Various components and methods related to a leading edge assembly are disclosed. The leading edge assembly can include an outer strike shell and a foam core. The foam core can be located inside the outer strike shell. The leading edge assembly can include a heating element with a plurality of sensors and wires. A method of manufacturing a leading edge assembly can include forming a composite layer, applying a metallic layer to the composite layer, installing an electronic device, and inserting a foam core into a cavity bounded by the composite layer and/or the electronic device.

To yield fixed output as electrical signal when any positions of volume space is subjected to external pressure and the external pressure is detected. A contact detecting device includes a mounted base 60 with a predetermined shape, a design foam 10 that is bonded to the mounted base and covers it, and a limiter 7 that is mounted on the mounted base 60 or the design foam 10. The contact detecting device further includes a predetermined volume space 4 defined by the mounted base 60, the design foam 10, and the limiter 7. The contact detecting device further includes a sensor SEN that detects external pressure applied to the volume space 4 through the determination of the physical variation of the volume space 4. The physical variation of the volume space 4 is detected through the sensor determining, for example, variation in flow rate, flow velocity, or volume. In particular, the contact detecting device detects two-dimensional or three-dimensional contact on any position.

A method of sub-ambient pressure processing of blow-molded polymer foams and skin-over-foam sandwich panel configurations for lightweight components having improved structural properties. The method can create either skinned or un-skinned foams that offer smooth interior and exterior surfaces, zero or controlled surface porosity, skins of pre-defined thickness, and foam cells that are expanded and oriented normal to the material plane, effectively spherical or polyhedral in nature, and offering improved bending and compressive strength.

Process for manufacturing an applicator (3) comprising a loading/application part (4), with the succession of steps a/ a mould is provided, b/ thermoplastic elastomer material (M) with a hardness before injection of between 5 Shore A and 70 Shore A and inert gas (G) suitable for a physical foaming process are provided, c/ they are mixed, d/ the mixture is injection-moulded in the mould, e/ after the thermoplastic elastomer material has cooled and physical foaming thereof has been carried out, the filler/application part (4) which has an inner structure (11) with closed cells (11a) and a microporous surface structure (12) is removed, and with the absence of a step of depositing on the microporous surface structure (12) a flock or flock adhesion material.

A flexible discontinuous process produces a series of at least two articles containing thermally insulating polyurethane foam from at least three streams (A), (B) and (C). The process involves mixing the at least three streams with different mixing ratios and injecting the mixture into cavities of the articles. A production unit can be used for performing this process.

External thermal insulation composite systems described herein include a concrete or masonry wall and a multilayer thermal insulation board disposed on the concrete or masonry wall. The multilayer thermal insulation board includes at least one closed cell foam layer comprising polyurethane and polyisocyanurate having an open cell volume of less than 20% by volume according to ASTM D 6226 and at least one open cell foam layer comprising polyurethane and polyisocyanurate having an open cell volume of greater than 80% by volume according to ASTM D 6226.

A method of forming a polymeric vacuum insulation board is provided, the polymeric vacuum insulation board including a plurality of evacuated, closed-cell pores therein. In one embodiment, the method includes intermixing a polymer with zeolite particles that contain water and extruding the resulting composition under high pressure. During extrusion, water in the zeolite particles evaporates and creates a porous, closed-cell microstructure within a polymer matrix. As the polymer matrix cools and solidifies, water vapor is reabsorbed by the zeolite, which at least partially evacuates the closed-cell pores. In another embodiment, the method includes intermixing a polymer with expandable graphite particles and extruding the resulting composition under high pressure. During extrusion, the expandable graphite particles define evacuated voids. The polymer binder can be selected to include low gas permeance, for example ethylene vinyl alcohol (EvOH) or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). In some applications, the polymer can be blended with nano-clays or other additives to further decrease the gas permeance of the vacuum insulation board.

Swell packer assemblies for providing a physical barrier inside a wellbore, and methods of using such swell packer assemblies, are provided. In one embodiment, the swell packer includes a substantially tubular member; and a seal element disposed on the substantially tubular member, the seal element including an elastomeric swellable material that comprises: a closed cell material having a plurality of pore spaces therein; and a compressible gas located within at least a portion of the plurality of pore spaces.

A steam chest mold includes two mold sections defining a mold cavity and a plurality of steam tubes having steam ports positioned within the mold cavity. The mold cavity is closable to contain and compress a plurality of beads such as expanded polyolefin beads. The steam tubes pass through the beads such that steam is injected through the steam ports into the beads to facilitate localized melting and bonding o the bead interfaces to produce a water-impervious panel or billet form. The steam tubes permit bonding of interior beads in thick section billets and panels that cannot be accessed by perimeter steam sources.

A seal for a vacuum lifter and method of manufacture wherein the seal has a continuous unbroken outer fluid resistant skin of elastomer which forms a boundary around a homogeneous cellular structure with no interior seams or joints.