The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the production of a particle foam part, wherein a mould cavity (5) is filled with foam particles, the foam particles are welded into a particle foam part and the particle foam part is cooled down in the mould. The foam particles are heated by means of a ceramic body (17) with integrated resistance heating and by the application of electromagnetic waves.

A method for producing a foam component includes providing a particulate starting material in a mold, softening the starting material, inducing a pressure change within the mold to cause foaming in at least a portion of the softened starting material without the use of a blowing agent, and solidifying the foamed starting material.

In a shaping device, a conveyor conveys a formable sheet that distends due to being irradiated with electromagnetic waves. An irradiator irradiates the electromagnetic waves on the formable sheet being conveyed by the conveyor. A focus point adjuster adjusts a position of a focus point of the electromagnetic waves irradiated by the irradiator. The focus point adjuster adjusts the position of the focus point in accordance with a degree of definition of an unevenness to be caused to form on the formable sheet due to distension of the formable sheet.

In a shaping device, a conveyor conveys a formable sheet that distends due to being irradiated with electromagnetic waves. An irradiator irradiates the electromagnetic waves on the formable sheet being conveyed by the conveyor. A focus point adjuster adjusts a position of a focus point of the electromagnetic waves irradiated by the irradiator. The focus point adjuster adjusts the position of the focus point in accordance with a degree of definition of an unevenness to be caused to form on the formable sheet due to distension of the formable sheet.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of a foam particle part. The method comprises the following steps: feeding of foam particles from a material container to a mould by means of a pipe thermoplastic welding of the foam particles in the mould to make a foam particle part with the input of heat,
wherein steam is added to the foam particles to be fed.

A method of manufacturing a footwear sole component is provided including projecting elongated pins into a mold cavity in the shape of the footwear sole component and partially filled with an expandable material including multiple unexpanded beads, and introducing steam into the cavity through ports defined by one or more cavity walls and through the pins in an internal region of the expandable material, to expand both exterior beads and interior beads in the internal region a predetermined amount. With the elongated pins, the interior beads can be expanded more, less and/or the same amount as exterior beads to provide particular physical characteristics to the component. For example, the interior beads can be fully expanded to a similar density as exterior beads, or expanded less to provide more density and rigidity in the internal region, or expanded more to provide less density and rigidity in the internal region.

A composite material, comprising a first component and a second component, the first component forming a three-dimensional mesh-type structure and the second component forming a matrix at least regionally filling the interstices between the first component, wherein the second component at least partially comprises an expanded material.

A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device which includes a cylindrically shaped body having a predetermined density and predetermined diameter, the body including a plurality of projections of a predetermined shape. One or more of the predetermined density and the predetermined diameter in combination with the predetermined shape of the projections optimize mobilization of soft tissue structures of the human body.

The invention relates to a process for producing complex, mould-foamed rigid foam materials, more particularly of poly(meth)acrylimide (P(M)I) cores, preferably of polymethacrylimide (PMI) cores, which may be employed, for example, in carmaking or aircraft construction. A feature of the process is that through use of a particulate core during foam, it is possible to achieve an additional weight saving relative to foam materials or sandwich materials of the prior art.

An expanded beads molded article containing a block copolymer of a polyethylene block and an ethylene--olefin copolymer block and having a density of 150 kg/m.sup.3 or more and 500 kg/m.sup.3 or less and a tensile strength of 0.5 MPa or more.