A thermal insulation cabinet and a manufacturing method therefor, and a refrigerator having same. The manufacturing method for the thermal insulation cabinet comprises the following steps: pre-assembling a shell having a vacuum insulation panel attached to the inside, into a cabinet shell; heating the inside of the cabinet shell; and injecting a foaming material between the cabinet shell and an inner liner for foaming. According to the present invention, the inside of the cabinet shell is heated, such that the inner surface of the shell can reach a target temperature required for foaming, thereby reducing or avoiding a surface crusting phenomenon, and improving a thermal insulation effect of the thermal insulation cabinet.

Graphene-modified polymeric foam materials are provided that are amenable to conventional foams to yield articles with superior properties relative to like articles absent the graphene cell modifier. Graphene-based cell modifiers are incorporated in the polymer before or during the foaming process to not only improve the mechanical, thermal, electrical, fire retardant, or barrier properties of the polymer matrix itself, but also help modify the size, density, and morphology of cells in the foam, thereby tailoring the properties of the final foam articles. The graphene-modified polymeric foam materials may be utilized for the manufacturing of articles for mechanical, thermal, noise reduction, or sound absorption applications. The graphene-modified foams and articles made thereof have the advantages higher mechanical strength, better thermal stability, and better sound absorption properties as compared to the conventional polymeric foams such as materials made by copolymer polyol.

The invention relates to a method for producing a moulded part (50) by structural foam moulding, in which a polymer melt (18) is provided by melting a thermoplastic material, in which the polymer melt (18) is charged with a foaming agent (22) and in which the polymer melt (18) charged with the foaming agent (22) is injected under pressure into a cavity (26) of a mould (28), and so the polymer melt (18) fills the cavity (26) behind a melt front (34) running through the cavity (26), wherein the rate of injection at which the polymer melt (18) is injected into the cavity (26) of the mould (28) is set such that the internal pressure of the polymer melt (18) in the cavity (26), in a region (40) that follows a portion of the melt front (34) with a time delay of at most 0.15 seconds, is greater than the critical pressure of the foaming agent (22), at least at one point in time during the injection-moulding operation. The invention also relates to a moulded part (50) of an expanded thermoplastic material, wherein the moulded part (50) has a surface region with visual structuring formed by the expanded thermoplastic material of which the average ratio of the degrees of gloss measured in the direction of flow in relation to the degrees of gloss measured transversely to the direction of flow is below 1.9, preferably below 1.5, in particular below 1.2. The invention also relates to uses of such a moulded part.

The invention relates to a method for producing a moulded part (50) by structural foam moulding, in which a polymer melt (18) is provided by melting a thermoplastic material, in which the polymer melt (18) is charged with a foaming agent (22) and in which the polymer melt (18) charged with the foaming agent (22) is injected under pressure into a cavity (26) of a mould (28), and so the polymer melt (18) fills the cavity (26) behind a melt front (34) running through the cavity (26), wherein the rate of injection at which the polymer melt (18) is injected into the cavity (26) of the mould (28) is set such that the internal pressure of the polymer melt (18) in the cavity (26), in a region (40) that follows a portion of the melt front (34) with a time delay of at most 0.15 seconds, is greater than the critical pressure of the foaming agent (22), at least at one point in time during the injection-moulding operation. The invention also relates to a moulded part (50) of an expanded thermoplastic material, wherein the moulded part (50) has a surface region with visual structuring formed by the expanded thermoplastic material of which the average ratio of the degrees of gloss measured in the direction of flow in relation to the degrees of gloss measured transversely to the direction of flow is below 1.9, preferably below 1.5, in particular below 1.2. The invention also relates to uses of such a moulded part.

A sealing element for a molding machine comprises a base body with an inner receptacle wherein the base body is provided with a venting duct to connect an inner receptacle of the sealing element with an outer surface thereof.

A process for injection molded microcellular foaming various flexible foam compositions from biodegradable and industrially compostable bio-derived thermoplastic resins for use in, for example, footwear components, seating components, protective gear components, and watersport accessories wherein a process of manufacturing includes the steps of: producing a suitable thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend; injection molding the thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend into a suitable mold shape with inert nitrogen gas; controlling the polymer melt, pressure, temperature, and time such that a desirable flexible foam is formed; and utilizing gas counterpressure in the injection molding process to ensure the optimal foam structure with the least amount of cosmetic defects and little to no plastic skin on the outside of the foamed structure.

A process for injection molded microcellular foaming various flexible foam compositions from biodegradable and industrially compostable bio-derived thermoplastic resins for use in, for example, footwear components, seating components, protective gear components, and watersport accessories wherein a process of manufacturing includes the steps of: producing a suitable thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend; injection molding the thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend into a suitable mold shape with inert nitrogen gas; controlling the polymer melt, pressure, temperature, and time such that a desirable flexible foam is formed; and utilizing gas counterpressure in the injection molding process to ensure the optimal foam structure with the least amount of cosmetic defects and little to no plastic skin on the outside of the foamed structure.

A hollow article for use as a beverage cup, or as a container, the hollow article having an annular sidewall and a base wall defining a central hollow cavity, a top rim of the sidewall and a bottom end of the sidewall, wherein the annular sidewall has a plastics material composed of a sandwich structure of inner and outer skins and an integral expanded cellular foam layer therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the annular sidewall has an inner surface of the sandwich structure inclined at a first acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the hollow article and an opposite outer surface of the sandwich structure inclined at a second acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the hollow article, wherein the second acute angle is greater than the first acute angle.

A hollow article for use as a beverage cup, or as a container, the hollow article having an annular sidewall and a base wall defining a central hollow cavity, a top rim of the sidewall and a bottom end of the sidewall, wherein the annular sidewall has a plastics material composed of a sandwich structure of inner and outer skins and an integral expanded cellular foam layer therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the annular sidewall has an inner surface of the sandwich structure inclined at a first acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the hollow article and an opposite outer surface of the sandwich structure inclined at a second acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the hollow article, wherein the second acute angle is greater than the first acute angle.

A molding system and a method for forming a sole structure are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a mold from an upstream device, receiving the molten polymeric material in a cavity of the mold, and maintaining a repeatable, uniform pressure profile as the molten polymeric material is delivered into the mold.