Claims
- 1. A composition comprising an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (A) and a blowing agent (B), wherein the ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (A) comprises:
5 to 95 parts by weight of an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (A1) having a density of not less than 0.880 g/cm3 and less than 0.900 g/cm3 and a melt flow rate (ASTM D 1238, 190° C., load of 2.16 kg) of 0.1 to 50 g/10 min, and 5 to 95 parts by weight of an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (A2) having a density of 0.900 to 0.930 g/cm3, a melt flow rate (ASTM D 1238, 190° C., load of 2.16 kg) of 0.1 to 50 g/10 min and a main melting point peak at a position of not higher than 110° C., the total of said components (A1) and (A2) being 100 parts by weight.
- 2. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the ethylene/α-olefin copolymers (A1) and (A2) are ethylene/1-butene copolymers.
- 3. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the ethylene/α-olefin copolymers (A1) and (A2) has the following properties:
the ratio (MFR10/MFR2.16) of the melt flow rate (MFR10) as measured under the conditions of a temperature of 190° C. and a load of 10 kg in accordance with ASTM D 1238, to the melt flow rate (MFR2.16), as measured under the conditions of a temperature of 190° C. and a load of 2.16 kg in accordance with ASTM D 1238, satisfies the following relation: MFR10/MFR2.16≧5.63, and the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) and the above-mentioned melt flow rate ratio satisfy the following relation: Mw/Mn≦(MFR10/MFR2.16)−4.63.
- 4. The composition as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the ethylene/α-olefin copolymers (A1) and (A2) has the following properties:
the ratio (MFR10/MFR2.16) of the melt flow rate (MFR10), as measured under the conditions of a temperature of 190° C. and a load of 10 kg in accordance with ASTM D 1238, to the melt flow rate (MFR2.16), as measured under the conditions of a temperature of 190° C. and a load of 2.16 kg in accordance with ASTM D 1238, satisfies the following relation: MFR10/MFR2.16≧5.63, and the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn), the melt flow rate and the above-mentioned melt flow rate ratio satisfy the following relation: Mw/Mn+4.63≦MFR10/MFR2.16≦14−2.9Log(MER2.16).
- 5. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (A2) has a surface hardness of 30 to 70 in terms of a Shore D hardness (ASTM D 2240).
- 6. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (A2) is a copolymer obtained by solution polymerization.
- 7. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (A2) is an ethylene/1-butene copolymer.
- 8. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (A) has a density of 0.880 to 0.920 g/cm3 and a melt flow rate (ASTM D 1238, 190° C., load of 2.16 kg) of 0.1 to 10 g/10 min.
- 9. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blowing agent (B) is selected from an organic thermal decomposition type blowing agent, an inorganic thermal decomposition type blowing agent, an organic physical blowing agent and an inorganic physical blowing agent.
- 10. A foamed product obtained by heat treatment of the composition of claim 1.
- 11. A foamed product as claimed in claim 10, which is obtained by secondary compression of the foamed product of claim 10.
- 12. The foamed product as claimed in claim 10, which has a specific gravity (JIS K 7222) of 0.05 to 0.25 and a surface hardness (Asker C hardness) of 20 to 80.
- 13. A laminate having:
a layer comprising the foamed product of claim 10, and a layer comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin, a polyurethane, a rubber, a leather and an artificial leather.
- 14. A process for producing the laminate as claimed in claim 13 comprising:
a step of foaming the composition as claimed in claim 1, and a step of laminating the foamed product obtained by the former step with at least one material selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin, a polyurethane, a rubber, a leather and an artificial leather.
- 15. Footwear comprising the foamed product of claim 10 or the laminate of claim 13.
- 16. A footwear part comprising the foamed product of claim 10 or the laminate of claim 13.
- 17. The footwear part as claimed in claim 16, which is a midsole, an innersole or a sole.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2001-99718 |
Mar 2001 |
JP |
|
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/106,215 filed on Mar. 27, 2002.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10106215 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Child |
10218604 |
Aug 2002 |
US |