An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure. The upper includes a base layer and one or more tensile strands. The sole structure includes an auxetic element operable to expand in two orthogonal horizontal directions in response to a tension applied in one of the directions. Each tensile strand has at least one end secured in fixed position relative to a peripheral region of the sole structure.

The manufacturing of articles relies on the bonding of two or more components to form some forms of the articles, such as a shoe sole bonded with a shoe upper. The bonding may be achieved with an adhesive particulate that is applied to a surface of a substrate. The adhesive particulate is selectively fused to the substrate with a controlled energy source, such as a laser. The selective application of laser energy allows for specific geometric structures of adhesive particulate to be formed on the substrate. The substrate having the fused adhesive particulate is mated with another component allowing the fused adhesive particulate to bond the first substrate and the second component.

Methods of preparing and using compositions and devices comprising compressible absorbent matrix material having mechanically-shaped sponge architecture are disclosed.

A process comprises placing a first foamable material inside of a first region of a mold space, and a second foamable material inside of a second region of the mold space, the first foamable material and the second foamable material comprising a physical, chemical or quantitative difference or any combination thereof. Both the first and the second foamable materials are concurrently foamed inside of the mold space to produce a heterogeneous foam comprising a first portion that differs from the second portion.

The manufacturing of articles relies on the bonding of two or more components to form some forms of the articles, such as a shoe sole bonded with a shoe upper. The bonding may be achieved with an adhesive particulate that is applied to a surface of a substrate. The adhesive particulate is selectively fused to the substrate with a controlled energy source, such as a laser. The selective application of laser energy allows for specific geometric structures of adhesive particulate to be formed on the substrate. The substrate having the fused adhesive particulate is mated with another component allowing the fused adhesive particulate to bond the first substrate and the second component.

A device for making foam pipes and a method for making the foam pipes includes the use of critical micro foaming injection molding. The foaming agent and the foaming material are mixed and controlled under specific temperature to obtain micro bubbles in the wall of the foam pipes which need less material when compared with PVC pipes of same specification such that manufacturing cost is reduced.

Closed cell foam articles, such as sports balls, and related manufacturing methods are disclosed herein. The article includes a main body made of closed-cell elastomeric resin foam having a density ranging between about 0.050 sg and about 0.800 sg after curing. Some articles are assembled by inserting a cured core into a main body so that the core is secured in the main body via an interference fit, and the core has one or more portions extending to the exterior surface of the main body such that the an exposed surface of the one or more exposed portions of the core blend substantially with the exterior surface of the main body.

A method of making a foamed article comprises (a) milling a block or sheet of thermoplastic polymer to form a precursor; (b) crosslinking the thermoplastic polymer; (c) heating the precursor to a first temperature to soften the thermoplastic polymer; (d) infusing the thermoplastic polymer with at least one inert gas at a first pressure that is sufficient to cause the at least one inert gas to permeate into the softened thermoplastic polymer; and (e) while the thermoplastic polymer is softened, reducing the pressure to a second pressure below the first pressure to at least partially foam the precursor into a foamed article, wherein the foamed article is substantially the same shape as the precursor.

A composite flooring and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The composite floor includes, at least, a bamboo-plate surface layer and an organic layer.

A method of forming a component of a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system from polymeric material includes providing a molding system including at least one mold cavity defining the component. A base resin is introduced to the mold system via an inlet. A chemical foaming agent is blended with the base resin to form a composition. The composition is then further heated and blended under pressure, wherein the chemical foaming agent decomposes within the composition. The composition is introduced to the mold cavity, wherein a reduced minimized pressure of the mold cavity facilitates initiation of a nucleation of the composition, wherein the composition expands to fill the mold cavity.