A method of reducing foamed density that results in a foamed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) component exhibiting reduced density. The foamed PVC component contains at least a PVC resin and a process aid blend. The process aid blend contains from 1 weight % to 60 weight % (based on the weight of the blend) of a functionalized process aid, and from 99 weight % to 40 weight % (based on the weight of the blend) of a non-functionalized process aid. The functionalized process aid includes at least one base polymer functionalized with a reactive epoxy, hydroxyl, β-keto ester, β-keto amide, or carboxylic acid functional group. The foamed PVC component containing the process aid blend has a lower density than a reference foamed PVC component made using the same process conditions and additives, but which contains only non-functionalized process aid and not the functionalized process aid.

A coating material composition include a hydroxyl group-containing acrylic resin, a fluororesin, and light diffusive particles, and the hydroxyl group-containing acrylic resin has a weight-average molecular weight in a range of 10,000 to 30,000 and a hydroxyl value in a range of 14 to 70, wherein a mass ratio of the fluororesin to the hydroxyl group-containing acrylic resin (the fluororesin/the hydroxyl group-containing acrylic resin) is in a range of 5/95 to 50/50. The coating material composition can provide the light diffusing properties capable of uniformly diffusing light while effectively masking a light source image.

A composite film includes a polyester film substrate layer and a crosslinked layer on a surface thereof, wherein the crosslinked layer includes a reaction product of a) a functionalized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer including multiple COOH groups or multiple alcoholic OH groups per molecule; and b) an organic crosslinker including multiple reactive groups per molecule, the reactive groups being reactive with the COOH or alcoholic OH groups; wherein the adhesion strength between the substrate layer and the crosslinked layer is at least 177 g/cm (450 g/inch). A method of joining the composite film, optionally further including a heat-sealable polymer layer on the crosslinked layer, to a container or a self-supporting film, includes contacting the crosslinked layer or the heat-sealable polymer layer with the container or the self-supporting film or under heat sealing conditions.

A laminate (1) provided with: a substrate (2); an undercoat layer (3), which is formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the substrate (2), contains an organic polymer with a functional group, and is formed in a membrane form or film form; and an atomic layer deposition film (4), which contains a precursor (6) that serves as a starting material, is formed so as to cover the surface of the undercoat layer (3), and in which at least some of the precursor (6) are bonded to the functional groups. The linear expansion coefficient of a layered film provided with the substrate (2) and the undercoat layer (3) is from about 1.0×10.sup.−5/K to about 8.0×10.sup.−5/K.

A continuous method of producing polyamide foams by an extrusion foaming process is disclosed. The polyamide foam includes a polyamide resin compounded with a composite chain extender including an epoxy chain extender and a maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) wax. The produced polyamide foams have improved properties, including a smooth surface, low density, and small cell size.

A thermoplastic membrane comprising at least one layer, wherein the at least one layer includes a first thermoplastic polymer and a second polymer having at least one isocyanate-reactive substituent dispersed within said first thermoplastic polymer.

A composition for foam molding including: a component (A): an olefin-based polymer; a component (B): a styrene block copolymer having no chemical-bond cross-linking moiety; a component (C): a process oil; and a component (D): a foaming agent, wherein a content of the component (A) relative to a total mass of the component (A) and the component (B) is 5 to 36% by mass, and a content of the component (C) relative to 100 parts by mass of the total mass of the component (A) and the component (B) is 160 to 350 parts by mass.

A method of forming a flexible printed material is described. The method comprises applying a layer of primer onto a flexible substrate; electrostatically printing onto the layer of primer a liquid electrostatic ink composition; applying a curable overprint varnish composition onto the printed electrostatic ink composition and curing the overprint varnish composition using electron beam irradiation. The curable overprint varnish composition comprises an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, an ethylenically unsaturated oligomer, or mixtures thereof, and less than 10 wt. % of a cross-linking additive based on the total weight of the curable overprint varnish composition. A flexible package comprising the flexible printed material is also described.

A continuous method of producing polyamide foams by an extrusion foaming process is disclosed. The polyamide foam includes a polyamide resin compounded with a composite chain extender including an epoxy chain extender and a maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) wax. The produced polyamide foams have improved properties, including a smooth surface, low density, and small cell size.

Disclosed are an optical film, including: a transparent film, and a coating layer on at least one surface of the transparent film, in which the coating layer is formed using a composition including a polymer resin, a dihydrazide-based crosslinking agent, and water-dispersible fine particles, and a polarizing plate including the same.