Vibration damping and sound absorbing foam formed of foam and fine particles present inside the foam so as to form bell-like structures having communication paths to a surface of the foam is produced by performing the following steps [I] to [III] in the stated order. [I] Preparing foam having foamed cells inside the foam and having communication paths to the foamed cells on a surface thereof, and fine particles each having a particle diameter smaller than a cell diameter of each of the foamed cells and larger than a diameter of each of the communication paths. [II] Swelling the foam to enlarge the diameter of each of the communication paths, and then sprinkling the surface of the foam with the fine particles, followed by pushing of the fine particles into the foamed cells via the communication paths with a fluid pressure of a liquid. [III] Drying the foam.

The present invention provides an energy absorbing foam material includes at least one shape memory polymer foam having a non-impact resistant configuration in a first force-application time, an impact resistant configuration in a second force-application time at a working temperature, a first glass transition temperature equal to or lower than a working temperature in the first force-application time, and a second glass transition temperature higher than a working temperature in the second force-application time. A second elastic modulus of the shape memory polymer foam in the second force-application time is at least 10 times than a first elastic modulus of the shape memory polymer form in the first force-application time at the working temperature.

A fiber structure for a fiber-reinforced composite material includes a section in which a width varies continuously along a central axis in a plan view. In a section in which the width increases continuously along the central axis, discontinuous fibers are aligned radially along the central axis, and both a thickness of the fiber structure and a density of the discontinuous fibers are uniform.

A household appliance includes a functional compartment, and an insulation arrangement provided on an outer side of the functional compartment for thermal and/or acoustic insulation of the functional compartment. The insulation arrangement includes an insulation element which is made in one piece from a plastic material selected such that a surface of the insulation element in facing relation to the functional compartment adheres to the functional compartment and is separable therefrom in a non-destructive manner. A component arranged outside the functional compartment is at least substantially encapsulated in the insulation element.

A novel formulation for preparing a polyurethane foam with low density, desirable hardness, good appearance, and good adhesion to a polymer film without compromising the processing properties of the formulation; and a process for preparing a multilayer structure made of the polyurethane foam.

A method for making a support element for the human body equipped with a first component or support component, a second component or padding component, wherein at least the second component or padding component is obtained by means of a three-dimensional printing technique; and an apparatus for implementing the method for obtaining the support element and support element thus obtained.

An improved process for fabricating expanded thermoplastic polymers (eTP) starting from non-expanded TP is disclosed whereby said process has improved thermal control, uses preferably environmentally friendly foaming gasses, avoids anisotropy and sticking of the eTP during the processing and minimises the duration of the charging step.

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.

A deformable auxetic structure for absorbing energy of an impact that comprises a plurality of interconnected adjoining tridimensional auxetic cells where each tridimensional auxetic cell comprises at least one surface element and a plurality of legs extending from the surface, the plurality of legs and the surface element being configured such that the sectional cut of the structure in at least two planes perpendicular to the surface element follows an auxetic pattern.

A structure for use in a compressible resilient pad. The structure contains both axially elastomeric strands and relatively inelastic strands co-extruded in various patterns. The structure has a high degree of both compressibility under an applied normal load and excellent recovery (resiliency or spring back) upon removal of that load.