A linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) foam and methods of making the same are described. The LLDPE foam has a maximum operating temperature of about 220° F. The LLDPE foam can also have a density in the range of from 0.6 to 10.0 lbs/ft.sup.3. The LLDPE foam can be manufactured in part by processing an LLDPE resin in order to create a long branch molecular structure in the LLDPE resin without crosslinking or otherwise adversely affecting the thermoplastic properties of the LLDPE resin.

A push-in earplug is provided. The push-in earplug comprises an elongate core comprising a core material. The push-in earplug also comprises an outer layer comprising a foam material, the outer layer covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the elongate core. The push-in earplug also comprises a channel extending through the elongate core from a first end of the elongate core to the second end of the elongate core.

Provided is a composition for a highly elastic extruded foam. The composition includes a peroxide-crosslinkable thermoplastic polymer, an organic peroxide, thermo-expandable microspheres, and a silane coupling agent.

Provided is a composition for a highly elastic extruded foam. The composition includes a peroxide-crosslinkable thermoplastic polymer, an organic peroxide, thermo-expandable microspheres, and a silane coupling agent.

A linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) foam and methods of making the same are described. The LLDPE foam has a maximum operating temperature of about 220° F. The LLDPE foam can also have a density in the range of from 0.6 to 10.0 lbs/ft.sup.3. The LLDPE foam can be manufactured in part by processing an LLDPE resin in order to create a long branch molecular structure in the LLDPE resin without crosslinking or otherwise adversely affecting the thermoplastic properties of the LLDPE resin.

A linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) foam and methods of making the same are described. The LLDPE foam has a maximum operating temperature of about 220° F. The LLDPE foam can also have a density in the range of from 0.6 to 10.0 lbs/ft.sup.3. The LLDPE foam can be manufactured in part by processing an LLDPE resin in order to create a long branch molecular structure in the LLDPE resin without crosslinking or otherwise adversely affecting the thermoplastic properties of the LLDPE resin.

A building panel has a deep drawn transparent film having an inner face and a structure having solar cells on the inner face of the deep-drawn film. The structure has an inner face turned away from the film and an outer face on or closely juxtaposed with the inner face of the film. A reinforcement layer constituted as a mass of foamed granular particles is spread over the inner face of the structure in direct contact with the inner face of the structure without the interposition of an adhesive and is heat cured to the film.

Planters are provided. The planters include one or more molded foam articles that are formed from polylactic acid. Forming the molded foam articles from polylactic acid advantageously enables air and water transport through the walls of the planter, reduces the overall weight of the planter, enables highly customizable shapes and sizes of planters, and enables compostability of the planter.

A method for producing a component with a fibre-reinforced foam core has the steps of supplying a foam core having a first main surface and an opposite, second main surface, positioning at least one needle at the first main surface of the foam core, piercing the foam core with the needle, with the result that a needle tip penetrates through the first main surface into the foam core and then through the second main surface, hooking a reinforcing fibre into the needle tip, pulling the needle back, with the result that the reinforcing fibre is pulled through the foam core, and coating the reinforcing fibre with a resin while the needle is being pulled back.

A method of manufacturing a multi-hardness and multi-elasticity foam mattress in which a plurality of foam blocks are formed integrally with each other by use of a continuous foaming process the method comprising the steps of: arranging a plurality of nozzles above one end of a molding plate; installing a separation wall between two adjacent ones of the respective nozzles arranged at the molding plate; laminating a release paper on the top of the molding plate; spraying foaming solutions from the nozzles, respectively, wherein the release paper moves in a direction toward the other end of the molding plate corresponding to a moving speed of the foaming solution; and molding a foam body having a plurality of zones where a plurality of unit foam blocks have multi-hardnesses and multi-elasticities.