Provided are an acrylic rubber composition having higher tensile properties and higher heat resistance and a vulcanizate thereof. An acrylic rubber composition includes 1 to 25 parts by mass of a layered clay mineral relative to 100 parts by mass of an acrylic rubber. The acrylic rubber is a copolymer of a (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester and a curesite monomer.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a hydrophobically modified clay, wherein the clay modifying agent corresponds to a quaternary ammonium based compound. The present invention further relates to a hydrophobically modified clay obtainable by such a method and to a suspension comprising such a clay, as well to the use of such a hydrophobically modified clay and of a suspension comprising such a hydrophobically modified clay. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to a polymeric composition comprising a hydrophobically modified clay and/or a suspension comprising a hydrophobically modified clay.

The present invention relates to composite sealing materials for a gasket. The gaskets are useful in solid oxide fuel/electrolyser cells (SOFC and SOEC). The fuel cell gaskets contain sealing material based upon chemically exfoliated vermiculite that has improved corrosion resistance. The sealing material comprises chemically exfoliated vermiculite; filler; and insoluble carbonate.

A sheet including exfoliated clay minerals, having a density of 1.6 g/cm.sup.3 or less and a compression ratio of 20% or more.

Provided are an acrylic rubber composition having higher tensile properties and higher heat resistance and a vulcanizate thereof. An acrylic rubber composition includes 1 to 25 parts by mass of a layered clay mineral relative to 100 parts by mass of an acrylic rubber. The acrylic rubber is a copolymer of a (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester and a curesite monomer.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a hydrophobically modified clay, wherein the clay modifying agent corresponds to a quaternary ammonium based compound. The present invention further relates to a hydrophobically modified clay obtainable by such a method and to a suspension comprising such a clay, as well to the use of such a hydrophobically modified clay and of a suspension comprising such a hydrophobically modified clay. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to a polymeric composition comprising a hydrophobically modified clay and/or a suspension comprising a hydrophobically modified clay.

A nozzle assembly, for a metal casting apparatus selected from a sliding gate and a tube exchange device, comprises a first refractory element comprising a first coupling surface which includes a first bore aperture, and a second refractory element comprising a second coupling surface, which includes a second bore aperture, the first and second elements being coupled to one another in a sliding translation relationship through their respective first and second coupling surfaces such that the first and second bore apertures can be brought into and out of registry to define, when in registry, a continuous bore for discharging molten metal from a molten metal inlet to a molten metal outlet of said nozzle assembly. A sealing member is provided between the first and second coupling surfaces of the first and second elements. The sealing member comprises a thermally intumescent material.

The present invention relates to composite sealing materials for a gasket. The gaskets are useful in solid oxide fuel/electrolyser cells (SOFC and SOEC). The fuel cell gaskets contain sealing material based upon chemically exfoliated vermiculite that has improved corrosion resistance. The sealing material comprises chemically exfoliated vermiculite; filler; and insoluble carbonate.