The present invention relates to an in-mold expanded beads molded article of expanded beads of an olefin thermoplastic elastomer, a cushion for shoe sole, and a method of producing expanded beads provided with through-holes and composed of a block copolymer of a polyethylene block and an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer block, and with respect to the in-mold expanded beads molded article of expanded beads of an olefin thermoplastic elastomer, a voidage of the expanded beads molded article is 5 to 40%; a density of the expanded beads molded article is 30 to 150 g/L; and a flexural modulus of the olefin thermoplastic elastomer that constitutes the expanded beads molded article is 10 to 100 MPa.

The present invention relates to an in-mold expanded beads molded article of expanded beads of an olefin thermoplastic elastomer, a cushion for shoe sole, and a method of producing expanded beads provided with through-holes and composed of a block copolymer of a polyethylene block and an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer block, and with respect to the in-mold expanded beads molded article of expanded beads of an olefin thermoplastic elastomer, a voidage of the expanded beads molded article is 5 to 40%; a density of the expanded beads molded article is 30 to 150 g/L; and a flexural modulus of the olefin thermoplastic elastomer that constitutes the expanded beads molded article is 10 to 100 MPa.

Polymer foams based on polyetherimides (PEIs) fulfill the legal specifications demanded by the aviation industry for aircraft interiors. Specifically, the demands on fire characteristics, stability to media and mechanical properties constitute a great challenge here. According to related art, suitable polymer foams are produced as semi-finished products. Reprocessing to give shaped articles is uneconomic in terms of time and material exploitation, for example by virtue of large amounts of cutting waste. The material is suitable in principle and can be processed to give particle foam mouldings. These mouldings can be produced without reprocessing in short cycle times and, hence, economically. Furthermore, this gives rise to new means of functional integration, for example by direct incorporation of inserts etc. in the foam, and with regard to freedom in terms of design.

Polymer foams based on polyetherimides (PEIs) fulfill the legal specifications demanded by the aviation industry for aircraft interiors. Specifically, the demands on fire characteristics, stability to media and mechanical properties constitute a great challenge here. According to related art, suitable polymer foams are produced as semi-finished products. Reprocessing to give shaped articles is uneconomic in terms of time and material exploitation, for example by virtue of large amounts of cutting waste. The material is suitable in principle and can be processed to give particle foam mouldings. These mouldings can be produced without reprocessing in short cycle times and, hence, economically. Furthermore, this gives rise to new means of functional integration, for example by direct incorporation of inserts etc. in the foam, and with regard to freedom in terms of design.

The present invention relates to a copolymer having polyamide blocks and having polyether blocks (PEBA) which can be used for the manufacture of an article, preferably a foamed article. The invention also relates to expanded particles prepared from said copolymer and to the manufacture of a foamed article from said expanded particles.

The present invention relates to a copolymer having polyamide blocks and having polyether blocks (PEBA) which can be used for the manufacture of an article, preferably a foamed article. The invention also relates to expanded particles prepared from said copolymer and to the manufacture of a foamed article from said expanded particles.

A method for producing a foam-molded shoe component includes the steps of: providing a polymer granulate; pre-treating the polymer granulate including binding to or in the polymer granulate a physical propellant in an autoclave at a first pressure and a first temperature; and foaming the pre-treated polymer granulate including melting the polymer granulate to produce a molten polymer composition, and foaming the molten polymer composition as a result of the expansion of the physical propellant.

A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foam product with high flatness, and a preparation method and a use thereof are provided. The TPU foam product is prepared by processing aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane (ATPU) beads with a melting range of 20° C. to 50° C. and a melting point of 90° C. to 160° C. by a physical gas foaming process to obtain foamed ATPU beads and heating the foamed ATPU beads with a heat source to make the foamed ATPU beads fused. The TPU foam product with high flatness has a density of 0.08 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 and a flatness value of less than 2 mm, and the flatness value is determined by a fixed-length ruler. The TPU foam product not only has high flatness such that diversified designs are allowed for a surface of the product, but also has high resilience.

A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foam product with high flatness, and a preparation method and a use thereof are provided. The TPU foam product is prepared by processing aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane (ATPU) beads with a melting range of 20° C. to 50° C. and a melting point of 90° C. to 160° C. by a physical gas foaming process to obtain foamed ATPU beads and heating the foamed ATPU beads with a heat source to make the foamed ATPU beads fused. The TPU foam product with high flatness has a density of 0.08 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 and a flatness value of less than 2 mm, and the flatness value is determined by a fixed-length ruler. The TPU foam product not only has high flatness such that diversified designs are allowed for a surface of the product, but also has high resilience.

The invention relates to a foaming process using carbon dioxide solution, comprising: put a parison into the carbon dioxide solution for primary foaming, remove and put the parison into the carbon dioxide solution for secondary foaming to get the foam product. Compared with foaming process using high-pressure gas directly, the foaming process using polar liquid system can get a uniform foam structure with high foaming rate faster, and has good foaming effect for high crystalline polymers. To control the change of temperature and pressure after the introduction of carbon dioxide, the impact and penetration of carbon dioxide on the surface of the crosslinked material can be controlled first, and the solubility of carbon dioxide in the polar system can be improved by further increasing pressure and temperature, thereby promoting the formation of uniform foam structure with high foaming rate in the subsequent heat foaming process.