A method of manufacturing a heat-fixing rubber roller includes: forming a rubber layer of a silicone rubber composition on an outer periphery of a metal core shaft, the composition containing water-soluble sugar powder and methylene glycol; vulcanizing the rubber layer; and eluting the sugar powder and the triethylene glycol from the vulcanized rubber layer to form a foam rubber layer.

The present invention relates to methods of manufacturing composite products having a surface effect. In some examples described, a composite product has a simulated surface, for example a stone-effect surface formed by pressing a particulate-form surface material (30) and a sheet-form curable material (40) onto a substrate (44) having an open-celled structure. In other examples, a laminate product having a veneer is formed by pressing a veneer and a sheet-form material onto a substrate including a porous structure. The veneer may comprise a wood material. In other examples, a surface effect material is bonded to a skin by pressing a sheet-form curable material to a mold surface and the surface effect material. Where the surface effect material has a high thermal conductivity, the composite product formed can feel cool to the touch.

A polymer board with a cut edge is automatically advanced through a stationary, non-spinning sealing element that contacts and compresses the cut edge and provides a sealed and smooth surface to the cut edge.

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 method is provided for making an annular reinforcement structure having inner and outer reinforcement bands maintained in concentric alignment by a resilient spacing element positioned between the bands. The method includes the steps of placing the spacing element against the inside face of the outer reinforcement band and compressing the spacing element with a jig, adjacent the top edge of the outer reinforcement band. The spacing element is sufficiently compressed to allow the inner reinforcement band to slide into concentric alignment with the outer reinforcement band, with a minimum of deflection and/or distortion of the inner reinforcement band.

The invention relates to modifying synthetic fiber sponge, such as polyester or polyurethane foam, with an epoxy-, polyester, or acrylic-resin to induce an engineered rock product for use as stone replacement in a variety of applications. The method for manufacturing comprises: producing a foam block; shaping the foam block into any regular or irregular shape; weathering the shaped foam block; infusing the weathered foam block with a resin; curing the infused foam block; and finishing the cured foam block. The artificial rock comprises a foam block shaped to resemble a rock, an exterior of the foam block infused with a resin.

Foam edge waste may be shredded or ground into foam particles rather than discarding them. The particles may be mixed with an adhesive and subject to high temperature and high pressure to form into new foam bodies with configurable densities. Utilizing discarded foam sections this way reduces the waste of foam, reduces environmental pollution caused by foam waste combustion, offers more environmental protection and saves resources. The resulting foam articles have reduced water retention and provide superior comfort by making a foam with consistent properties from inconsistent materials.

A cable having conductors that may be easily exposed in preparation for electrical connection, without requiring the use of tools, is provided. The insulating layer of the cable has at least one relatively weak portion extending along the length of the cable that is configured to allow the insulating layer to split, thereby exposing the wire without the use of tools.

A moldable composite with high heat resistance and noise absorption properties utilizes nonwoven fabrics and a heat resistance additive. The composition that provides both superior acoustic performance and excellent flex modulus that may be utilized in automotive products and applications in interior and exterior structures. A blowing agent may be utilized to create micro porous cells in a polymer non-woven structure. The cells or voids make the material lighter and allow the material to have superior acoustic properties that are useful in automotive applications.

A novel material for producing auxetic foams is disclosed. The material comprises a multiphase, multicomponent polymer foam with a filler polymer having a carefully selected glass transition temperature. Novel methods for producing auxetic foams from the material are also disclosed that consistently, reliably and quickly produce auxetic polyurethane foam at about room temperature (25 C.). This technology overcomes challenging issues in the large-scale production of auxetic PU foams, such as unfavorable heat-transmission problem and harmful organic solvents.