A classifying and purifying apparatus of a solid blowing agent includes a classifier which classifies a supplied solid blowing agent into first microspheres and second microspheres, a storage connected to the classifier, in which the classified first microspheres flow in to be stored and emitted, and a filter arranged on the moving route of the solid blowing agent or the first microspheres which separates metallic substance from the object of filtering comprising the solid blowing agent or the first microspheres.

Molded foam articles are provided. The molded foam articles are formed from polylactic acid and are capable of a number of post-processing or secondary uses. Forming the molded foam articles from polylactic acid advantageously extend the life of the molded bead foam article by permitting users to cut, heat, adhere, modify, and repurpose the molded foam articles.

In order to enable dehydration of a slurry of expanded particles with a simple structure, a dehydration device includes: a transporting tube configured to transport a liquid mixture of expanded particles, the transporting tube having a curved part in which the transporting tube is curved, and a mesh member provided to the curved part of the transporting tube. The mesh member is configured to separate the expanded particles and a liquid component in the liquid mixture from each other.

In order to enable dehydration of a slurry of expanded particles with a simple structure, a dehydration device includes: a transporting tube configured to transport a liquid mixture of expanded particles, the transporting tube having a curved part in which the transporting tube is curved, and a mesh member provided to the curved part of the transporting tube. The mesh member is configured to separate the expanded particles and a liquid component in the liquid mixture from each other.

A shock-absorbing sheet comprises a foamed resin layer having a thickness of 200 μm or less, a void ratio (P.sub.0.1) of a plane directional cross section at a thickness of 0.1 T, a void ratio (P.sub.0.5) of a plane directional cross section at a thickness of 0.5 T, and a void ratio (P.sub.0.9) of a plane directional cross section at a thickness of 0.9 T from one surface of the foamed resin layer each ranging from 10 to 70 area %; and the standard deviation (Pσ) for an average void ratio found from the void ratio (P.sub.0.1), the void ratio (P.sub.0.5) and the void ratio (P.sub.0.9) ranging from 1.0 to 20.

A system for curing a composite part, includes a mandrel configured to receive and support the uncured composite part; a plurality of expandable pellets disposed on the uncured composite part; and a mold configured to hold the mandrel, the uncured composite part, and the plurality of expandable pellets, wherein the plurality of expandable pellets are configured to expand and apply a positive pressure to the uncured composite part according to a change in condition or triggering event, and wherein each of the plurality of expandable pellets includes a blowing agent, a polymer matrix configured to hold the blowing agent, and a flexible skin configured to encapsulate the polymer matrix and the blowing agent, wherein the flexible skin is at least partially permeable with respect to the blowing agent or a gas released by the blowing agent.

Heat-expandable microspheres having a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally-vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein. The thermoplastic resin is a copolymer produced from a polymerizable component containing 15 to 90 wt % of acrylonitrile, 3 to 50 wt % of an acrylate ester monomer (A) represented by formula (1) shown below, and 3 to 70 wt % of a methacrylate ester monomer (B) represented by formula (2) shown below. The weight ratio of the acrylate ester monomer (A) represented by formula (1) to the methacrylate ester monomer (B) represented by formula (2) in the polymerizable component (A:B) ranges from 10:90 to 90:10:
H.sub.2C═CH—COOR.sup.1  (1)
H.sub.2C═C(CH.sub.3)—COOR.sup.2  (2).
Also disclosed are hollow particles manufactured by expanding the heat-expandable microspheres; a composition containing a base compound and the heat-expandable microspheres or the hollow particles; and a formed product manufactured by molding or applying the composition.

A solidified, conformable porous composite having interconnected pores and containing thermally-expanded polymer microspheres and a particulate filler material is disclosed herein. An energy storage device containing a solidified, conformable porous composite having interconnected pores and comprising thermally-expanded polymer microspheres and particulate filler material is disclosed herein. A method of making a solidified, conformable porous composite in which no solvent is introduced into and extracted from the composite in the formation of pores is disclosed herein.

A solidified, conformable porous composite having interconnected pores and containing thermally-expanded polymer microspheres and a particulate filler material is disclosed herein. An energy storage device containing a solidified, conformable porous composite having interconnected pores and comprising thermally-expanded polymer microspheres and particulate filler material is disclosed herein. A method of making a solidified, conformable porous composite in which no solvent is introduced into and extracted from the composite in the formation of pores is disclosed herein.

Planters are provided. The planters include one or more molded foam articles that are formed from polylactic acid. Forming the molded foam articles from polylactic acid advantageously enables air and water transport through the walls of the planter, reduces the overall weight of the planter, enables highly customizable shapes and sizes of planters, and enables compostability of the planter.