The invention relates to a flexible polymer composite containing metal particles, to the method for producing said composite, and to the uses of said composite.

Additive manufacturing processes featuring consolidation of thermoplastic particulates may form printed objects in a range of shapes. Inorganic nanoparticles disposed upon the outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates may improve flow performance of the thermoplastic particulates during additive manufacturing, but may be undesirable to incorporate in some printed objects. Polymer nanoparticles may be substituted for inorganic nanoparticles in some instances to address this difficulty and provide other advantages. Particulate compositions suitable for additive manufacturing may comprise: a plurality of thermoplastic particulates comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles disposed upon an outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates, the polymer nanoparticles comprising a crosslinked fluorinated polymer.

Modified plastic surfaces with perfluoropolymers are provided, whereby plastic surfaces that are intended for use under tribological conditions have substantially improved assembly properties and/or sliding friction properties and exhibit a very low degree of wear. Accordingly, modified plastic surfaces with perfluoropolymers are provided in which, after a reactive conversion under mechanical stress at room temperature, at least the reactive —NH groups and/or —OH groups present at the surface of plastics are present in a chemically covalently coupled manner with the perfluoropolymer carboxylic acid halide present at least in the surface-proximate region of modified perfluoropolymer (micro)powders and/or with the grafted (meth)acrylic acid halide present via perfluoropolymer (peroxy) radicals of the perfluoropolymer (micro)powders and/or (meth)acrylic acid that has been modified into (meth)acrylic acid halide before the reactive conversion.

The present invention relates to mixtures of 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobutene (1336mzzm) and 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233zd). The blends are useful as blowing agents for polymer foam, solvents, aerosol propellants and heat transfer media.

Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.

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).

Polybutylene terephthalate can be used as a gas diffusion barrier for closed-cell rigid polyurethane foams. A thermal insulation element containing a closed-cell, rigid polyurethane foam, which is at least partially covered by a layer system containing at least one layer formed by a polybutylene terephthalate composition, is useful. Articles and devices may contain a corresponding thermal insulation structure, such as refrigerators, insulation panels, pipe insulations, water heaters, and thermally insulated transport boxes.

A hybrid polymer-matrix composite is described, containing between 10.0% and 45.0% by weight of cellulosic fiber up to 3.0 mm long and with a maximum moisture content of 5.0%; between 5.0% and 40.0% by weight of synthetic fiber up to 4.0 mm long and compatibilizing additives, said constituents being homogenized directly in the twin-screw extruder, with each reinforcing fiber entering via a specific feeder, to be adjusted to the temperature and shearing applied to the reinforcing fibers, guaranteeing the correct dispersion of the fiber for encapsulation by the polymer matrix, optimizing interface interactions and perfect homogenization.

In a method for producing a fiber-reinforced resin molded body (10) by heat-compressing fiber substrates (11A to 11D) together with a thermosetting resin (15) so that the thermosetting resin (15) is impregnated into the fiber substrates (11A to 11D) and cured, a thermosetting resin powder (15A) is disposed in contact with at least one surface of the fiber substrates (11A to 11D), the fiber substrates (11A to 11D) are heat-compressed together with the thermosetting resin powder (15A) by a mold (30) so that the thermosetting resin powder (15A) is melted, impregnated into the fiber substrates (11A to 11D), and cured. Also disclosed is a fiber-reinforced resin molded body as well as a vehicle or airframe including a fiber-reinforced resin molded body.

Disclosed are low-viscosity foamable polyurethane-forming compositions containing a polyol composition having monomeric and higher polyol components and optionally a polyhydroxylated aromatic compound; a polyisocyanate or latent polyisocyanate component or a combination thereof; a blowing agent; and optionally a cyclic carbonate having one or more hydroxyl groups. The monomeric and higher polyols each contain three or more hydroxyl groups, the higher polyol containing residues of the monomeric polyol and optionally residues of the polyhydroxylated aromatic compound, the residues being linked by one or more carbonate and/or ether groups. The Disclosed foamable polyurethane-forming compositions may contain the polyol compositions disclosed; an isocyanate functional component; and a blowing agent. The foamable compositions afford high strength, heat-resistant, low to moderate density foamed-polyurethane compositions useful in a variety of applications including construction, vehicle and packaging applications.