The present invention is directed to a deep draw microcellularly foamed polymeric container comprising a polymeric sidewall integrally connected to a polymeric base along a bottom edge. The polymeric sidewall and base are contiguous with each other and define a shape of an open top container. The polymeric sidewall and base have a contiguous inner microcellular foam structure (having average cell diameters ranging from about 5 to about 100 microns) surrounded by a smooth outer skin layer integrally connected therewith. The polymeric sidewall defines a container height and a top opening, wherein the top opening defines a top opening width, and wherein the polymeric base defines a container base width, and wherein the area defined by the top opening is greater than the area defined by the polymeric base, and wherein the ratio of the container height (h) to the top opening width (w) is greater than about 1:1 (h:w).

A foamed article is made by infusing the article of thermoplastic elastomer with a supercritical fluid, then removing the article from the supercritical fluid and either (i) immersing the article in a heated fluid or (ii) irradiating the article with infrared or microwave radiation.

A process for making a three dimensional foam article of non-uniform shape employs a two-stage nitrogen autoclave process and a pre-form which has a non-uniform cross- section in at least one dimension.

Provided are non-crosslinked foamed polyethylene resin particles that have a bulk density BD of 10 g/L or more and 100 g/L or less and are obtained by foaming polyethylene resin particles containing an antistatic agent in an amount of 0.1 part by weight or more and 3 parts by weight or less with respect to 100 parts by weight of a polyethylene resin and having a density of 0.920 g/cm.sup.3 or more and less than 0.940 g/cm.sup.3, and the non-crosslinked foamed polyethylene resin particles have a shrinkage ratio of 3% or more and 30% or less determined in accordance with Formula (1). The non-crosslinked foamed polyethylene resin particles can simply afford an antistatic molded non-crosslinked foamed polyethylene resin body that has a small shrinkage ratio with respect to mold dimension, is deformed in a small degree, and has good surface stretch.

A method for manufacturing a thermoplastic polymer foaming sole includes the following steps. A prototype is formed. The prototype includes thermoplastic polyurethane or thermoplastic polyester elastomer but excludes a cross-linking agent and a foaming agent, and the prototype is sole-shaped. A supercritical fluid is used to foam the prototype so as to directly get the thermoplastic polymer foaming sole. A density of the thermoplastic polymer foaming sole is larger than or equal to 0.3 g/cm.sup.3 and smaller than or equal to 0.8 g/cm.sup.3.

A method of foaming and shaping a thermoplastic sheet comprising a poly(phenylene ether), a polyetherimide, or a combination thereof includes foaming the thermoplastic sheet with supercritical carbon dioxide to form a foamed thermoplastic sheet, and shaping the foamed thermoplastic sheet to form a shaped foamed thermoplastic sheet. The shaping step includes compressing the foamed thermoplastic sheet between a first metal plate and a secondi metal plate, each of which has a grooved surface facing the thermoplastic sheet. The first metal plate and the second metal plate are connected by a flexible, compressible linkage capable. When the flexible, compressible linkage is in its uncompressed state, only the second (lower) metal plate is in contact with the shaped foamed thermoplastic sheet. When the flexible, compressible linkage is in its compressed state, both the first (upper) and second (lower) metal plates are in contact with the shaped foamed thermoplastic sheet.

A process for producing foam particles composed of thermoplastic elastomers having polyamide segments, comprising the steps: (a) production of a suspension of pellets of the thermoplastic elastomer in a suspension medium, (b) addition of a blowing agent, (c) impregnation of the pellets with the blowing agent by heating of the suspension in a pressure vessel to an impregnation temperature IMT at an impregnation pressure IMP, depressurization of the suspension by emptying of the pressure vessel via a depressurization device and work-up of the foam particles obtained, and also foam particles obtainable by the process.

Disclosed is a low-temperature supercritical foaming process, comprising the following steps: (1) bringing a polyolefin material or a thermoplastic elastomer material into contact with at least one inert gas in a reactor at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to drive the gas into the material, the pressure holding temperature of the polyolefin material or thermoplastic elastomer material being lower than the melting temperature of the material by 5-40 C.; (2) reducing the pressure to expand the material so as to produce a primary foamed material, and taking out the primary foamed material; and (3) taking out the primary foamed material and putting same into a tunnel furnace for secondary foaming, the temperature of the tunnel furnace being higher than the melting temperature of the material. Compared with the prior art, the present invention features high production efficiency, energy saving, and improvement of the reactor utilization rate.

A method of making a foamed article comprises (a) injection molding a molten thermoplastic elastomer to form a precursor; (b) crosslinking the thermoplastic elastomer; (c) heating the thermoplastic elastomer to a first temperature to soften the thermoplastic elastomer; (d) infusing the thermoplastic elastomer 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 elastomer; and (e) while the article 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 compressible adjunct is used with a surgical instrument. The compressible adjunct includes a hollow fibrous construct and a core fibrous construct housed within the hollow fibrous construct, wherein the hollow fibrous construct comprises at least one biocompatible material that has experienced at least one transition from a more ordered phase to a less ordered phase in response to heating the hollow fibrous construct to a predetermined temperature.