Disclosed is a method for molding a foamed article, such as a midsole or outsole for footwear, in which first water, then a desired amount of thermoplastic polyurethane foam beads are placed in a compression mold in the shape of the article and the mold is brought to a peak temperature of from about 130° C. to about 180° C. over a period of from about 300 to about 1500 seconds, then cooled to from about 5° C. to about 80° C. over a period of from about 300 to about 1500 seconds within about 30 seconds after the peak temperature is reached. The foamed article made by the method has a density of from about 0.1 to about 0.45 g/cm.sup.3.

A thermal barrier coating includes a highly porous layer and a dense layer. The highly porous layer is formed on a heat-resistant base, is made of ceramic, has pores, has a layer thickness of equal to or larger than 0.3 mm and equal to or smaller than 1.0 mm, and has a pore ratio of equal to or higher than 1 vol % and equal to or lower than 30 vol %. The dense layer is formed on the highly porous layer, is made of ceramic, has a pore ratio of equal to or lower than 0.9 vol % that is equal to or lower than the pore ratio of the highly porous layer, and has a layer thickness of equal to or smaller than 0.05 mm.

The present invention provides a void-containing heat-shrinkable polyester film which has satisfactory shrinkage finishing properties and printability even if productivity is improved. The void-containing heat-shrinkable polyester film is a multilayer structure having a non-foamed layer on both outer sides of the foamed layer, and by controlling the film thickness, density, and number of moles of the amorphous component on both outer sides, specific heat shrinkage characteristics and gloss can be improved.

The present invention provides a void-containing heat-shrinkable polyester film which has satisfactory shrinkage finishing properties and printability even if productivity is improved.

The void-containing heat-shrinkable polyester film is a multilayer structure having a non-foamed layer on both outer sides of the foamed layer, and by controlling the film thickness, density, and number of moles of the amorphous component on both outer sides, specific heat shrinkage characteristics and gloss can be improved.

Disclosed is a method for molding a foamed article, such as a midsole or outsole for footwear, in which first water, then a desired amount of thermoplastic polyurethane foam beads are placed in a compression mold in the shape of the article and the mold is brought to a peak temperature of from about 130 C. to about 180 C. over a period of from about 300 to about 1500 seconds, then cooled to from about 5 C. to about 80 C. over a period of from about 300 to about 1500 seconds within about 30 seconds after the peak temperature is reached. The foamed article made by the method has a density of from about 0.1 to about 0.45 g/cm.sup.3.

A thermal barrier coating includes a highly porous layer and a dense layer. The highly porous layer is formed on a heat-resistant base, is made of ceramic, has pores, has a layer thickness of equal to or larger than 0.3 mm and equal to or smaller than 1.0 mm, and has a pore ratio of equal to or higher than 1 vol % and equal to or lower than 30 vol %. The dense layer is formed on the highly porous layer, is made of ceramic, has a pore ratio of equal to or lower than 0.9 vol % that is equal to or lower than the pore ratio of the highly porous layer, and has a layer thickness of equal to or smaller than 0.05 mm.

Disclosed are bowing agent compositions, foamable compositions, foams, foaming methods and/or foamed articles comprising one or more C2 to C6 fluoroalkenes, more preferably one or more C3 to C5 fluoroalkenes, and even more preferably one or more compounds having Formula I as follows:

XCF.sub.zR.sub.3-z (I)

Where X is a C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.3, C.sub.4, or C.sub.5 unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted radical, each R is independently Cl, F, Br, I or H, and z is 1 to 3, it generally being preferred that the fluoroalkene of the present invention was at least four (4) halogen substituents, at least three of which are F and even more preferably none of which are Br.

A roofing system includes a plurality of insulation boards adapted for overlying a roof deck to form a layer of insulation, and a plurality of cover boards adapted for overlying the layer of insulation. Each of the plurality of insulation boards has opposing planar surfaces and has a facer on at least one planar surface, and each of the plurality of insulation boards includes polyisocyanurate foam having a first polyisocyanurate foam density. Each of the plurality of cover boards has opposing planar surfaces and has a facer on at least one planar surface, and each of the plurality of cover boards includes polyisocyanurate foam having a second polyisocyanurate foam density greater than the first polyisocyanurate foam density. Each of the plurality of cover boards also includes 1% to 25% by weight one or more fillers selected from the group consisting of organic fillers and inorganic fillers

A method includes providing a production line configured for continuous fabrication of polymer or predominantly polymer roofing boards by setting and expansion of precursor materials on a conveyor. A first polymer or predominantly polymer material foam precursor is dispensed to the production line, and allowed to rise and at least partially set to form a foam core layer for an insulation board, the foam core layer for the insulation board having a first density. A second polymer or predominantly polymer material foam precursor is dispensed to the production line and allowed to rise and set to form a core layer for a cover board, the foam core layer for the cover board having a second density greater than the first density. The combined thickness of the foam core layer for the insulation board and the core layer for the cover board is set by constraining the expansion of the combined foam precursors using a downstream forming conveyor disposed above the rising foam precursors.

The invention disclosed herein relates to relates to foamed thermoplastic material objects and articles of manufacture having an internal layered cellular structure, as well as to methods of making the same. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a multi-layer foamed polymeric article of manufacture, comprising: a non-laminated multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet has first and second discrete outer layers sandwiching a plurality of discrete inner foamed layers, and wherein the two outer layers and plurality discrete inner foamed layers are integral with one another. The thermoplastic material may be a semi-crystalline polymer such as, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PLA (polylactide), polyhydroxy acid (PHA), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), or blends thereof. The two outer layers may be unfoamed skin layers having smooth outer surfaces, and the discrete inner foamed layers may be microcellular.