebiotic, or a combination thereof on the internal surface of the elastomeric film; wherein the inner surface of the film is free of an antimicrobially-effective amount of an antimicrobial agent that is effective against both beneficial and harmful microorganisms. The elastomeric articles may further comprise a barrier film layer that provides separation between the antimicrobial agent and the skin-protective agent. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such articles.

A method for producing a laminate including a substrate and a rubber layer, the rubber layer having a thickness of 200 m or more from the surface of the substrate, the method including contacting the substrate in a heated state with a polymer latex having a viscosity of 2,000 to 100,000 mPa.Math.s at 25 C. to thereby coagulate the polymer in contact therewith to form the rubber layer.

The present application relates to an elastomeric article, such as a glove, comprising: (i) an elastomeric film comprising one or more film layers, and including an external surface and an internal surface, (ii) an antimicrobial agent that is effective against both beneficial and harmful microorganisms on the external surface of the elastomeric film, and (iii) a skin-protective agent selected from a probiotic, a prebiotic, or a combination thereof on the internal surface of the elastomeric film; wherein the inner surface of the film is free of an antimicrobially-effective amount of an antimicrobial agent that is effective against both beneficial and harmful microorganisms. The elastomeric articles may further comprise a barrier film layer that provides separation between the antimicrobial agent and the skin-protective agent. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such articles.

This application relates to elastomeric articles such as gloves, compositions for producing the articles and methods for their manufacture. The elastomeric articles contain particles for detectability of the articles (or portions thereof) by metal detectors and/or x-ray detectors. The articles may contain magnetic particles, highly conductive particles, or high atomic mass element-containing particles, and a viscosity modifier to ensure dispersion of the particles throughout the film layer in which the particles are present. The particles may be magnetic particles specifically, and may be coated by a corrosion inhibitor coating.

The present invention pertains to a fluoroelastomer composition including well-dispersed carbide fillers, to a method for its manufacture comprising: (i) providing an aqueous dispersion of particles of at least one non-metal carbide possessing an average particle size of less than 100 nm; (ii) providing an aqueous latex of a fluoroelastomer; (iii) mixing the said dispersion and the said latex; and (iv) coagulating, and to the use of the same for manufacturing cured articles.

A method for producing a laminate including a substrate and a rubber layer, the rubber layer having a thickness of 200 m or more from the surface of the substrate, the method including contacting the substrate in a heated state with a polymer latex having a viscosity of 2,000 to 100,000 mPa.Math.s at 25 C. to thereby coagulate the polymer in contact therewith to form the rubber layer.

This application relates to elastomeric articles such as gloves, compositions for producing the articles and methods for their manufacture. The elastomeric articles contain particles for detectability of the articles (or portions thereof) by metal detectors and/or x-ray detectors. The articles may contain two different types of particlesone particle type is selected from magnetic particles, highly conductive particles or a combination, and the second particle type is particles containing one or more high atomic mass elements (with an atomic mass of at least 132). The particles may be coated by a corrosion inhibitor coating, or they may be uncoated. The compositions for producing the articles may contain a viscosity modifier.