A continuous forming apparatus for molding foam material into foam products that includes a first endless belt and a second endless belt that cooperates with the first endless belt to mold the foam material. The continuous forming apparatus may also include a first plurality of cleats and a second plurality of cleats opposed to the first plurality of cleats that support the first endless belt and the second endless belt respectively. The first plurality of cleats may include a three-dimensional abutment surface that provides transverse and lateral support to the first endless belt. Additionally, the continuous forming apparatus may include a first frame disposed to support the first plurality of cleats, a second frame disposed to support the second plurality of cleats, and a drive mechanism for imparting motion to the first endless belt, the second endless belt, the first plurality of cleats, and the second plurality of cleats.

The invention disclosed herein is an automotive acoustic panel including a porous sound-absorption material made from a polymer and an expanded perlite. One or more silane compounds may be coupled or coated onto the expanded perlite while a coupling agent and a chemical foaming agent may additionally be added to the automotive acoustic panel.

A continuous forming apparatus for molding foam material into foam products that includes a first endless belt and a second endless belt that cooperates with the first endless belt to mold the foam material. The continuous forming apparatus may also include a first plurality of cleats and a second plurality of cleats opposed to the first plurality of cleats that support the first endless belt and the second endless belt respectively. The first plurality of cleats may include a three-dimensional abutment surface that provides transverse and lateral support to the first endless belt. Additionally, the continuous forming apparatus may include a first frame disposed to support the first plurality of cleats, a second frame disposed to support the second plurality of cleats, and a drive mechanism for imparting motion to the first endless belt, the second endless belt, the first plurality of cleats, and the second plurality of cleats.

PLA polymers that can be expanded into microporous articles having a node and fibril microstructure are provided. The fibrils contain PLA polymer chains oriented with the fibril axis. Additionally, the PLA polymers have an inherent viscosity greater than about 3.8 dL/g and a calculated molecular weight greater than about 150,000 g/mol. The PLA polymer article may be formed by bulk polymerization where the PLA bulk polymer is made into a preform that is subsequently expanded at temperatures above the glass transition temperature and below the melting point of the PLA polymer. In an alternate embodiment, a PLA polymer powder is lubricated, the lubricated polymer is subjected to pressure and compression to form a preform, and the preform is expanded to form a microporous article. Both the preform and the microporous article are formed at temperatures above the glass transition temperature and below the melting point of the PLA polymer.

A foam roofing underlayment is provided with a reinforcement membrane having an array of fastener elements for engaging fastener elements on a flexible roof membrane. The underlayment is formed by molding foam between the reinforcement membrane and a carrier membrane. The underlayment in secured to the roof using washers having fastener elements for engaging the fastener elements of the flexible roof membrane. An anti-peel flap with fastener elements is provided around the periphery of the washers. A slip sheet is used between the underlayment and the flexible roof membrane to permit accurate positioning of the flexible roof membrane prior to engagement of the fastener elements. The interstices between the fastener elements provide lateral moisture paths to vents in the flexible roof membrane.

The present invention is a phenolic resin foam board having a thickness of 40 mm or more to 300 mm or less, when the phenolic resin foam board is sliced into n pieces (n5) at approximately equal intervals of 8 mm or more to 10 mm or less, a density of an n-th specimen is d.sub.n, an average density of n pieces of specimens is d.sub.ave, a lowest density among the densities of n pieces of specimens is d.sub.min, 0(d.sub.aved.sub.min)/d.sub.ave0.12 is established, and when values for D.sub.i=(d.sub.i+d.sub.(i+1))/2 are calculated, D.sub.i values are plotted and points corresponding to the D.sub.i values are connected, resulting in a density distribution curve, no straight line parallel to the horizontal axis intersects the density distribution curve at four points.

The present invention is a phenolic resin foam board having a thickness of 40 mm or more to 300 mm or less, when the phenolic resin foam board is sliced into n pieces (n5) at approximately equal intervals of 8 mm or more to 10 mm or less, a density of an n-th specimen is d.sub.n, an average density of n pieces of specimens is d.sub.ave, a lowest density among the densities of n pieces of specimens is d.sub.min, 0(d.sub.aved.sub.min)/d.sub.ave0.12 is established, and when values for D.sub.i=(d.sub.i+d.sub.(i+1))/2 are calculated, D.sub.i values are plotted and points corresponding to the D.sub.i values are connected, resulting in a density distribution curve, no straight line parallel to the horizontal axis intersects the density distribution curve at four points.

A method includes processing multiple macromolecular staples to successively produce a macromolecular sheet body, multiple silks and multiple sheet particles. The macromolecular sheet body contains multiple district camouflages and is processed by edge cutting to form multiple color strips. The color strips, the silks and the sheet particles are processed and attached to the surface of the macromolecular sheet body, so that the surface of the macromolecular sheet body forms the district camouflages, the thread camouflages and the spot camouflages. Finally, the macromolecular sheet body is vulcanized or solidified in a foam molding zone, to form an elastic mat with a mixed color type.

A method includes processing multiple macromolecular staples to successively produce a macromolecular sheet body, multiple silks and multiple sheet particles. The macromolecular sheet body contains multiple district camouflages and is processed by edge cutting to form multiple color strips. The color strips, the silks and the sheet particles are processed and attached to the surface of the macromolecular sheet body, so that the surface of the macromolecular sheet body forms the district camouflages, the thread camouflages and the spot camouflages. Finally, the macromolecular sheet body is vulcanized or solidified in a foam molding zone, to form an elastic mat with a mixed color type.

A continuous process for preparing insulation panels having thick (0.2 mm to 1 mm) metal facing panels and a fiber-reinforced polymer foam core is disclosed. In the process, a bottom metal facing panel is continuously supplied. A mat of reinforcing fibers and a foamable resin composition are applied to the bottom facing panel. A flexible barrier layer is applied atop the foamable resin composition, and the assembly is passed through nip rolls to compress the assembly and force the resin composition into the fiber mat. An adhesive layer and top metallic facing layer are then applied on top of the flexible barrier layer, and the resulting assembly is gauged and cured by passing it through a double band laminator.