A method of producing a metal form containing dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers comprising a method of impregnating an aerogel with polymers, placing the aerogel impregnated with polymers within a dissolved polymer, cooling the dissolved polymer to create a polymer form with dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers, adding molten metal to the polymer form, vaporizing the polymer form, replacing the polymer form with molten metal, and cooling the molten metal to yield a metal form containing dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers. Dispersing the aerogel particles impregnated with polymers within the polymer form prior to adding molten metal allows the aerogel particles to be fully dispersed throughout the metal form.

A method for filling a cavity with an expanding insulating foam component includes the following. First, providing a closed cavity comprising at least one elongated wall surface that extends along a first direction and includes first and second opposite sides, a top side and a bottom side. Next, forming a plurality of openings in the elongated wall surface arranged along the first direction and being alternating close to the first or the second opposite sides. Next, inserting a dispense tube through a first opening of the plurality of openings, and injecting a first portion of the expanding insulating foam into the closed cavity. The first opening is located close to the bottom side and close to the first side of the elongated wall surface. The injected foam expands along the bottom side and the first side and forms a first sloped top surface that has a positive slope angle. Next, inserting the dispense tube through a second opening of the plurality of openings located close and above the first opening and close to the opposite second side, and injecting a second portion of the expanding insulating foam into the closed cavity. The injected foam expands along the first sloped top surface and the second side and forms a second sloped top surface that has a negative slope angle.

The invention relates to shaped parts produced from popcorn which has previously been hydrophobised with a polymer. This allows very light and flexible shaped parts to be produced.

A functional material has, as a first component, a thermoset plastic material, as a second component, a binding material for binding the thermoset plastic material, and, as a third component, at least one additive, which is configured to improve a burning behavior, wherein the burning behavior corresponds at least to a fire reaction class C as given by DIN EN 113501-1 [German/European norm 113501-1]. A method is intended for producing such a functional material and an element is produced from such a functional material.

A method of freeze-drying comprising rapidly freezing either liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide in and around a material having pores at a rate of at least 0.2 C./min to limit the size of crystals formed from the carbon dioxide so as to avoid the formation of gas bubbles and damage to the pores and exposure of the material to gas-liquid interfaces. During freezing a solid layer primarily of solid carbon dioxide is formed on and surrounding the material by transferring heat with a cryogenic liquid circulating about the material. This solid layer protects the material from gas-liquid interfaces and surface tension before decreasing pressure about the material by venting carbon dioxide.

A thermally expandable sheet includes: a first thermally expansive layer that is formed on one side of a base and contains a first thermally expandable material and a first binder, the first thermally expansive layer having a first ratio of the first thermally expandable material with respect to the first binder; and a second thermally expansive layer that is formed on the first thermally expansive layer and contains a second thermally expandable material and a second binder, the second thermally expansive layer having a second ratio of the second thermally expandable material with respect to the second binder, wherein the first ratio is lower than the second ratio.

A process for producing shaped parts from particle foams comprising providing particle foam particles, wetting the particle foam particles with an aqueous emulsion of at least one polyolefin and thereby obtaining functionalisable particle foam particles, drying the wetted and functionalisable particle foam particles, shaping the functionalisable particle foam particles, heating the shaped functionalisable particle foam particles to a temperature below the melting range of the particle foam particles and thereby functionalising the shaped functionalisable particle foam particles, heating the shaped, functionalisable particle foam particles to a temperature below the melting range of the particle foam particles and thereby functionalising the shaped, functionalisable particle foam particles, wherein the particle foam particles are bonded together, and cooling and thereby obtaining the particle foam moulding, wherein the aqueous emulsion of the at least one polyolefin is an aqueous emulsion comprising at least one polyolefin converted to the liquid state with an anhydride of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and modified with methacrylic acid ester copolymers.

A method for filling a cavity with an expanding insulating foam component includes the following. First, providing a closed cavity comprising at least one elongated wall surface that extends along a first direction and includes first and second opposite sides, a top side and a bottom side. Next, forming a plurality of openings in the elongated wall surface arranged along the first direction and being alternating close to the first or the second opposite sides. Next, inserting a dispense tube through a first opening of the plurality of openings, and injecting a first portion of the expanding insulating foam into the closed cavity. The first opening is located close to the bottom side and close to the first side of the elongated wall surface. The injected foam expands along the bottom side and the first side and forms a first sloped top surface that has a positive slope angle. Next, inserting the dispense tube through a second opening of the plurality of openings located close and above the first opening and close to the opposite second side, and injecting a second portion of the expanding insulating foam into the closed cavity. The injected foam expands along the first sloped top surface and the second side and forms a second sloped top surface that has a negative slope angle.

A vacuuming forming method for creating an embellished reproduction of an image. The image is printed on to a thermoformable substrate to create a printed substrate. A chemical compound is applied to a surface of a perforated sheet to form artistic embellishments on the surface and create an embellished sheet. The printed substrate is positioned over the embellished sheet placed on a vacuum table. Heat is applied to the printed substrate and sufficient vacuum is provided to the vacuum table to press the printed substrate on to the embellished sheet to form an embellished reproduction of the image from the printed substrate. The perforated sheet can have a three-dimensional surface, which can be included in the embellished reproduction.

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.