An apparatus for production of a water-soluble shell for holding a filling substance, having a tank filled with a melt of a shell material, wherein the shell material contains a polymer and is water-soluble and is solid under standard conditions, and a male mold movably arranged in the region of the tank and automatically lowerable into the melt and withdrawable from the tank in order to form a water-soluble shell. The invention also relates to a corresponding process and to a corresponding shell and to a corresponding portion pack for use as a washing or cleaning agent.

The invention relates to a film forming tool for laminating a component with a laminating element or for molding a thermoplastic film with an embossed geometry; an alternative method for embossed shell production and use of a respective film forming tool.

In particular, the invention relates to a manufacturing method for embossed shells which saves both manufacturing time and manufacturing costs and which allows a long service life as well as a high molding quality.

For this purpose, the mold shell of a film forming tool is provided with a ceramic layer which has an embossment structure, allowing a transfer of the embossment structure to the laminating element with the laminating method.

According to some aspects, a method is provided of casting an object from a mold, the method comprising obtaining a mold comprising a hollow shell of rigid material, the material comprising a thermoset polymer having a plurality of pores formed therein, providing a metal and/or ceramic slurry into an interior of the mold, exposing at least part of the mold to a low pressure environment so that a net flow of gas is produced from the interior of the mold into the low pressure environment. According to some aspects, a method of forming a porous mold is provided. According to some aspects, a photocurable liquid composition is provided, comprising a liquid photopolymer resin, particles of a solid material, in an amount between 30% and 60% by volume of the composition, and a water-soluble liquid.

A device for producing a water-soluble shell for receiving a filling substance, the device having a basin which is filled with a melt of a shell material, wherein the shell material is polymer-containing and water-soluble and solid under normal conditions, and a male mold which is movably arranged in the region of the basin, can be automatically submerged into the melt and can be removed from the basin in order to form a water-soluble shell optionally abutting the male mold. The invention also relates to a corresponding method and a corresponding shell and a corresponding portion for use as a washing or cleaning agent.

The present invention relates to a male component or punch for a mould unit for producing a vehicle saddle.

According to some aspects, a method is provided of casting an object from a mold, the method comprising obtaining a mold comprising a hollow shell of rigid material, the material comprising a thermoset polymer having a plurality of pores formed therein, providing a metal and/or ceramic slurry into an interior of the mold, exposing at least part of the mold to a low pressure environment so that a net flow of gas is produced from the interior of the mold into the low pressure environment. According to some aspects, a method of forming a porous mold is provided. According to some aspects, a photocurable liquid composition is provided, comprising a liquid photopolymer resin, particles of a solid material, in an amount between 30% and 60% by volume of the composition, and a water-soluble liquid.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a negative skin and a tool. Such a tool can be used, for example, in the automotive industry.

According to some aspects, a method is provided of casting an object from a mold, the method comprising obtaining a mold comprising a hollow shell of rigid material, the material comprising a thermoset polymer having a plurality of pores formed therein, providing a metal and/or ceramic slurry into an interior of the mold, exposing at least part of the mold to a low pressure environment so that a net flow of gas is produced from the interior of the mold into the low pressure environment. According to some aspects, a method of forming a porous mold is provided. According to some aspects, a photocurable liquid composition is provided, comprising a liquid photopolymer resin, particles of a solid material, in an amount between 30% and 60% by volume of the composition, and a water-soluble liquid.

Injection-molded components are produced using single-use molds. In order to produce individual injection-molded components inexpensively, an injection mold constructed from two elements, namely a shell and a shell reinforcement, is used. The two elements of the injection mold are produced from materials that must have specific material properties, namely solubility and melting temperature. The selection of these materials depends on the material properties of the injection-molding material that is used.

A rotomolding tool having a textured surface is provided. The tool comprises a shell having a body portion and an upper mold surface having a grain texture, at least the body portion comprising a nickel-iron alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion of at most 5.O10.sup.6 in/in/ F. at temperatures between 100 and 500 F.