A foamed article is made by infusing the article of thermoplastic elastomer with a supercritical fluid, then removing the article from the supercritical fluid and either (i) immersing the article in a heated fluid or (ii) irradiating the article with infrared or microwave radiation.

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.

A resin composition for foam molding uses a supercritical fluid as a foaming agent. The resin composition includes a thermoplastic resin and an inorganic filler, in which a water absorption rate of the inorganic filler in atmospheric air at a temperature of 25 C. and a relative humidity of 50% is 0.05% or more and 2.0% or less, and a content of the inorganic filler with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin composition is 1 part by mass or more and 25 parts by mass or less.

A method of microcellular foam molding an article is provided with, in one embodiment, filling a mold with a polyolefin compound; adding a crosslinking agent to the polyolefin compound to form a crosslinked mold; placing the crosslinked mold in a second mold having vent holes; placing the second mold in a pressure vessel; dissolving gas under high pressure to form a supercritical fluid (SCF) in the pressure vessel; effusing the SCF through the vent holes into the crosslinked mold to form a SCF permeated mold; releasing pressure of the pressure vessel to cause the SCF permeated mold to foam; and finishing a foamed article in the second mold.

Provided is a low-dielectric porous polymer film having a low dielectric constant at high millimeter-wave frequencies and thereby useful as a sheet for a millimeter-wave antenna. The low-dielectric porous polymer film is made of a polymer material and formed with fine pores dispersed therein, wherein the film has a porosity of 60% or more, and the pores have an average pore diameter of 10 m or less.

A liquid crystalline polymer composition for foam molding using a supercritical fluid as a foaming agent. The liquid crystalline polymer composition includes a liquid crystalline polymer and a scale-like inorganic filler, in which a content of the scale-like inorganic filler is 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the liquid crystalline polymer composition.

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 to 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.

Disclosed are a supercritical thermoplastic foam elastomer material and a preparation method and application thereof, belonging to the technical field of foam materials. The supercritical thermoplastic foam elastomer material comprises a thermoplastic elastomer, talc powder, a chain extender and an auxiliary material. According to the invention, a TPU raw material is injection-molded into a shape corresponding to a midsole, and can be directly molded after foaming without being cut. In addition, because the TPU raw material is integrally formed by injection molding, the particles of the popcorn material will not be adhered, and the defect of adhesion between the particles can be ameliorated.

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.

A process for producing a flexible foam includes introducing a masterbatch material into an extruder, the masterbatch material consisting essentially of one or more thermoplastic polymers that are recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, and/or compostable, mixing an inert gas with the masterbatch material, extruding the masterbatch material through the extruder to form a polymer melt, passing the polymer melt through a die to form an extrudate, and allowing the extrudate to expand into a foam.