In an example method, a NWM molding blank, including a non-woven material held in compression by a binder, is placed in a separable mold, and heated to a melting temperature of the binder. The molding blank expands, forming as an intermediate NWM object a NWM molded object with a 3D geometric form. The intermediate NWM object is cooled through a temperature band with an upper boundary and a lower boundary, and further cooled to a solidifying temperature of the binder. The upper boundary is above the solidifying temperature and the upper boundary is lower than the binder melting temperature. While in the temperature band, the mold is separated, rendering accessible an exposed surface of the intermediate NWM object. The object is then transported to a contoured forming surface of a forming base, by an actuatable arm having an end effector gripping the exposed surface via vacuum suction, lifting the object from the mold and placing the object on the contoured forming surface. Optionally, the end effector contact surface includes a final forming feature. The actuatable arm compresses the intermediate NWM object against the contoured forming surface, and the optional end effector final forming feature and continues compressing until cooling to the solidifying temperature.

The present invention relates to an injection molded product, an expanded foam product, a method of injection molding a plastisol an expandable plastic embryo during which the foaming of the plastic embryo is suppressed throughout the molding operation. The invention further relates to a mold and an injection molding device.

Polyethylene resin foamed particles are obtained by foaming polyethylene resin particles containing a base resin. The base resin is a linear polyethylene resin. The polyethylene resin particles have a storage elastic modulus of 900 Pa or more and 5000 Pa or less at an angular frequency of 1 rad/second and a storage elastic modulus of 100000 Pa or less at an angular frequency of 100 rad/second, in a dynamic viscoelasticity measurement at 190 C. A differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve obtained by heating the polyethylene resin foamed particles using a differential scanning calorimeter at a temperature rising speed of 10 C./minute within a range of 20 C. to 220 C. has two melting peaks of a melting peak on a low temperature side and a melting peak on a high temperature side.

A tool for fixing a protective textile sleeve about an elongate member contained therein and method of use thereof is provided. The tool includes a clamp assembly having opposed clamp members attached to one another for pivotal movement relative to one another between an open state and a closed state. The clamp members have clamping surfaces, wherein at least one of the clamping surfaces has at least one outlet. A fluid source is arranged in fluid communication with the at least one outlet, and a heat source is configured to heat fluid from the fluid source to create steam. The steam is dispensed outwardly from the at least one outlet to cause an adhesive on the sleeve to become activated to bond with an adjacent abutting surface.

A molding die and a molding method are provided, which allow high-cycle manufacturing of molded bodies of a thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic resin-fiber composite material, thereby improving productivity. Molding is performed using a molding die including a plurality of die portions that form a cavity in which a molded body is molded, the molding die including: a first temperature adjusting unit disposed in the vicinity of the cavity surface and capable of at least cooling the cavity surface; and a second temperature adjusting unit disposed on a side of the first temperature adjusting unit opposite from the cavity surface and capable of at least heating the cavity surface, wherein a distance L0 from the cavity surface to the first temperature adjusting unit and a distance L1 from the cavity surface to a surface of the corresponding die portion opposite from the cavity surface satisfy the relationship: (L1/L0)>3.

A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer, at least partially impregnating the structural nonwoven layer with an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160 C., and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite such that the temperature at the inner plane is less than about 130 C. forming an moldable, uncured composite. The structural nonwoven layer contains a plurality of bi-component binder fibers and a plurality of reinforcing fibers, the bi-component fibers containing a core and a sheath. The core contains a polymer having a melting temperature of at least about 180 C. and the sheath contains a polymer having a melting temperature less than about 180 C. A process for forming a molded, cured composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer and a molded cured nonwoven composite are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for curing curved cylinder-like workpieces (e.g., in the shape of a half or full barrel) made of composite material, such as nacelle honeycomb core composite sandwich structures. These methods enable tailored curing of composite nacelle structures, to significantly reduce capital cost and fabrication cycle time. In lieu of an autoclave or oven, a pressurized ring-shaped cure volume is defined by a partitioned enclosure that mimics the cylinder-like shape of the composite nacelle structure with only limited clearance (e.g., a partitioned enclosure comprising inner and outer concentric cylinder-like walls). A tool (e.g., a mandrel) and at least one composite nacelle structure supported thereon are placed in the cure volume for curing. Integrally heated tooling, optionally in combination with other heating methods, such as infrared heaters, is utilized to provide the temperature profile necessary for cure.

This invention comprises novel large vulcanized rubber-steel composite water contacting hydraulic structures such as flood gates, lock gates and penstocks that are essential elements of hydroelectric power generation stations and marine navigation facilities such as locks and canals that have an expected service life of decades to a century or more. The composite structures have reduced susceptibility to damage and corrosion and prolonged service life compared to prior art painted metal structures. It is further directed to safe and environmentally benign means for onsite or shop fabrication of such composite structures incorporating in part either existing steel structures or new steel structures.

The invention relates to a device for preheating at least one mold for a tire heating press, which has a coupling for applying a heating medium to the mold. The mold to be heated is enclosed by a receiving container (19), which is secured within a framework and creates the coupling for the heating medium. The device helps to provide effective preheating of the mold by an insulating shroud (2), which is positioned over the receiving container (19) during the preheating process and reduces heat dissipation into the surroundings.

Disclosed herein is a polarized lens film production apparatus, which may include a humidification heat treatment part which is configured to transfer a film engaged to a ring-shaped fixing jig and heat-treat it under a humidification environment and elongate the exposed film at a center portion of the fixing jig; a forming part which is able to form at a predetermined curvature the elongated film by inserting a forming jig into the fixing jig which is configured to fix the film; a heat treatment part which is configured to harden the film by means of a heat treatment, while transferring the fixing jig configured to fix the film and the forming jig engaged to the fixing jig; and a cutting part which is provided to remove unnecessary portions by cutting the film, thus obtaining a polarizing lens film having a predetermined curvature.