An improved shock absorbing, light-weight, thermally insulative orthotic pad designed for use in a “pad and boot” assembly for hoofed livestock. The pad is comprised of a mixture of small particles incorporated and encased in elastomeric materials. The particles have a lower density than the elastomeric materials and possess better thermally insulative properties. The pad is preferably elliptically shaped when viewed from the top or bottom, may be wedge-shaped when viewed from the side, and may include a triangular projection designed to contact a horse's frog and/or a front projection designed to cushion an animal's toe. The pad may also have side clips and toe bumper.

The present disclosure provides a polymeric membrane. The polymeric membrane includes a first thermoplastic elastomer layer. The thermoplastic elastomer layer includes a filler component that is at least about 30 wt % of the thermoplastic elastomer layer. The polymeric membrane can further include an optional second thermoplastic elastomer layer in contact with the first polyolefin layer.

An apparatus including: (a) a fluid material conduit in fluid communication with a source of a fluid material, wherein the fluid material comprises unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres; (b) a treatment zone in heat transfer communication with a source of heat and in fluid communication with the fluid material conduit, such that the fluid material is directly or indirectly contacted by heat within the treatment zone; and (c) a back pressure generator in fluid communication with the treatment zone, capable of increasing pressure in the treatment zone, which results in expansion of the expandable polymeric microspheres when the fluid material exits the treatment zone.

The present invention provides a method for preparing a uniform-sized core-shell foaming agent includes: providing a SPG membrane having a pore size ranging approximately from 0.5 to 50 μm; preparing a dispersed phase liquid including at least one shell material, at least one initiator, at least one cross-linker and at least one blowing agent; preparing a continuous phase liquid including at least one solvent, at least one salt, and at least one stabilizer; delivering a first pressurized gas to dispense the dispersed phase liquid to the continuous phase liquid through the SPG membrane; stirring until the uniform-sized emulsion being homogenous; initiating the polymerization of the uniform-sized emulsion to form microspheres; drying the microspheres to form the uniform-sized core shell foaming agent.

The present invention discloses a composite ribbed expanded polystyrene pallet and a manufacturing method thereof, comprising a body and a base support, said base support clads the sides and bottom of the body, said body is made of expanded polystyrene, said comprises a pallet platform and plural supporting feet. Through the above mentioned way, the present invention utilizes light-weight polystyrene to make the body, the surface is covered with a base support of high-strength engineering plastic film, and reinforcing ribs are additionally arranged inside the body through special process. The pallet of the present invention has good load bearing performance, economy and practicability. The logistics cost also can be reduced greatly. Therefore, the composite ribbed expanded polystyrene pallet and the manufacturing method thereof have broad market prospects in popularization.

There is described a method of creating a hinge in a body of expandable material, said body being substantially flat and having at least two planar regions connected by said hinge to facilitate folding of the planar regions about said hinge, comprising: expanding said expandable material to form said body; creating a region of excess expandable material in said body adjacent said hinge; and compressing said region of excess expandable material into the hinge of said body after the expandable material has fused to create a hinge having a concentrated volume of expanded material when compared to said at least two planar regions of said body.

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a laminated object. A foam core and a skin are provided and the foam core and the skin are arranged relative to each other. The skin is heated. The skin is pierced by a vacuum application device. Further, vacuum is applied via the vacuum application device so as to withdraw a gaseous medium, in particular air, from within the foam core and from a space or spaces between the foam core and the skin, in order to draw the skin towards the foam core. Furthermore, the invention provides a manufacturing device for manufacturing a laminated object, laminated objects comprising a foam core and a skin, a method for producing pallets comprising a foam core and a skin, as well as pallets comprising a foam core and a skin.

Systems and methods are provided for utilizing pellet-loaded bladders to consolidate and/or harden composite parts. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a composite part. The method includes laying up a preform that is made of fiber reinforced material and that includes a cavity, inserting one or more bladders that are loaded with expandable pellets into the cavity, inflating the bladders in response to a triggering condition, consolidating the preform while the bladders are inflated, deflating the bladders, and removing the bladders from the cavity.

The present invention relates to expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads, a preparation method for same, and an application thereof. The expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads consists of components of the following parts by weight: 100 parts of a thermoplastic polyurethane, 1-10 parts of a cell size stabilizer, and 1-35 parts of a melt viscosity modifier. The preparation method for the expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads is also disclosed. The bead is produced by employing a volatile blowing agent to immerse the thermoplastic polyurethane, comprising the pore size stabilizer and the melt viscosity modifier, in an aqueous suspension, and is then followed by the foaming process. Utilization of the expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads of the present invention allows for preparation of a foam product. The expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads prepared per the present invention has uniform cell sizes and a high product yield. At the same time, the expanded thermoplastic polyurethane bead provides a great sintering performance even at a relatively low vapor pressure, a molded foam product has a small deformation, a low dimensional shrinkage ratio relative to a mold, great dimensional stability, and an aesthetically appealing appearance.