A vessel includes a vessel wall and an insulation assembly coupled to the vessel wall. The insulation assembly includes a stochastic foam material and a microtruss structure encased within the foam material. The microtruss structure includes a plurality of truss members interconnected at a plurality of nodes. Each truss member is in contact with the foam material such that the microtruss structure provides a structural core for the foam material.

A baffle or reinforcer includes a carrier configured to be disposed in a cavity and a fixation mechanism disposed on the carrier and configured to at least partially support the carrier in the cavity. The fixation mechanism defines an opening for receiving an expandable material. The fixation mechanism has an anti-return device configured to prevent at least a portion of the expandable material from escaping through the opening during expansion. A method includes inserting the carrier into the cavity, injecting the expandable material into the cavity via the opening in the fixation mechanism, expanding the expandable material within the cavity, and preventing at least a portion of the expandable material from escaping through the opening during expansion.

Apparatus for supplying multiple foam machines with foam precursor chemicals. The apparatus comprises first and second totes having a top opening and a bottom drain and containing first and second foam precursor chemicals, first and second supply lines connected to the bottom drains of the first and second totes and in fluid communication with first and second sets of batcher stands, and first and second sets of batcher pumps each of which is positioned in a respective one of the first and second sets of batcher stands. Each batcher pump is adapted to be in fluid communication with a respective one of the foam machines.

A thermally expandable preparation pumpable at application temperatures in the range of 50 to 120° C., is provided containing: at least one polymer selected from binary copolymers containing at least one monomer unit selected from vinyl acetate, (meth)acrylic acids, styrene and derivatives thereof, and terpolymers based on at least one first monomer selected from the monounsaturated or polyunsaturated hydrocarbons, and at least one second monomer selected from (meth)acrylic acids and derivatives thereof, and at least one third monomer selected from epoxy-functionalized (meth)acrylates, as well as combinations of the first two; at least one liquid polymer selected from liquid hydrocarbon resins, liquid polyolefins and liquid polymers based on one or more diene monomers; at least one peroxide; at least one thermally activatable blowing agent; and at least one adhesion promoter; as well as methods to stiffen/reinforce or seal structural components by application of the preparation.

A composite article having an elastomeric composition with a blowing agent having an activation temperature and providing at least one structural member defining a fixed gap. The composition is formed below the blowing agent's activation temperature into a solid elastomeric member approximately the thickness of or larger than the gap. The elastomeric member is assembled into the gap, which may place the elastomeric member in a state of compression in the gap. The elastomeric member is then expanded by heating it above the activation temperature. During expansion, the escape of the gas produced is limited to increase the state of compression of the elastomer in the gap by means of confining any free surfaces or by including a platy filler such as nanoclay in the composition.

A method of manufacturing building panels includes assembling a frame of a building panel. The frame defines at least one cavity and at least one injection aperture in fluid communication with the at least one cavity. The method also includes positioning the frame on one of a base and a shelf of a multi-panel consolidation device having a plurality of shelves, with the shelves being in an expanded configuration, and at least substantially enclosing the at least one cavity. The method also includes forcing the shelves of the multi-panel consolidation device into a collapsed configuration, and injecting an expandable polymer through the at least one injection aperture into the at least one cavity. The method further includes forcing the shelves into an expanded configuration after a predetermined period of time selected to permit the expandable polymer to form a foam bonded to the frame.

A method of making a mold, the mold having an interior cavity for containing a first material and a second material, wherein the mold comprises a first port configured to receive the first material, a second port configured to receive the second material, and a first channel for directing the second material to within the first material, the method includes: determining an electronic file having data representing a shape of an ear; processing the electronic file to create an electronic model of the mold, the electronic model of the mold having sprue features; and creating the mold based on the electronic model of the mold.

An exemplary method of, for instance, forming a baffle or reinforcer includes extruding an expandable material to have a particular cross-sectional profile, inserting the expandable material into a molding tool, cutting the expandable material to a predetermined length within the molding tool, and overmolding a carrier material onto a portion of the expandable material within the molding tool.

An exemplary method of, for instance, forming a baffle or reinforcer includes extruding an expandable material to have a particular cross-sectional profile, inserting the expandable material into a molding tool, cutting the expandable material to a predetermined length within the molding tool, and overmolding a carrier material onto a portion of the expandable material within the molding tool.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier (10) that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material (12) having an outer surface; and (ii) at least one fibrous composite Insert (14) or overlay (980) having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement (e.g., having a plurality of ordered fibers). The fibrous Insert (14) or overlay (980) is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that Is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert (14) or overlay (980) and the mass of polymeric material (12) are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert or overlay to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier (10) may be a mass of activatable material (126). The fibrous insert (14) or overlay (980) may include a polymeric matrix that includes a thermoplastic epoxy.