A foam article, such as a cushioning element for an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment is provided that comprises a foam component, such as a midsole, having a number of beneficial physical characteristics. The cushioning element is a low-density foamed component with a surface skin that encases the remaining foam volume. The cushioning element has a number of foam volumes, arranged to achieve a more consistent foam component. Additionally, the cushioning element includes a series of concentric ridges extending radially outwardly from injection gate vestige locations, and a number of striation bands near the perimeter of the cushioning element. The location of the gate vestiges can be beneficially arranged to produce intersecting flow boundaries that are located away from key strain areas of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is more environmentally-friendly, requiring less energy to produce while still providing acceptable energy return and low density.

A foam article, such as a cushioning element for an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment is provided that comprises a foam component, such as a midsole, having a number of beneficial physical characteristics. The cushioning element is a low-density foamed component with a surface skin that encases the remaining foam volume. The cushioning element has a number of foam volumes, arranged to achieve a more consistent foam component. Additionally, the cushioning element includes a series of concentric ridges extending radially outwardly from injection gate vestige locations, and a number of striation bands near the perimeter of the cushioning element. The location of the gate vestiges can be beneficially arranged to produce intersecting flow boundaries that are located away from key strain areas of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is more environmentally-friendly, requiring less energy to produce while still providing acceptable energy return and low density.

To provide a new foam molding method and injection molding machine capable of solving variation in a wall thickness and a foamed state, sensor corrosion, a complexity of sensor positioning, and the like. The above-described problem is solved by a foam molding method comprising a resin filling step of filling a mold (2), clamped by a predetermined mold clamping force (Pc), with a resin (R) at a predetermined molding injection pressure (Pi), a filling stopping step of stopping the filling of the resin (R) when, while monitoring a mold gap (Lm) of the mold (2) during the filling, a predetermined mold gap value set in advance is reached, a surface layer curing and filled resin cooling step of curing a surface layer of the resin (R) for a certain time and cooling the filled resin (R) for a certain time after the filling of the resin (R) is stopped, a volume controlling step of controlling a volume increase by reducing the mold clamping force after curing the surface layer of the resin (R) for a certain time, and a taking out step of taking out a foam-molded product by opening the mold (2) after the volume control is performed and after cooling the filled resin (R) for a certain time.

A resin molded article includes: a main body portion having a design face and an opposite face thereto, and having a first foamed layer formed inside the main body portion; a protruding portion that is provided at an edge portion of the main body portion, and that protrudes toward a side opposite from the design face in a thickness direction of the main body portion; and a concavity that is recessed from a surface of the opposite face toward a thickness direction side of the main body portion at a root portion of the protruding portion at the opposite face.

To provide a new foam molding method and injection molding machine capable of solving variation in a wall thickness and a foamed state, sensor corrosion, a complexity of sensor positioning, and the like. The above-described problem is solved by a foam molding method comprising a resin filling step of filling a mold (2), clamped by a predetermined mold clamping force (Pc), with a resin (R) at a predetermined molding injection pressure (Pi), a filling stopping step of stopping the filling of the resin (R) when, while monitoring a mold gap (Lm) of the mold (2) during the filling, a predetermined mold gap value set in advance is reached, a surface layer curing and filled resin cooling step of curing a surface layer of the resin (R) for a certain time and cooling the filled resin (R) for a certain time after the filling of the resin (R) is stopped, a volume controlling step of controlling a volume increase by reducing the mold clamping force after curing the surface layer of the resin (R) for a certain time, and a taking out step of taking out a foam-molded product by opening the mold (2) after the volume control is performed and after cooling the filled resin (R) for a certain time.

A method for producing a foam-molded product by using a plasticizing cylinder, includes: plasticizing and melting the thermoplastic resin to provide the molten resin in a plasticization zone of the plasticizing cylinder; introducing a pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent at a fixed pressure into a starvation zone of the plasticizing cylinder to retain the starvation zone at the fixed pressure; allowing the molten resin to be in the starved state in the starvation zone; bringing the molten resin in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent at the fixed pressure, in the starvation zone in a state in which the starvation zone is retained at the fixed pressure; and molding the molten resin having been brought in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent into the foam-molded product.

A method for producing a foam-molded product by using a plasticizing cylinder, includes: plasticizing and melting the thermoplastic resin to provide the molten resin in a plasticization zone of the plasticizing cylinder; introducing a pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent at a fixed pressure into a starvation zone of the plasticizing cylinder to retain the starvation zone at the fixed pressure; allowing the molten resin to be in the starved state in the starvation zone; bringing the molten resin in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent at the fixed pressure, in the starvation zone in a state in which the starvation zone is retained at the fixed pressure; and molding the molten resin having been brought in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent into the foam-molded product.

A molding tool and method for producing an interior trim part. A cavity is embodied between a first element and a second element, and a slide is displaceably connected to the first element. A decorative layer is arranged on the first element and a backing is arranged on the second element. A foamable mixture is added to the hollow area between the backing and a reverse side of the decorative layer, such that a foam layer fills the hollow area. A distance between the first element and the second element is increased to enlarge the hollow area. During this process, the slide is pressed against a side facing away from the reverse side of the decorative layer, such that the hollow area is sealed with the reverse side of the decorative layer pressed against a lateral surface of the backing and/or against a lateral surface of the second element.

A method for producing a foam-molded product by using a plasticizing cylinder, includes: plasticizing and melting the thermoplastic resin to provide the molten resin in a plasticization zone of the plasticizing cylinder; introducing a pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent at a fixed pressure into a starvation zone of the plasticizing cylinder to retain the starvation zone at the fixed pressure; allowing the molten resin to be in the starved state in the starvation zone; bringing the molten resin in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent at the fixed pressure, in the starvation zone in a state in which the starvation zone is retained at the fixed pressure; and molding the molten resin having been brought in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent into the foam-molded product.

Methods of compression molding polymeric parts for improved impact resistance are provided. The components are particularly suitable for use in a vehicle or an automobile. The compression molded polymeric component comprises a central region or core comprising integrally formed foam, e.g., a foam core, that can sustain high impact load and does not lead to visible surface cracking or material cracking. The polymeric component may be a reinforced plastic composite (FRP). Such methods can produce lightweight, impact resistant, FRP components that may be used in various structural applications, including in automobiles.