A system includes a source, a detector, and a controller. The source is configured to emit electromagnetic energy toward two plies of film. A portion of the emitted electromagnetic energy is within a range of wavelengths. The detector is arranged to detect electromagnetic energy propagating away from the two plies of film. The detector detects electromagnetic energy within the range of wavelengths and generates signals indicative of intensity of detected electromagnetic energy. The controller controls operation of the foam-in-bag system based the signals from the detector. The film is transmissive of electromagnetic energy in the range of wavelengths. When dispensed between the two plies of film, one or both of foaming chemical precursors or foam formed from a reaction thereof is opaque to electromagnetic energy in the range of wavelengths.

The invention relates to an extrusion process for the production of expandable vinyl aromatic polymer granulate comprising mixing first and second additives with first and second polymer components, respectively, in dedicated mixers.

A method for producing a foam-molded product by using a plasticizing cylinder, includes: plasticizing and melting the thermoplastic resin to provide the molten resin in a plasticization zone of the plasticizing cylinder; introducing a pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent at a fixed pressure into a starvation zone of the plasticizing cylinder to retain the starvation zone at the fixed pressure; allowing the molten resin to be in the starved state in the starvation zone; bringing the molten resin in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent at the fixed pressure, in the starvation zone in a state in which the starvation zone is retained at the fixed pressure; and molding the molten resin having been brought in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent into the foam-molded product.

An improved EarTip may result from the distribution of PTFE throughout a slow recovery foam. Such an EarTip may have a finer, more uniform cell structure that aids in insertion within a user's ear canal. It may also have a smoother skin, with a lower kinetic coefficient of friction, and may provide improved sound attenuation.

A method for fabricating emulated wood with pores and fibers, comprising: immersing a plurality of synthetic fibers configured parallel in a plane into a resin so that the resin is coated on the surfaces of the plurality of synthetic fibers and in the gaps between the plurality of synthetic fibers; placing the plurality of synthetic fibers between two sheets, wherein the two sheets are planar sheets made from a uniform composition comprising a thermoplastic elastomer, a foaming agent, and a crosslinking agent; carrying out a heat-press process on the two sheets so that the foaming agent undergoes microcellular foaming and forms dense closed pores in the two sheets, and so that the composition on inner surfaces of the two sheets expands towards the plurality of synthetic fibers and penetrates through the gaps between the plurality of synthetic fibers; and cooling the two sheets to yield an emulated wood board.

The invention relates to an injector for filling a mold with plastic particles, with a front part (2) and a base part (3), wherein the front part (2) has a mold-side orifice (23) and a feed for compressed air (15) and a feed for plastic particles (11), and the base part (3) is attached axially in the direction of conveyance behind the front part (2) and has a piston-cylinder unit (30, 37, 38), wherein a closing piston (49) for closing the mold-side orifice (23) is axially movable through the front part (2), together with an apparatus and a method for the production of a particle form part. The injector is characterised in that the closing piston (49) and the piston rod (47) bearing the closing piston on its front side have equal diameters or substantially equal diameters and the method comprises the following steps: feeding form particles from a material container to a mold by means of a pipe thermoplastic welding of the form particles in the mold into a particle form part under a supply of heat,
wherein steam is added to the form particles to be fed.

Polymer foam and a method for preparing the same are disclosed. In the present disclosure, the method sequentially comprises the following steps: providing a polymer body; performing a pressure-induced flow (PIF) process on the polymer body at a first predetermined temperature and a first predetermined pressure for a pressure holding time, to obtain a polymer sheet; and performing a foaming process on the polymer sheet by using a foaming agent at a second predetermined temperature and a second predetermined pressure for a saturation time, to obtain polymer foam.

Vibration damping and sound absorbing foam formed of foam and fine particles present inside the foam so as to form bell-like structures in the foam is produced by performing the following steps [I] to [III] in the stated order. [I] Producing fine particles each having a surface coated with a coating material capable of being dissolved in at least one liquid selected from water and a solvent. [II] Mixing the coated fine particles into a material for foam, and producing foam from the mixture. [III] Immersing the foam in at least one liquid selected from water and a solvent to remove the coating of each of the fine particles in the foam by dissolution in the liquid.

The present invention is for open cellular polyurethane foam comprising virgin foam and previously cured foam, methods of making the same, as well as inner soles for footwear made therefrom.

Methods of recovering and/or recycling expanded polymer tooling, the methods including collecting expanded polymer tooling, reducing the collected expanded polymer tooling into smaller particles, treating the reduced expanded polymer tooling in order to yield an at least partially purified recovered polymer composition, and then collecting the at least partially purified recovered polymer composition. The at least partially purified recovered polymer composition can then be used to form new expandable polymer tooling.