A process for manufacturing products made of foamed polymeric material, comprising the following steps: generating, via software, a virtual model (M) of a product to be manufactured in a solid foamable polymeric material; performing a topological optimization via software of the virtual model (M) in order to obtain an optimized virtual model (MO) with areas of differentiated relative density; preparing the foamable polymeric material and inserting it in a mold (1); solubilizing, under pressure, at least one foaming agent in the foamable polymeric material placed in the mold (1) with a pressure profile of the foaming agent variable over time and/or space as a function of the topological optimization; releasing the pressure in order to obtain a product (S) made of foamed polymeric material provided with the above-mentioned areas of differentiated relative density; removing the product (S) made of foamed polymeric material from the mold (1).

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

A perforated expanded low density polyethylene foam layer, wherein in the expanded low density polyethylene layer at least 80% of the blowing agents are dissipated from closed cells within the expanded low density polyethylene layer forming evacuated closed cells whereby a partial vacuum is formed within the closed cells of the low density polyethylene layer.

A method of making a foamed article, for example a foamed component for an article or footwear, comprises depositing an unfoamed, thermoplastic polymer onto a support surface in a three-dimensional printing process to form an unfoamed article; heating the article to soften the article and infusing the softened article with at least one inert gas at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure that is sufficient to cause the at least one inert gas to permeate into the softened article; and reducing the pressure to second pressure below the first pressure while the article is softened to at least partially foam the article, wherein a surface of a partial mold limits foam expansion in at least one direction but less than all directions. The article or a part of the article may be made by printing a thermoplastic polymeric material with a three-dimensional printer in a structure of interconnected, unfoamed, thermoplastic polymeric members spaced to define openings between the thermoplastic polymeric members.

An improved process for fabricating expanded thermoplastic polymers (eTP) starting from non-expanded TP is disclosed whereby said process has improved thermal control, uses preferably environmentally friendly foaming gasses, avoids anisotropy and sticking of the eTP during the processing and minimises the duration of the charging step.

A method for impregnating a polymeric granulate with a physical blowing agent is disclosed. The polymeric granulate can be a typical material such as a polycarbonate that is used in foam injection moulding processes. The physical blowing agent can be carbon dioxide which impregnates that polymeric granulate at a temperature range of 40° to 120° C. and a pressure range of 15 to 55 bar. Preferably, the polymeric granulate is heated in a range of 50° to 90° with a range of 60° to 80° preferred. A pressure range of 25 to 45 bar is preferred with a range of 30 to 40 bar more preferred.

A foaming and dyeing integrated production method for a polymer material product includes steps of putting a polymer material preform into a foaming and dyeing kettle, and loading dye into a dyeing circulation module; gasifying CO.sub.2 and injecting the CO.sub.2 into the foaming and dyeing kettle, stopping pressurization when the CO.sub.2 reaches a supercritical state; performing a dyeing circulation process in which the CO.sub.2 in the supercritical state enters the dyeing circulation module and dissolves the dye in the dyeing circulation module, when the dyeing process is finished, injecting CO.sub.2 and/or N.sub.2 pressurized in the fluid pressurization delivery module and heated in the fluid heating module into the foaming and dyeing kettle, stopping pressurization and starting foaming operation when requirements of a foaming process are met; and when the foaming process is finished, taking out a foamed and dyed polymer material product in the foaming and dyeing kettle.

A method of microcellular foam molding an article includes feeding plastic granules to a hopper; supplying a supercritical fluid (SCF) to the hopper to effuse through the plastic granules; conveying the effused plastic granules to a buffer tank; and conveying the effused plastic granules in the buffer tank to a mold of an injection molding machine to perform foam molding on the effused plastic granules to produce a foamed article. In a second embodiment, the injection molding machine is replaced by an extrusion press.

Methods and systems that include introducing blowing agent into a hopper of a polymeric foam system.