A thermoplastic elastomer foam is made by incorporating a gaseous or supercritical blowing agent under pressure into a molten thermoplastic elastomer comprising polymeric crystalline domains, then releasing the pressure to foam the thermoplastic elastomer.

Polymeric based closed cell foams, such as shape memory polymer foams, contain bubbles. Making these bubbles continuous is called reticulation. Disclosed are embodiments of a device and method to controllably reticulate polymer-based closed cell foams by puncturing the membranes of these polymer-based closed cell foams.

Low-friction fluorinated coatings are disclosed herein. A preferred low-friction material contains a low-surface-energy fluoropolymer having a surface energy between about 5 mJ/m.sup.2 to about 50 mJ/m.sup.2, and a hygroscopic material that is covalently connected to the fluoropolymer in a triblock copolymer, such as PEG-PFPE-PEG. The material forms a lubricating surface layer in the presence of humidity. An exemplary copolymer comprises fluoropolymers with average molecular weight from 500 g/mol to 20,000 g/mol, wherein the fluoropolymers are (,)-hydroxyl-terminated and/or (,)-amine-terminated, and wherein the fluoropolymers are present in the triblock structure T-(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O)CH.sub.2CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.m(CF.sub.2O).sub.nCF.sub.2CH.sub.2(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.p-T where T is a hydroxyl or amine terminal group, p=1 to 50, m=1 to 100, and n=1 to 100. The copolymer also contains isocyanate species and polyol or polyamine chain extenders or crosslinkers possessing a functionality of preferably 3 or greater. These durable, solvent-resistant, and transparent coatings reduce insect debris following impact.

Low-friction fluorinated coatings are disclosed herein. A preferred low-friction material contains a low-surface-energy fluoropolymer having a surface energy between about 5 mJ/m.sup.2 to about 50 mJ/m.sup.2, and a hygroscopic material that is covalently connected to the fluoropolymer in a triblock copolymer, such as PEG-PFPE-PEG. The material forms a lubricating surface layer in the presence of humidity. An exemplary copolymer comprises fluoropolymers with average molecular weight from 500 g/mol to 20,000 g/mol, wherein the fluoropolymers are (,)-hydroxyl-terminated and/or (,)-amine-terminated, and wherein the fluoropolymers are present in the triblock structure T-(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O)CH.sub.2CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.m(CF.sub.2O).sub.nCF.sub.2CH.sub.2(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.p-T where T is a hydroxyl or amine terminal group, p=1 to 50, m=1 to 100, and n=1 to 100. The copolymer also contains isocyanate species and polyol or polyamine chain extenders or crosslinkers possessing a functionality of preferably 3 or greater. These durable, solvent-resistant, and transparent coatings reduce insect debris following impact.

A method of preparing polyurea resin composition comprises forming a prepolymer by mixing about 50 parts by weight to about 80 parts by weight of a polyol, about 4 parts by weight to about 8 parts by weight of a dispersant, and about 20 parts by weight to about 30 parts by weight of a first monomer containing an isocyanate group; forming a first composition by mixing the prepolymer with about 2 parts by weight to about 4 parts by weight of a second monomer containing an amine group; stirring and emulsifying the first composition with about 100 parts by weight to about 200 parts by weight of a solvent; and forming a second composition by further adding about 0.2 part by weight to about 1.5 parts by weight of the second monomer to the emulsified first composition and stirring the resulting composition.

A method of preparing polyurea resin composition comprises forming a prepolymer by mixing about 50 parts by weight to about 80 parts by weight of a polyol, about 4 parts by weight to about 8 parts by weight of a dispersant, and about 20 parts by weight to about 30 parts by weight of a first monomer containing an isocyanate group; forming a first composition by mixing the prepolymer with about 2 parts by weight to about 4 parts by weight of a second monomer containing an amine group; stirring and emulsifying the first composition with about 100 parts by weight to about 200 parts by weight of a solvent; and forming a second composition by further adding about 0.2 part by weight to about 1.5 parts by weight of the second monomer to the emulsified first composition and stirring the resulting composition.

The invention relates to a process for producing polyurethane foam for the thermal and acoustic insulation of engines, wherein the polyurethane foam is obtained or is obtainable by reaction of diisocyanates and/or polyisocyanates with filler-containing polyols, where the filler is preferably a reaction product of diisocyanates and/or polyisocyanates with compounds having hydrogen atoms which are reactive toward isocyanates, in the presence of water and/or physical blowing agents. The invention further relates to the use of the polyurethane foam for thermal and acoustic insulation for internal combustion engines, and also thermal and acoustic insulation for internal combustion engines containing the polyurethane foam.

Polymeric based closed cell foams, such as shape memory polymer foams, contain bubbles. Making these bubbles continuous is called reticulation. Disclosed are embodiments of a device and method to controllably reticulate polymer-based closed cell foams by puncturing the membranes of these polymer-based closed cell foams.

A resin composition preparation apparatus and a polyurea resin are provided. A resin introduction unit is configured to inject a composition solution and air mixed in the composition solution. An air bubble generator is connected to the resin introduction unit. An air bubble separation tank is connected to the air bubble generator. The air bubble generator comprises: an inlet through which the composition solution and the air are introduced from the resin introduction unit; an outlet through which the resin composition is discharged to the air bubble separation tank; and an internal flow channel connecting the inlet and the outlet so as to pass therethrough. The internal flow channel comprises a groove portion configured to form the air bubbles having a smaller particle size than that of the air.

A resin composition preparation apparatus and a polyurea resin are provided. A resin introduction unit is configured to inject a composition solution and air mixed in the composition solution. An air bubble generator is connected to the resin introduction unit. An air bubble separation tank is connected to the air bubble generator. The air bubble generator comprises: an inlet through which the composition solution and the air are introduced from the resin introduction unit; an outlet through which the resin composition is discharged to the air bubble separation tank; and an internal flow channel connecting the inlet and the outlet so as to pass therethrough. The internal flow channel comprises a groove portion configured to form the air bubbles having a smaller particle size than that of the air.