A tooling assembly for manufacturing a porous composite structure. The tooling assembly includes a first tooling member and a second tooling member. The first tooling member includes a first body that defines a first internal volume and a first inlet. The first inlet is fluidly coupled with the first internal volume. The first tooling member also includes a first tooling surface that defines a plurality of first perforations that are fluidly coupled with the first internal volume. The second tooling member includes a second body that defines a second internal volume and a second inlet. The second inlet is fluidly coupled with the second internal volume. The second tooling member also includes a second tooling surface that defines a plurality of second perforations that are fluidly coupled with the second internal volume.

In accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure, a method producing a composite board comprising plastic and cellulose is described. The method includes transmitting a first signal to a pair of opposing hot-platens, receipt of the first signal causing the pair of opposing hot-platens to compress and heat a composite mat; transmitting a second signal to the pair of opposing hot-platens, receipt of the second signal causing the pair of opposing hot-platens to heat and compress the composite mat at substantially a first pressure for a first time period; transmitting a third signal to the pair of opposing hot-platens, receipt of the third signal causing the pair of opposing hot-platens to release the composite mat from the first pressure; and transmitting a fourth signal to a pair of opposing cold-platens, receipt of the fourth signal causing the pair of opposing cold-platens to compress and cool the composite mat.

A method for producing a heat-shrinkable product is provided. First, a polymer composition containing a polymer, a crosslinking agent and a micro-encapsulated foaming agent uniformly dispensed therein is melt mixed. The foaming agent has a peak activation temperature which is higher than a temperature of the melt mixing. Next, the polymer composition is injection molded into a molded product. This carried out at the peak activation temperature to activate the foaming agent. Then, the molded product is crosslinked within the mold.

A method for manufacturing a sandwich panel for a vehicle includes: etching a sheet, which etches one surface of a metal sheet; pressing the sheet, which forms a pattern of a specific shape on the one surface of the metal sheet; laminating a pair of the metal sheets; and performing injection-molding by injecting a plastic resin into the laminated pair of the metal sheets. The method may improve the bonding performance of the sandwich panel, thereby improving the degree of freedom of shape due to the press-molding.

A three-dimensional vacuum thermal insulation element having a compressed three-dimensional porous structure and a shell closed in an airtight manner. The shell includes a thermoformable barrier wall and encloses the porous structure arranged between two major surfaces of said barrier wall. The porous structure has a pressure of between less than 105 Pa and more than 10-2 Pa at ambient external temperature and pressure. The barrier wall is thermoformed at the site of said two major surfaces, between which the porous structure has a curved shape and/or reliefs and/or depressions.

An acoustic core has a plurality of cell walls formed of an additive-manufacturing material and a resonant space defined by the plurality of cell walls. At least some of the resonant cells have a multitude of sound-attenuating protuberances formed of the additive-manufacturing material of the cell walls protruding into the resonant space with a random or semi-random orientation and/or size. The sound-attenuating protuberances may be formed by orienting an additive-manufacturing tool with respect to a toolpath to form a contour of a workpart, in which the toolpath includes a plurality of overlapping toolpath passes configured so as to intentionally introduce an amount of additive-manufacturing material to the workpart that exceeds a domain occupied by the contour. As the amount of additive-manufacturing material intentionally introduced exceeds the domain occupied by the contour, a portion of the additive-manufacturing material may incidentally form the plurality of sound-attenuating protuberances.

A three-dimensional, vacuum thermal insulating element comprising a compressed three-dimensional porous structure, an envelope closed in an airtight manner comprising a thermoformable barrier wall, enclosing the porous structure, which is interposed between two major surfaces of the barrier wall, and where, at outside ambient temperature and pressure, a pressure between less than 10.sup.5 Pa and more than 10.sup.−2 Pa prevails. The barrier wall is thermoformed at said the two major surfaces, between which the porous structure is bent-shaped and/or has reliefs and/or depressions.

The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sound-blocking sheet member that is relatively lightweight, has high sound-blocking performance overwhelming the law of mass action, and is excellent in terms of manufacturability and durability. The sound-blocking sheet member includes at least a sheet and a plurality of resonance portions. The resonance portion is provided in contact with a sheet surface of the sheet, and the resonance portion includes a weight portion and a base portion. The weight portion is supported by the base portion and has a larger mass than the base portion, and the weight portion has a penetration portion. The base portion is in contact with a surface on a resonance portion front end side of the weight portion and covers the weight portion.

An acoustic core has a plurality of cell walls formed of an additive-manufacturing material and a resonant space defined by the plurality of cell walls. At least some of the resonant cells have a multitude of sound-attenuating protuberances formed of the additive-manufacturing material of the cell walls protruding into the resonant space with a random or semi-random orientation and/or size. The sound-attenuating protuberances may be formed by orienting an additive-manufacturing tool with respect to a toolpath to form a contour of a workpart, in which the toolpath includes a plurality of overlapping toolpath passes configured so as to intentionally introduce an amount of additive-manufacturing material to the workpart that exceeds a domain occupied by the contour. As the amount of additive-manufacturing material intentionally introduced exceeds the domain occupied by the contour, a portion of the additive-manufacturing material may incidentally form the plurality of sound-attenuating protuberances.