A molded article (M) contains a molded article (M-1) made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE-1) and a foamed pellet material made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE-2). The molded article (M-1) has a softening temperature TS (TPE-1) that deviates by no more than 25° C. from the processing temperature TP (TPE-2) of the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE-2). The softening temperature is determined by TMA in accordance with ISO 11359-3:2014. A process can be used for producing the molded article. The molded article can be used for application in the sports, industry, medicine, sports medicine, safety, automotive and consumer goods field, especially as a shoe sole, a part of a shoe sole, a bicycle saddle, a cushioning, a mattress, an underlay, a grip, a protective film, or a component in automobile interiors and exteriors.

Provided is an injection molded article composed of an elastomer composition including: a plurality of styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers that include a first styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer that is a block polymer having a mass average molecular weight of 300,000, and a second styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer that is a block polymer having a polyethylene block exhibiting crystallinity; and a plasticizer.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles. Disclosed is an apparatus for the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles, wherein the apparatus comprises: a.) a molding tool which is formed from at least two molding halves and which defines a molding cavity, and b.) at least two capacitor plates which are arranged adjacent to the molding cavity, wherein c.) at least one of the capacitor plates is connected to a radiation source, and wherein d.) at least one of the capacitor plates comprises several segments that have an adaptable distance to the molding cavity. Also disclosed is method for using such an apparatus in the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles.

A construct for a hockey skate outsole formed from layers of sheet molding compound material. The sheet molding compound material may be manufactured to have shorter average fiber lengths with random orientation in order to enhance the mechanical properties of the formed hockey skate outsole.

A method of forming a polymeric foam material is provided and includes providing a precursor material having a first thickness, the precursor material being an open-cell foam material and applying a uniaxial compressive force to the precursor material to compress the precursor material to a second thickness, the compressive force causing a cell structure of the precursor material to collapse. The method also includes heating the precursor material at a molding temperature for a first time period while the compressive force is applied, the first time period being sufficient to heat the precursor material to a softening temperature, removing the compressive force from the precursor material, and maintaining the cell structure of the precursor material in a collapsed state.

Foamed articles including a foamed thermoplastic elastomeric material, methods of making the articles, and methods for manufacturing articles of footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment incorporating the articles are provided. One exemplary method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable material and carbon dioxide in a vessel, the foamable material; maintaining the vessel at a first pressure and first temperature at which the carbon dioxide is a liquid and carbon dioxide is soluble in the foamable material; optionally exposing the infused article to a second temperature and second pressure; and subjecting the article to a third pressure and third temperature at which the infused carbon dioxide phase transitions to a gas, thereby expanding the foamable material into a foamed material and forming the foamed article.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a forefoot region of the plate than at a midfoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

Compression molded foam articles are provided having a closed cell foam structure comprising a plurality of cells having an anisotropic cell shape. The disclosed compression molded foam articles can be used as components or parts of a variety of articles, including articles of footwear and athletic equipment. Methods are disclosed for making the disclosed compression molded foam articles from a foamed preform having an elastomeric closed cell foam with substantially isotropic cell shape. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

The disclosure id directed to an article of footwear including an upper and the sole structure, to the sole structure, and to a method for manufacturing the sole structure and a method for manufacturing the article of footwear. The sole structure includes a fluid-filled chamber and an outsole that at least partially surrounds the chamber.

Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.