Abstract: By providing a plurality of elongated, independent members and securely integrally affixing said members to each other by adhering or welding, a unique panel and/or block construction is attained having any desired size or shape needed for a particular application. Preferably, the independent, elongated members comprise a synthetic resin foam material formed in any desired cross-sectional shape. In one embodiment, the solid elongated, independent members are alternatingly affixed to hollow, elongated independent members in order to attain a panel and/or block having different resiliency and flexibility characteristics. This invention also incorporates a unique method for manufacturing the panels and/or blocks in a single, continuous process whereby all of the elongated members forming the panel and/or block are simultaneously welded together.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for continuously sheathing solid or hollow profiles (1), especially tubes, with an extruded foam jacket (3) of thermoplastic synthetic resin is provided. To this end a foam jacket is extruded, slit open, and into the slit foam jacket (3) the solid or hollow profile (1) to be sheathed is continuously coaxially introduced at synchronous speed. The slit foam jacket is closed by welding after the introduction. The process steps of slitting the foam jacket, introducing the profile to be sheathed into the foam jacket, and closing the foam jacket (3) by welding are to be carried out at temperatures of the foam jacket above the glass transition temperature of the synthetic resin material of the foam jacket. After the slit in the foam jacket (3) has been closed by welding, the jacket cools down and snugly shrinks onto the profile to be sheathed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, novel foam panels and blocks are provided which are produced by welding and/or adhering foam tubes to one another. The foam panels are used particularly as insulating and/or drainage panels, and the foam blocks are used for the production of super lightweight panels the cavities of which are optionally filled with gypsum, cement, or other material. Composite structures made therefrom exhibit excellent sound-absorbent properties.Moreover, the invention provides a process and an apparatus for welding foamed synthetic resin tubes to one another and/or to other foam materials. The synthetic resin surfaces to be welded together are guided by way of a spacer means at a distance past an electrically heated heat source to form a heating channel where the surfaces are melted and pressed together thereafter. The process and the apparatus are suited especially well for welding foams of non-crosslinked low-density polyethylenes.

Abstract: An air-borne and footstep noise insulating panel of synthetic resin foam is provided for floating floor pavements or floating wooden floors, said panel having in the interior thereof a multiplicity of voids extending normal or obliquely from one panel edge to the opposite panel edge. The panel preferably consists of a flexible closed-cell synthetic resin foam having a volume weight of 15 to 25 kg/m.sup.3, especially less than 20 kg/m.sup.3, having a cell diameter of less than 0.3 mm, and exhibiting good elastic recovery. The insulating panel has a dynamic stiffness, measured according to DIN 52214, of 1 to 13 MN/m.sup.3 and also possesses the required properties regarding long-term, burning, and insulating behavior.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of moulded bodies such as cornices from foam plastics material, the visible side of these bodies being heavily textured or profiled, smooth, non-porous and free from separation elements, with a unit weight of less than 200 kg/m.sup.3. In the method, a thin, elastic, heat-deformable film (3) is inserted between two heated mould portions (1, 2) in such a way that the film edges are clamped between the superimposed mould edges of the two mould portions (1, 2), a reactive, heat emitting, foaming plastics mixture is introduced through the upper mould portion (1) in such a way that it may be distributed on the film, and the hollow chamber formed between the film and the lower mould portion is evacuated during foaming, such that the film intimately conforms to the shape of the lower mould portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of continuously extruding thermoplastic material with a solid, hollow or open cross-section, in which a liquid medium is continuously applied to the surface of the material being extruded before it leaves a nozzle which shapes the cross-section of the extruded material to the desired profile, and the surface of the material being extruded is also roughened, either before, simultaneously with or immediately after the application of the liquid medium, but before the material leaves the nozzle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of continuously extruding thermoplastic material with a solid, hollow or open cross-section, in which a liquid medium is continuously applied to the surface of the material being extruded before it leaves a nozzle which shapes the cross-section of the extruded material to the desired profile, and the surface of the material being extruded is also roughened, either before, simultaneously with or immediately after the application of the liquid medium, but before the material leaves the nozzle.