Described are methods for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such a method, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. According to an aspect of the invention, a method for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, is provided which includes loading a mold with a first material which includes particles of an expanded material, and, during loading the mold, pre-heating the particles by supplying energy, wherein the energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.

The invention relates to a workpiece having a shape produced by thermoforming from at least one sheet (3) of plastic material, such as polycarbonate, and at least one applied element (6, 8; 7, 9) that is applied to the at least one sheet and secured there, characterised in that the securing of the at least one applied element to the at least one sheet takes place at least partially by means of crimping.

The present invention provides a process for recycling propylene-ethylene copolymers to obtain polymers having good optical and mechanical properties, as well as good processability. The invention further provides propylene-ethylene copolymer pellets obtained from the process, articles comprising or consisting of such pellets and the use of the propylene-ethylene copolymer pellets for injection molding applications. The process comprising the steps of (a) polymerizing propylene and ethylene in the presence of a single site catalyst in a continuous polymerization reactor under dynamic conditions, (b) collecting the resulting propylene-ethylene copolymer powders from step (a) to obtain a mixture (M) of propylene-ethylene copolymer powders having a MFR.sub.2 (ISO 1133, 230 C., 2.16 kg) in a raffle of from 1.5 to 80.0 g/ 10 min and an ethylene content in a range of from 1.0 to 4.0 wt. % based on the total weight of the mixture (M), (c) compounding said mixture (M) in an extruder in the presence of a radical initiator, and a clarifying agent in an amount of from 0.01 to 1.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the mixture of propylene-ethylene copolymer powders, and (d) extruding the above mixture into pellets; wherein, in step a), the dynamic conditions are such that the ethylene content and the melt flow rate (MFR.sub.2) of the resulting copolymer gradually changes from a first predetermined ethylene content, E1, to a second predetermined ethylene content, E2, and from a first predetermined melt flow rate, MFR.sub.2-1, to a second predetermined melt flow rate, MFR.sub.2-2; wherein collecting the copolymer powders in step b) is started when the polymer produced in step a) has a first ethylene content, E1, and a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2-1, and collecting the copolymer powders in step b) is stopped when the polymer produced in step a) has a second ethylene content, E2, and a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2-2; and wherein said pellets obtained in step d) have (i) a MFR.sub.2 (ISO 1133, 230 C., 2.16 kg) in the range of from 20 to 120 g/10 in, (ii) a ratio of MFR.sub.2 pellets/MFR.sub.2 powder>1, (iii) an ethylene content in a range of from 1.0 to 4.0 wt %, (iv) a crystallization temperature Tc, determined by DSC according to ISO 11357-3:1999 in the range of from 100 to 125 C., and (v) a flexural modulus, determined in a 3-point-bending according to ISO 178 on injection molded specimens of 80104 mm, prepared in accordance with EN ISO 1873-2, of 850 MPa or more.

A device (10) comprising a carrier material (14) and a matrix material (12) deposited onto the carrier material in a pattern that leaves a predetermined amount of space (18) between each deposition of matrix material.

The invention relates to an underbody panel insulation for a motor vehicle made of one or more foamed viscoelastic polyurethane foam materials which can differ in zones (partially) over the surface and thickness of the insulation in its formulation and the physical and mechanical properties, and to a method for the production thereof.

Disclosed is a resin composition for an exterior material of a vehicle. The resin composition may include an amount of about 40 to 90 parts by weight of polypropylene resin having a melt index of about 70 to 110 g/10 min; an amount of about 10 to 40 parts by weight of an olefin block copolymer including an ethylene-based repeating unit and a -olefin-based repeating unit having 4 to 30 carbon atoms; an amount of about 10 to 20 parts by weight of needle-shaped inorganic filler having an aspect ratio of about 5 to 10; and an 0.01 to 5 parts by weight of laser-transmitting black colorant, wherein all the parts by weights based on 100 parts by weight of the resin composition. In particular, an average transmittance may range from about 0.01 to about 1% or less in a wavelength of about 380 to 700 nm, and an average transmittance may range from about 15% or greater and less than about 100% in a wavelength of about 800 to 1200 nm.

A functional material has, as a first component, a thermoset plastic material, as a second component, a binding material for binding the thermoset plastic material, and, as a third component, at least one additive, which is configured to improve a burning behavior, wherein the burning behavior corresponds at least to a fire reaction class C as given by DIN EN 113501-1 [German/European norm 113501-1]. A method is intended for producing such a functional material and an element is produced from such a functional material.

Provided is a molded article that has such a shape as to offer a light condensing or light diffusing effect, has excellent mechanical strengths and heat resistance, and has a high thickness deviation ratio. This molded article includes a cured product of a curable composition containing an epoxy compound (A). The cured product has a flexural modulus of 2.5 GPa or more as measured in conformity with JIS K 7171:2008, except for performing measurement on a test specimen having a length of 20 mm, a width of 2.5 mm, and a thickness of 0.5 mm and at a span between specimen supports of 16 mm. The molded article has a thickness deviation ratio (thickest portion thickness to thinnest portion thickness ratio) of 5 or more and offers a light condensing or light diffusing effect. The molded article preferably has a thinnest portion thickness of 0.2 mm or less. The curable composition is preferably a photocurable composition.

A tooling to enable variation in radius of molded continuous fiber reinforced polymer curved components which includes a first tooling surface formed on a first tooling member which may be formed of sprung material, a second tooling surface formed on a second tooling member which may be formed of sprung material. The first tooling surface and the second tooling surface are positioned to lie one over the other to form a gap therebetween for receiving a supply of continuous fiber reinforced polymer. The first tooling surface and the second tooling surface are movable towards and away from each other to modify the size of the gap therebetween and thereby modify the amount of compression applied by the first and second tooling surfaces on the continuous fiber reinforced polymer positioned therebetween. A mechanism is engaged with the first tooling member to modify a curvature of the first tooling surface.

Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.