An injection molding method includes providing a molding device including a first mold, a second mold over the first mold and a first mold cavity defined by the first mold and the second mold; injecting a first material into the first mold cavity; forming a first layer from the first material; replacing the second mold by a third mold, injecting a second material into a second mold cavity defined by the first mold and the third mold; and forming a second layer from the second material, wherein the second layer at least partially contacts the first layer. The first material is same as the second material.

The present invention contemplates a method of forming a member comprising injection molding a first layer into a first tool cavity, overmolding a second layer into a second tool cavity selected from the group consisting of an expandable layer, a sealing layer, an acoustic layer, and adhesive layer, a reinforcement layer, a fastening layer, a second carrier layer, and any combination thereof, overmolding a third layer into the second tool cavity selected from the group consisting of an expandable layer, a sealing layer, an acoustic layer, an adhesive layer, a reinforcement layer, a fastening layer, a second carrier layer, and any combination thereof. The first layer, the second layer, and the third layer may be molded in one injection molding tool and the second and third layer may be segregated from one another prior to any overmolding steps.

A process for producing a polymeric article is provided that includes: sequentially filling a female mould (11) with a first, second, and third batches, wherein the first and third batches include first and third polymeric materials (1p, 3p), and the second batch includes a second polymeric material (2p) and a blowing agent (2b), closing the thus filled cavity with a lid (12) to form a mould defining a closed cavity (10c) of constant volume in time, heating the mould (10) to a processing temperature, to melt the first, second, and third polymeric materials (1p-3p) and to expand the second polymer agent by activation of the blowing agent, cooling and removing the lid (12) to open the cavity and extracting the polymeric article. At least the second polymeric material (2p) includes at least 50 wt. % of recycled polymer in the form of shredded flakes.

Mold for processing expandable or expanded plastic particles for producing a multi-component particle foam component, that includes a mold cavity delimited by mold walls, having at least one mold element, which in particular is slide-like or slide-shaped, wherein the at least one mold element is mounted so as to be movable between a first orientation and/or position and at least one further orientation and/or position in which it projects at least in portions into the mold cavity, and wherein the at least one mold element is designed with, or has, a flow channel structure having at least one flow channel which extends inside the mold element and through which a process fluid can flow.

Process for manufacturing an applicator (3) comprising a loading/application part (4), with the succession of steps a/ a mould is provided, b/ thermoplastic elastomer material (M) with a hardness before injection of between 5 Shore A and 70 Shore A and inert gas (G) suitable for a physical foaming process are provided, c/ they are mixed, d/ the mixture is injection-moulded in the mould, e/ after the thermoplastic elastomer material has cooled and physical foaming thereof has been carried out, the filler/application part (4) which has an inner structure (11) with closed cells (11a) and a microporous surface structure (12) is removed, and with the absence of a step of depositing on the microporous surface structure (12) a flock or flock adhesion material.

There is provided a method of manufacturing a sealing member (42). The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a mould having a cavity, a polymer injection port and a gas inlet port (38); (b) injecting a polymer and a blowing agent through the polymer injection port (28) into the cavity of the mould; and (c) introducing gas through the gas inlet port (38) into the cavity of the mould, to form a sealing member (42). The sealing member (42) comprises an internal chamber (44) at least partially bounded by a resiliently deformable enclosing wall formed of the polymer, the enclosing wall including an external surface, the external surface having a form that is determined by the cavity of the mould.

Devices and methods for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer are disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.

The present invention relates to a foamed sintered polymeric material with improved mechanical properties and a process for the preparation thereof comprising the following steps: providing an expandable polymeric material in the form of granules, solubilizing with a time-varying pressure profile said one or more blowing agents in the expandable polymeric material, expanding said granules to form said expanded beads by instantly releasing the pressure or by pressure release and subsequent heating, and sintering together said expanded beads, preferably at a temperature higher than 30° C.

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.

The present invention contemplates a method of forming a member comprising injection molding a first layer into a first tool cavity, overmolding a second layer into a second tool cavity selected from the group consisting of an expandable layer, a sealing layer, an acoustic layer, and adhesive layer, a reinforcement layer, a fastening layer, a second carrier layer, and any combination thereof, overmolding a third layer into the second tool cavity selected from the group consisting of an expandable layer, a sealing layer, an acoustic layer, an adhesive layer, a reinforcement layer, a fastening layer, a second carrier layer, and any combination thereof. The first layer, the second layer, and the third layer may be molded in one injection molding tool and the second and third layer may be segregated from one another prior to any overmolding steps.