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.

Physical foaming a footwear component with a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid is provided. The method include temperature conditioning a mold and then engaging the mold with a robot that conveys the mold to a press. At the press a gas counter pressure is applied to a cavity of the mold before injecting a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid into the cavity of the mold. The process continues with releasing the gas counter pressure from the cavity of the mold and then removing the footwear component from the cavity of the mold. The parameters of the method are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner.

The invention provides moisture-resistant foam compositions comprising at least one fiber component; at least one foaming agent; at least one wax binder; and optionally at least one dispersant, where the at least one fiber component, the at least one foaming agent, the at least one wax binder, and when present the at least one dispersant are uniformly dispersed throughout a matrix, wherein the matrix is a foam.

The present invention aims to provide a thermoplastic polyester elastomer resin composition suitable for foam molded product which exhibits light weight, excellent rebound resilience and excellent surface smoothness. The present invention provides a thermoplastic polyester elastomer resin composition for counter-pressure foam molding, containing a thermoplastic polyester elastomer and a thickener, wherein the thermoplastic polyester elastomer is prepared by bonding a hard segment and a soft segment, wherein the hard segment consists of polyester constituted from aromatic dicarboxylic acid and aliphatic and/or alicyclic diol as constituting components, wherein the soft segment is at least one member selected from a group consisting of aliphatic polyether, aliphatic polyester and aliphatic polycarbonate, wherein the thermoplastic polyester elastomer has a soft segment content of 25 to 90% by mass, and wherein a content of the thickener is 0.05 to 4.5 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic polyester elastomer. The present invention also provides a foam molded product that includes a continuous phase formed of the thermoplastic polyester elastomer resin composition.

The present invention aims to provide a thermoplastic polyester elastomer resin composition suitable for foam molded product which exhibits light weight, excellent rebound resilience and excellent surface smoothness. The present invention provides a thermoplastic polyester elastomer resin composition for counter-pressure foam molding, containing a thermoplastic polyester elastomer and a thickener, wherein the thermoplastic polyester elastomer is prepared by bonding a hard segment and a soft segment, wherein the hard segment consists of polyester constituted from aromatic dicarboxylic acid and aliphatic and/or alicyclic diol as constituting components, wherein the soft segment is at least one member selected from a group consisting of aliphatic polyether, aliphatic polyester and aliphatic polycarbonate, wherein the thermoplastic polyester elastomer has a soft segment content of 25 to 90% by mass, and wherein a content of the thickener is 0.05 to 4.5 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic polyester elastomer. The present invention also provides a foam molded product that includes a continuous phase formed of the thermoplastic polyester elastomer resin composition.

A method for producing a foamed particle molded article provided with a skin, includes: forming a hollow molded article; filling a hollow part of the hollow molded article with polypropylene-based resin foamed particles; and heating and fusing the particles to each other. A melt elongation at 190° C. of the polypropylene-based resin forming the hollow molded article is 100 m/min or more. A half-crystallization time at 100° C. of the polypropylene-based resin is between 25 to 80 seconds. In heat flux differential scanning calorimetry, a melting peak temperature of the polypropylene-based resin is between 130 to 155° C., a partial heat of fusion at 140° C. or more of the polypropylene-based resin is between 20 to 50 J/g, and a ratio of the partial heat of fusion of the polypropylene-based resin to the total (partial heat of fusion/total heat of fusion) is between 0.2 to 0.8.

A composite foam article is disclosed herein. The composite foam article comprises a surface layer and a base layer with an interface therebetween. The surface layer comprises a high-resiliency polyurethane foam having an impact resilience of greater than about 50% when tested in accordance with ASTM D3574-17, and presents a seating surface. The base layer comprises a viscoelastic polyurethane foam having an impact resilience of less than about 50% when tested in accordance with ASTM D3574-17, and presents a mounting surface opposite the seating surface. The surface layer and the base layer are present in a thickness ratio of from about 17:3 to about 2:3.

The present invention is a manufacturing method for obtaining a molded article having foam layer inside for providing a foaming agent, a device, a mold, a molding machine, a means for increasing the foaming ratio and a means for increasing coating appropriateness used for manufacturing resin having foaming properties. When the resin having compatibility (miscibility) with the resin to be blended is used as a carrier resin used for manufacturing a masterbatch of the foaming agent, the molded article having an excellent outer appearance can be obtained. When the sodium bicarbonate which is an inorganic foaming agent is used for the foaming agent, a sodium carbonate, which is a foam residue remaining in the molded article after the foaming agent is decomposed to generate the foaming gas, reduces the adherability of the coating film. Thus, when the acid cleaning is preliminarily performed to remove the sodium carbonate, the coating appropriateness is satisfied. When performing the GCP, the thickness of the skin layer located at the surface varies depending on the surface temperature of the mold. In general, the means using the heated steam is generally used for increasing the temperature of the mold. In the present invention, the means for heating the magnetic fluid (liquid) by high frequency induction heating is used. Thus, the temperature of the mold can be safely increased at low cost with heating efficiency. When a mold-back or a core-back is performed for obtaining the molded article having high foaming ratio, the resin is separated from the fixed side. The present invention provides the means for solving the above described problem of the separation by using the gas.

Provided is a polyamide resin composition which is used for a foam molded body and has high appearance performance, high load resistance, and high impact resistance. This polyamide resin composition for foam molding contains: 40 to 70 parts by mass of a crystalline polyamide resin (A); 5 to 15 parts by mass of a non-crystalline polyamide resin (B); 15 to 50 parts by mass of an inorganic reinforcing material (C); 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of an elastomer (D); and 0.5 to 15 parts by mass of a copolymer (E) having a functional group that reacts with a terminal group of the polyamide resin. The total amount of the crystalline polyamide resin (A), the non-crystalline polyamide resin (B), the inorganic reinforcing material (C), the elastomer (D), and the copolymer (E) having a functional group that reacts with a terminal group of the polyamide resin is 100 parts by mass.

A wall panel includes a first and second planar skins and a core disposed therebetween. A first and second lateral edge extends between the skins. The second lateral edge comprises a female receiver. The first lateral edge comprises a male extension extending therefrom. The female receiver is formed in the core and has a depth equal to or greater than a length of the male extension. The male extension is formed from the core comprises a first parallel surface extending parallel to and offset from the first planar skin and a second parallel surface extending parallel to and offset from the second planar skin. A first tapered portion comprises a first tapered surface extending at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis from the first parallel surface to a rounded end, and a second tapered surface extending at the angle from the second parallel surface to the rounded end.