A composite structure is provided. The composite structure includes a plurality of components coupled together forming a joint, wherein the plurality of components are oriented such that a gap is defined at least partially therebetween. A filler structure is positioned in the gap, and the filler structure includes a closed cell foam core.

Certain configurations are described herein of a thermoplastic sheet or article comprising a plurality of porous layers coupled to each other. In one configuration, the thermoplastic article may comprise a core layer, a first layer disposed on one surface of the core layer and a second layer disposed on another surface of the core layer. In some instances, each of the core layer, the first layer and the second layer may comprises a web of open celled structures formed by a plurality of reinforcing materials bonded together with a thermoplastic material and optionally may also include a lofting agent. The lofting capacity in different layers can be selected or tuned to provide desired properties.

The invention relates to a process for producing a composite structure comprising a main structure and an external shell connected to the main structure, where the main structure comprises a molded foam obtainable from prefoamed foam particles and the external shell comprises a hollow structure open at one end or at two opposite ends, and where a frictional connection is formed between the molded foam and the hollow structure.

A belt having a first cover layer with a first top surface and preferably also a second cover layer with a second top surface, wherein the first cover layer and, if present, the second cover layer are made of a foam having a thermoplastic or thermoplastic elastomer, in particular a TPU or PEBA. The belt is suitable e.g. as a machine tape in mail sorting machines and for power transmission.

In order to provide a manufacturing method of an elongated foam sheet capable of manufacturing the elongated foam sheet with highly-precise thickness without being limited by the material and thickness of foam material, a method of manufacturing an elongated foam sheet includes performing a slice process in which a foam sheet is created by slicing a foam block and a sheet pasting process in which a large number of foam sheets are arranged and pasted onto one side of an elongated base material sheet to manufacture the elongated foam sheet where the large number of foam sheets are lined up in a longitudinal direction of the base material sheet.

In a pallet manufacturing method, variations of pallets, having different thicknesses of pallet bodies, heights of legs, or foaming ratios thereof, are manufactured at low cost and with high quality. The method includes a pallet body molding step for molding a plurality of the pallet bodies of a plurality of types having different thicknesses or expansion ratios of foaming; a leg molding step for molding, separately from the pallet body, a plurality of legs of a plurality of types having different heights or expansion ratios of foaming; and a vacuum forming step for forming a resin sheet for covering and integrating the pallet body and the legs from a bottom surface side of the pallet by vacuum integral forming after the pallet body and the legs are selected, respectively, from the plurality of types and assembled in a state that the legs are mounted on the pallet body.