The present invention relates to self-foaming hot melt adhesive compositions and methods of making and using the same. Self-foaming hot melt adhesive compositions are formed by admixing a dispersion concentrate including a chemical blowing agent and a compatible carrier (liquid or molten) with a molten base hot melt adhesive composition at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the chemical blowing agent. The resolidified material is processed through a device that heats the material above the decomposition temperature of the chemical agent and cools it below such temperature before being dispensed. The device preferably includes sensors and a controller configured to prevent the material from accumulating an adverse thermal history during processing.

The present invention provides a heat shrinkable film which is capable of replacing polyvinyl chloride-based heat shrinkable films, exhibits appropriate rigidity and appropriate shrinkage force, and is excellent in stability during storage, The heat shrinkable film including a polyester resin A having a glass transition temperature of 65° C. or higher, and a polyester resin B having a glass transition temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the polyester resin A by 10° C. or more, wherein a content of the polyester resin B is from 5 to 25% by mass with respect to 100% by mass of the heat shrinkable film, and a thickness is 25 μm or more and less than 80 μm.

An article is described comprising a first film layer comprising polylactic acid polymer (semicrystalline polylactic acid polymer; amorphous polylactic acid polymer; or a mixture thereof); a second (e.g. polyvinyl acetate) polymer having a Tg of at least 25° C.; plasticizer. In some embodiment, the film layer further comprises inorganic pigment and/or hydrolysis stabilizer. In other embodiments, the film has a net melting endotherm, ΔH.sub.nm1, of less than 10 J/g. Also described are methods of making a graphic film.

The present disclosure provides a polymer matrix composite, and a laminate, a prepreg and a printed circuit board using the same. The polymer matrix composite includes a polymeric resin and a non-woven inorganic material having a dielectric constant of from about 1.5 to about 4.8 and a dissipation factor at 10 GHz below 0.003. The printed circuit board uses the laminate including the polymer matrix as a core layer which is sandwiched between at least two outer layers.

A polymer-nanocellulose-lignin composite as disclosed comprises a polymer, nanocellulose, and lignin, wherein lignin forms a hydrophobic interface between the polymer and the nanocellulose. In some variations, a process is disclosed for producing a polymer-nanocellulose-lignin composite material, comprising: fractionating lignocellulosic biomass in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin, wherein lignin deposits onto fiber surfaces or into fiber pores; mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form a hydrophobic nanocellulose material comprising cellulose fibrils and/or cellulose crystals; hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to generate fermentable hemicellulosic sugars; fermenting the fermentable hemicellulosic sugars to generate a monomer or monomer precursor; polymerizing the monomer to produce a polymer; and combining the polymer with the lignin-coated nanocellulose to generate a polymer-nanocellulose-lignin composite material for use in a wide variety of products.

A method for treating a polymer part comprising a step of bringing the part into contact with vapours of solvent(s), capable of at least partially solubilising the part, this contacting step being carried out under vacuum. Application of this method for modifying the roughness of the part and/or functionalising it.

The current embodiments include all-polymeric protective material for mitigating lightning strike damage. The protective material includes a hybrid matrix comprising PANI and MXene dispersed within a thermosetting epoxy resin. This hybrid matrix can be painted, printed, or applied as a conductive polymeric layer to a FRCP structure, for example an aircraft fuselage, wing, empennage, control surface (aileron, flap, slats, rudder, elevator) or a wind turbine blade. The protective material not only withstands lightning strikes, but also functions as shielding against electromagnetic interference and is corrosion-resistant and lightweight.

The present invention provides a method for preparing a conductive silk fibroin material, comprising the steps of: (1) preparation of a high-molecular-weight silk fibroin solution; (2) preparation of an insoluble silk fibroin material; (3) surface treatment of the silk fibroin material; (4) oxidation of the silk fibroin material; and (5) in-situ oxidative polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene on the surface of the graft-modified silk fibroin material. In the present invention, a conductive composite film grafted with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene on the surface is prepared, and the surface resistance is 100 to 5000 ohms. The preparation process is simple and mild, and the obtained conductive silk fibroin material can be used as a flexible electronic device, especially as a device for measuring human blood glucose level and heartbeat.

The present invention relates to self-foaming hot melt adhesive compositions and methods of making and using the same. Self-foaming hot melt adhesive compositions are formed by admixing a dispersion concentrate including a chemical blowing agent and a compatible carrier (liquid or molten) with a molten base hot melt adhesive composition at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the chemical blowing agent. The resolidified material is processed through a device that heats the material above the decomposition temperature of the chemical agent and cools it below such temperature before being dispensed. The device preferably includes sensors and a controller configured to prevent the material from accumulating an adverse thermal history during processing.

Provided are a decorative film for molding including a cholesteric liquid crystal layer on a base material, in which the cholesteric liquid crystal layer is a layer formed by curing a liquid crystal composition which includes, with respect to a total solid content of the liquid crystal composition, 25% by mass or more of a cholesteric liquid crystal compound having one ethylenic unsaturated group or one cyclic ether group; a molded product using the decorative film for molding; and a molding method.