A process for injection molded microcellular foaming various flexible foam compositions from biodegradable and industrially compostable bio-derived thermoplastic resins for use in, for example, footwear components, seating components, protective gear components, and watersport accessories wherein a process of manufacturing includes the steps of: producing a suitable thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend; injection molding the thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend into a suitable mold shape with inert nitrogen gas; controlling the polymer melt, pressure, temperature, and time such that a desirable flexible foam is formed; and utilizing gas counterpressure in the injection molding process to ensure the optimal foam structure with the least amount of cosmetic defects and little to no plastic skin on the outside of the foamed structure.

Product made using a mass comprising natural polymers, wherein the product comprises at least a first and a second product part, connected by a hinge construction, wherein the hinge construction comprises at least one flexible sheet element and one bridge portion made of said mass comprising natural polymers, wherein the hinge construction is designed such that, prior to a first time hinging, the at least one bridge portion forms a more rigid connection between the first and second product part than the flexible sheet element and by hinging said bridge portion is severed, such that the first and second part are substantially only connected by the or each flexible strip.

This document discloses a process for injection moulded microcellular foaming various flexible foam compositions from biodegradable and industrially compostable bio-derived thermoplastic resins for use in, for example, footwear components, seating components, protective gear components, and watersport accessories wherein a process of manufacturing includes the steps of: producing a suitable thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend; injection moulding the thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend into a suitable mould shape with inert nitrogen gas; controlling the polymer melt, pressure, temperature, and time such that a desirable flexible foam is formed; and utilizing gas counterpressure in the injection moulding process to ensure the optimal foam structure with the least amount of cosmetic defects and little to no plastic skin on the outside of the foamed structure.

The invention relates to a mold, comprising at least one mold cavity defined by at least a mold wall, wherein at least one part of said wall is a porous part, wherein the at least one porous part is formed by or comprises a porous insert inserted into an opening extending into and preferably through said wall

A composition including a biodegradable resin; a plant-based filler present in an amount of about 20 percent or more based on a total weight of the composition; one or more compatibilizers; and a plasticizer, a lubricant, or both; wherein the composition is configured to be extruded so that the composition forms a wall having a thickness from about 0.1 mm to 0.22 mm.

A process for manufacturing a tubular film such as an edible casing film or a packaging film. The process includes the steps of providing a preblended powder composition containing a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and water; feeding the preblended powder composition to an extruder; heating the preblended powder composition to a temperature above 100 degrees Celsius for a sufficient time to fully hydrate the polymer matrix and to convert the powder composition to a flowable mass; and extruding the flowable mass through a tubular die of the extruder to form the tubular film. The tubular film comprises: about 40-75 wt % polymer matrix; about 10-35 wt % plasticizer; and about 10-35 wt % water. The polymer matrix component is fully hydrated under the temperature, pressure and shear conditions inside the extruder, and may have a component which is only fully hydrated at temperatures above about 100 degrees Celsius.

A method for manufacturing sustainable products with a blown, foam structure, wherein a mass comprising at least natural polymers such as starch is passed under pressure into a mold cavity (4) or through a mold die, and the mass is heated in the mold in a manner such as to stabilize the foamed structure to form the product, wherein the method comprises prefoaming of the mass prior to injection in the mold. Preferably, the prefoamed mass is kept under pressure until insertion in the mold. The invention further relates to an apparatus to be used in said method.

Extruded starch foams are well known as biodegradable alternatives to foamed polystyrene packaging materials. Extruded foams of unmodified starch replacing 1% to 20% of the starch with kraft lignin were prepared. At 10% lignin, there are no deleterious effects on foam density, morphology, compressive strength, or resiliency as compared to a starch extruded foam, yet the foam retains its integrity after immersion for 24 hours in water. At 20% lignin there is a decrease in compressive strength and resiliency. Addition of cellulose fibers restore the mechanical properties but with an increase in density.

A litter and litter making method producing cat litter from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding cat litter causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each pellet is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, pellet extrusion formed clumping agent in a pellet wetted with urine dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets causing them to clump together without the presence of any clumping agent additive.

A device for manufacturing an absorbent body includes: a shaping unit that includes a recessed portion and that makes liquid absorbent fiber and superabsorbent polymer to be deposited in the recessed portion, shaping the absorbent body; and a supply unit that supplies the liquid absorbent fiber and the superabsorbent polymer to the recessed portion. The recessed portion includes a protruding portion, and the protruding portion protrudes from a bottom surface and includes an inclined surface. In a cross section orthogonal to a ridge line of the protruding portion, an angle of the inclined surface with respect to a surface parallel to the bottom surface is greater than an angle of repose of the superabsorbent polymer and smaller than 90 degrees.