A method of recycling expanded polystyrene foam into flexible insulation elements that are made from 100% recycled material.

A method of forming a polymeric vacuum insulation board is provided, the polymeric vacuum insulation board including a plurality of evacuated, closed-cell pores therein. In one embodiment, the method includes intermixing a polymer with zeolite particles that contain water and extruding the resulting composition under high pressure. During extrusion, water in the zeolite particles evaporates and creates a porous, closed-cell microstructure within a polymer matrix. As the polymer matrix cools and solidifies, water vapor is reabsorbed by the zeolite, which at least partially evacuates the closed-cell pores. In another embodiment, the method includes intermixing a polymer with expandable graphite particles and extruding the resulting composition under high pressure. During extrusion, the expandable graphite particles define evacuated voids. The polymer binder can be selected to include low gas permeance, for example ethylene vinyl alcohol (EvOH) or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). In some applications, the polymer can be blended with nano-clays or other additives to further decrease the gas permeance of the vacuum insulation board.

The present invention provides means for improving bondability between a vehicle seat core and a cushion in a vehicle seat pad formed by integration of them without significantly impairing mechanical properties. A vehicle seat core is characterized in that it is a vehicle seat core for forming a vehicle seat pad by integration with a cushion, which comprises a foamed resin molded body obtained by filling a cavity of a mold with a plurality of foamed resin particles and performing in-mold foam molding, and that at least a partial region of a surface of the foamed resin molded body to which the cushion is bonded when forming the vehicle seat pad has a surface expansion rate of 40% to 85%, and the foamed resin molded body has a first fusion rate of 95% or more or a second fusion rate of 60% or more.

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.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a mold insert for use in a mold for the manufacture of a cushioning element for sports apparel. Further aspects of the present invention relate to a mold using such a mold insert, a method for the manufacture of a cushioning element for sports apparel using such a mold, and a cushioning element manufactured by such a method.

The present invention relates to a tool, a tool system and a method for the production of particle foam parts, in particular for the manufacture of shoe soles. The shoe sole may be manufactured by welding foam particles using electromagnetic waves. The tool may comprise two mold halves forming a mold cavity corresponding to the shape of the shoe sole. The tool may be arranged between two capacitor plates. The mold cavity may be filled with the foam particles. The tool may then be closed and subjected to electromagnetic waves, in particular radio waves or microwaves, introduced into the mold cavity via the capacitor plates. The foam particles heated by the electromagnetic waves and at least partially fuse or bake together.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a particle foam part, in particular a cushioning element for sportswear, such as a shoe sole, or a cushioning element, which has been produced by such a method, in particular a shoe sole. The method for manufacturing a cushioning element for sportswear such as a shoe sole, may comprise the steps of feeding foam particles into a mold cavity of a mold tool, and welding of the foam particles in the mold cavity while applying a predetermined pressure, wherein the foam particles comprise a fraction of at least 10% by weight of recycled, shredded foam particles (regenerated material) and the welding of the foam particles is effected by means of electromagnetic waves.

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.