A method for preparing a polymer mould-free stereostructure foamed product from supercritical fluid, containing a supercritical fluid delivery system, a stereoscopic foaming system and a preheating system, and has the following steps: performing pressure molding on a polymer material to obtain a foaming preform, then preheating the foaming preform in the preheating system, delivering the foaming preform to the stereoscopic foaming system after a temperature rises to a preheating temperature, introducing the supercritical fluid, and decompressing after the supercritical fluid is swelled and diffused to the polymer. The polymer is swelled using high-temperature medium-pressure supercritical fluid by utilizing a one-step method in a stereoscopic foaming tank and then subjected to free mould-free stereoscopic pressure-relief foam molding, so as to obtain a polymer microcellular foamed product with controllable product shape, size precision, pore fineness and product density.

The invention relates to a non-cross-linked copolymer foam with polyamide blocks and polyether blocks, wherein: the polyamide blocks of the copolymer have an average molar mass of from 200 to 1,500 g/mol; the polyether blocks of the copolymer have an average molar mass of from 800 to 2,500 g/mol; and the weight ratio of the polyamide blocks to the polyether blocks of the copolymer is from 0.1 to 0.9. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing said foam and items manufactured from said foam.

The present invention is directed to compositions comprising polylactone melt, extrudate, and processes for producing a foam. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the processes comprise: heating a polylactone composition containing a biobased polylactone in a reaction vessel; and subjecting the polylactone composition to molding to give a foamed structure.

Embodiments herein described provide devices for identifying and collecting rare cells or cells which occur at low frequency in the body of a subject, such as, antigen-specific cells or disease-specific cells. More specifically, the devices are useful for trapping immune cells and the devices contain a physiologically-compatible porous polymer scaffold, a plurality of antigens, and an immune cell-recruiting agent, wherein the plurality of antigens and the immune cell recruiting agent attract and trap the immune cell in the device. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and packages containing such devices. Additional embodiments relate to methods for making the devices, compositions, and kits/packages. Further embodiments relate to methods for using the devices, compositions, and/or kits in the diagnosis or therapy of diseases such as autoimmune diseases or cancers.

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 refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

A molded foam that can be easily taken out of split mold blocks is provided. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a molded foam is obtained by clamping, with split mold blocks, foamed resin obtained by melting and kneading a polyethylene-based resin, wherein the molded foam has a MFR (190° C., g/10 min) of less than 0.8, or the polyethylene-based resin has a MFR (190° C., g/10 min) of not more than 1.0.

Provided are insulative apparatus and methods of forming insulative apparatus. As an example, a method of forming an insulative apparatus can include connecting a barrier material to a mold; injecting a polyurethane foam composition into the mold, wherein the polyurethane foam composition includes a polyol, an isocyanate, and supercritical carbon dioxide; curing the polyurethane foam composition to form a polyurethane foam and applying a vacuum to the mold to provide a pressure from 1 millibar to 500 millibar.

A variety of foams and foam components are provided, including foam components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment. The articles include a composition having a foam structure, wherein the composition includes a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer comprising: (a) a plurality of first segments, each first segment derived from a dihydroxy-terminated polydiol; (b) a plurality of second segments, each second segment derived from a diol; and (c) a plurality of third segments, each third segment derived from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including at least one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by extrusion or injection molding to foam the polymeric composition, or extrusion or injection molding to foam the polymeric composition followed by compression molding of the foam.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment including a foam are provided. The foam portion of the components and articles include a composition which includes a thermoplastic copolyester, the composition having a foam structure. A polymer layer is provided on at least on surface of the foam portion. The polymer layer can control or reduce the water uptake of the foam portion. Methods of making the compositions, foams, and components are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding, or injection molding followed by compression molding.