A method for preparing a polymer mould-free stereostructure foamed product from supercritical fluid, containing a supercritical fluid delivery system, a stereoscopic foaming system and a preheating system, and has the following steps: performing pressure molding on a polymer material to obtain a foaming preform, then preheating the foaming preform in the preheating system, delivering the foaming preform to the stereoscopic foaming system after a temperature rises to a preheating temperature, introducing the supercritical fluid, and decompressing after the supercritical fluid is swelled and diffused to the polymer. The polymer is swelled using high-temperature medium-pressure supercritical fluid by utilizing a one-step method in a stereoscopic foaming tank and then subjected to free mould-free stereoscopic pressure-relief form molding, so as to obtain a polymer microcellular foamed product with controllable product shape, size precision, pore fineness and product density.

The present invention is directed to a process for making combustible foam celluloid munition parts having high aspect ratios, different densities or having an insert embedded into the foam celluloid munition part. The process for making such foam celluloid munition part requires pre-soaking dry particles of celluloid, placing the celluloid particles into a munition part mold, exposing the celluloid particles to high heat and pressure until the celluloid particles expand and fuse into the shape of the mold. Varying the density or the size of the celluloid particles used in the process produces munition parts having different densities. In addition, the placement of inserts into the particles prior to exposure to high heat and pressure produces munition parts having inserts that are useful for identification and tracking of such parts.

The invention discloses a horizontal supercritical fluid foaming autoclave with an internal stirring device, comprising a horizontal autoclave body, an end cover, a stirring driver and a stirring paddle, wherein a stirring shaft of the stirring driver passes through the autoclave body and is connected with the stirring paddle positioned inside the autoclave body. The stirring driver of the invention can drive the stirring paddle to rotate, drive the fluid in the autoclave body to generate convection circulation, increase convection heat transfer, improve a uniform distribution degree of the temperature in the autoclave, enable the temperature in each position in the autoclave body to be consistent, ensure the consistency of the shape and parameters of foamed products, and improve the yield of the products.

The present invention discloses a foaming and dyeing integrated production line for a polymer material product, and a method thereof. The production line comprises a foaming and dyeing kettle, a pressure control module, a dye separation module, a fluid liquefaction and storage module, a fluid pressurization delivery module, a fluid heating module and a dyeing circulation module. The production line integrates the functions of one-step foaming and supercritical fluid dyeing of polymer material, thereby being simple in structure, comprehensive in function, convenient to operate, high in production efficiency, good in product quality and low in cost; besides, the production line can carry out both dyeing and foaming operations, only foaming operation or only dyeing operation on polymer material.

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 method for preparing a polymer mould-free stereostructure foamed product from supercritical fluid, containing a supercritical fluid delivery system, a stereoscopic foaming system and a preheating system, and has the following steps: performing pressure molding on a polymer material to obtain a foaming preform, then preheating the foaming preform in the preheating system, delivering the foaming preform to the stereoscopic foaming system after a temperature rises to a preheating temperature, introducing the supercritical fluid, and decompressing after the supercritical fluid is swelled and diffused to the polymer. The polymer is swelled using high-temperature medium-pressure supercritical fluid by utilizing a one-step method in a stereoscopic foaming tank and then subjected to free mould-free stereoscopic pressure-relief foam molding, so as to obtain a polymer microcellular foamed product with controllable product shape, size precision, pore fineness and product density.

A three-dimensional printing system for preparing a three-dimensional object made at least partially of an expanded polymer includes an autoclave, a printing device and a three-dimensional movement device. The printing device prepares an expandable polymer melt and deposits a strand of the expandable, expanding or expanded polymer onto a surface. The three-dimensional movement device adjusts the position of the printing device in a predefined three-dimensional matrix so as to enable depositing of the strand of expandable, expanding or expanded polymer at a predetermined time at a precise position within the three-dimensional matrix. The printing device includes a feed section, a cooling section, a backflow prevention section, a heating section and a terminal printing head section including a die for depositing the expandable, expanding or expanded polymer strand onto the surface.

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.

Disclosed, among other things, are ways to manufacture reduced density thermoplastics using rapid solid-state foaming and machines useful for the saturation of plastic. In one embodiment, a foaming process may involve saturating a semi-crystalline polymer such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) with high levels of gas, and then heating, which may produce a reduced density plastic having high levels of crystallinity. In another embodiment, a foaming process may produce layered structures in reduced density plastics with or without integral skins. In another embodiment, a foaming process may produce deep draw structures in reduced density plastics with or without integral skins. In yet another embodiment, a foaming process may utilize additives, blends, or fillers, for example. In yet another embodiment, a foaming process may involve saturating a semi-crystalline polymer such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) with high levels of gas, and then heating, which may produce a reduced density plastic having high levels of crystallinity.

A method for producing expanded thermoplastic polymeric (eTP) material and tuning the density of the eTP during the process of producing said eTP wherein the density of the eTP material can be decreased by increasing the partial pressure of the at least one gas which is soluble in the TP material and/or by increasing the total pressure during the charging step.