A method for the continuous production of pre-insulated piping having an inner metal carrier pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface and an envelope of foamed insulation surrounding the inner metal carrier pipe exterior surface. A molding apparatus is provided for forming an annulus about a pipe to be insulated into which foam can be injected. The pipe is continuously moved through the apparatus with foaming material being injected into the annulus where it is molded and cured to form a foam insulated pipe. The molding apparatus is a roller-drum having a cylindrical length and a plurality of individual rollers arranged in a series of linearly staggered, circular arrays which define the annulus where the foaming material is cured.

A method for the continuous production of pre-insulated piping having an inner metal carrier pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface and an envelope of foamed insulation surrounding the inner metal carrier pipe exterior surface. A molding apparatus is provided for forming an annulus about a pipe to be insulated into which foam can be injected. The pipe is continuously moved through the apparatus with foaming material being injected into the annulus where it is molded and cured to form a foam insulated pipe. The molding apparatus is a roller-drum having a cylindrical length and a plurality of individual rollers arranged in a series of linearly staggered, circular arrays which define the annulus where the foaming material is cured.

A hybrid structural member for an insulated structural panel includes a core member surrounded on at least two sides by a high-density structural foam. The hybrid structural member may be manufactured by placing a core member in a cavity of an injection mold and surrounding the core member by insulating foam on at least two sides. The core member may be held in place by screws, posts, pins, a vacuum, or other suitable means.

To provide a component-temporarily holding member and a component mounting jig that do not require removal of a component installation jig after a foamed resin molding is demolded. In a component-temporarily holding member 3 having a temporary holding part 2 for temporarily holding a component 5 having a locking part 6 lockable to another member when mounting the component 5 by locking the locking part 6 in a component mounting position 8 of a forming die 4 for a foamed resin molding, the holding force of the temporary holding part 2 is less than the force with which the locking part 6 is locked in the component mounting position 8.

Thermal insulation structures include a polymer foam layer adhered to a non-cellular sheet of a polylactide resin. The polylactide resin is a surprisingly good barrier to the diffusion of atmospheric gases into and blowing agents out of the foam layer. Accordingly, the diffusion of atmospheric gases and the blowing agents is retarded substantially. This greatly reduces the loss of thermal insulation capacity of the structure due to the replacement of the blowing agent with atmospheric gases.

An expanded particle producing apparatus includes a vessel and a blade stirrer that is located inside the vessel. The blade stirrer comprises a stirrer base and an impeller blade that is attached to the stirrer base. A distance from the bottom of the vessel to the center of the stirrer base (L1) and a depth of the vessel (L2) have a ratio (L1/L2) of 0.01 to 0.2. L1 is measured in a depth direction parallel to L2, and a central axis of the blade stirrer coincides with a central axis of the vessel. The apparatus is configured to produce expanded particles.

A method for producing low density polyester foam utilizing low I.V. polyester feedstock includes providing a low intrinsic viscosity raw material. The low intrinsic viscosity raw material includes between 25% to 100% of a post consumer polyester and has an intrinsic viscosity of less than 0.8 dl/g. The intrinsic viscosity of the low intrinsic viscosity raw material is increased via a de-condensation reaction configured to support foaming. The intrinsic viscosity of the low intrinsic viscosity raw material is increased to 1.1 dl/g or greater. A starting formulation is created including the low intrinsic viscosity raw material with the increased intrinsic viscosity. The starting formulation is foamed to create the polyester foam. Wherein, the polyester foam produced has a specific gravity of less than 0.65 g/cc.

A foam seating article includes a layer of molded foam surrounding a hollow shell made of hard plastic. A fabric covering encloses the shell and molded foam. The foam seating article can take the form of a chair, stool, sofa, chaise lounge, bench or Ottoman. The hollow shell can be formed using blow molding, injection molding or by capping both ends of a tube with disks. Air pressure inside the airtight hollow shell prevents the shell from collapsing inwards under the weight of an occupant. Alternatively, the hollow shell of the seating article can be accessed through a removable lid. The seating article includes no wood or metal. The layer of molded foam includes sections of different foam types, such as high density (HD) foam, memory foam and latex foam. Molding foam around a hard plastic shell is simpler and less costly than making conventional metal or wood framed furniture.

A foam seating article includes a layer of molded foam surrounding a hollow shell made of hard plastic. A fabric covering encloses the shell and molded foam. The foam seating article can take the form of a chair, stool, sofa, chaise lounge, bench or Ottoman. The hollow shell can be formed using blow molding, injection molding or by capping both ends of a tube with disks. Air pressure inside the airtight hollow shell prevents the shell from collapsing inwards under the weight of an occupant. Alternatively, the hollow shell of the seating article can be accessed through a removable lid. The seating article includes no wood or metal. The layer of molded foam includes sections of different foam types, such as high density (HD) foam, memory foam and latex foam. Molding foam around a hard plastic shell is simpler and less costly than making conventional metal or wood framed furniture.

A foam molding article includes an outer-shell-configuring part, an insert that is at least partially embedded in the outer-shell-configuring part, and a fitting member. The outer-shell-configuring part includes a body side foam member. The body side foam member includes a foam and a missing part where a part of the foam is missing. The missing part is located in an intermediate part of the body side foam member, and the fitting member is mounted in the missing part.