Abstract: A process for preparing a polyurethane foam handle having a woodgrain finish is disclosed, which comprises injecting a composition comprising a polyol, a polyisocyanate, a crosslinking agent, a catalyst, a foam stabilizer and a blowing agent into a mold having a shape of a handle, blowing and curing the composition and applying a woodgrain finish coating on the formed handle. In this process, a polyol comprising 50 to 100 parts by weight of a polyether polyol having at least two OH groups in the molecule and having a molecular weight of 1,000 to 10,000 and 0 to 50 parts by weight of a polymer polyol having a hydroxyl number of 20 to 50, which is formed by graft-polymerizing a vinyl compound onto a polyether polyol, is used as the polyol, and 10 to 30 parts by weight of a polyol having 2 to 4 OH groups in the molecule and having a hydroxyl number of 800 to 2,000 is used as the crosslinking agent.

Abstract: A building construction element such as insulative siding is disclosed having an outer skin with an inner surface on which a plurality of individual, spaced-apart, arcuate-shaped projections are cut or gouged from the inner surface by a cutting tool means. A low density polymetric foam material is disposed over the inner surface so as to completely surround each arcuate projection to thereby securely lock the skin to the foam material after it sets.

Abstract: A porous sheet having a good softness and being excellent in moisture permeability, water resistance and mechanical strength characteristics such as tensile strength and tear strength is obtained by forming into a sheet a composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin resin, 50 to 400 parts by weight of a filler and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a silicone oil, and drawing the sheet.

Abstract: Novel porous fibers and filaments are prepared from normally solid, thermoplastic, orientable, organic polymers which have reactive or reactable groups pendent from the polymer chain, employing a process which involves reactions of said pendent groups while the polymer is in an oriented condition. One of the preferred polymers is a copolymer of ethylene/acrylic acid.

Abstract: Semipermeable membranes with improved permeation flux are prepared by contacting a glassy polymer in the form of a hollow fiber or film with a solvent in which the polymer swells at conditions which permit the swelling solvent to diffuse into the glassy polymer and then stretching the swollen polymer in an amount sufficient to cause visible stress whitening.

Abstract: A method for making a foamed article having a laminated structure comprises providing a mold having a cavity therein and a rib vertically mounted from a bottom of the cavity and having a predetermined height to establish at least two blocks on the bottom, and pouring a foamable liquid compositions into the respective blocks in amounts which permit one of the foamable liquid composition to cover the other foamable liquid composition upon foaming whereby the resulting foam has a laminated structure whose boundary between the foamed layers made of the respective foamable liquid compositions is smooth and agreeable to the touch.

Abstract: A process for preparing a microporous membrane, which comprises casting the membrane from a solution comprising a mixture of at least one pore-forming polymer and at least one film-forming polymer, and a solvent for the mixture of polymers, wherein the at least one pore-forming polymer is one which if cast alone would contract to form either large pores or a non-uniform distribution of material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for foam molding packaging using a staged vacuum system to place a plastic sheet used as a release agent in conformity with the surface of the mold is provided. A mold having a complex image divides the mold image into separate and distinct sections. A plastic sheet is placed loosely over the mold in covering relation to the image and a vacuum is drawn on the surfaces of the separate and distinct sections of the mold image in a staged sequence to cause the plastic sheet to conform to the surfaces of the mold image on the mold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of foam molding packaging using a positive vertical mold is provided in which a vertical mold with sides having channeled vertical flap areas is automatically covered with a plastic sheet. Brushes, assisted by a vacuum assure the plastic sheet conforms to the mold including the flap areas. An open-ended carton having upper and lower flaps is placed over the mold so that the lower flaps are disposed vertically and cover the vertical flap areas. Foam precursors are dispensed into the carton and its top sealed to allow foaming within the carton. The carton is then removed from the mold with the foam cushioning fully formed therein including the carton flaps which cover the top of the article to be packaged therein.

Abstract: Forming method of producing thin-walled finished articles such as cups of expanded resin including steps of: heating beads of expandable thermoplastic resin in a mold cavity of a preforming mold, causing the beads to be expanded and fused together to produce a preformed article; transferring the preformed article as pressurized in an atmosphere under pressure to a finish-forming mold; and compressively forming the preformed article with the finish-forming mold.

Abstract: A method for obtaining expanded polystyrene products comprising portions of comparatively very different densities and thus of different mechanical strengths, in which a first mass of pre-expanded polystyrene beads of greater density is caused to partially cohere by means of steam, the resultant mass is placed in a mould of greater dimensions, said mould is completely filled with polystyrene beads of density less than the preceding, and cohesion is completed therein.

Abstract: An improved window gasket assembly and the apparatus and associated method for reaction injection molding such as assemblies, as well as other molded articles, are disclosed. The gasket is preferably integrally molded from an elastomeric material such as urethane onto a substantially transparent window panel. The gasket and window assembly can then be mounted and secured directly to vehicle body panel opening, for example, with adhesives, thereby eliminating the need for discrete mechanical fasteners. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an improved aftermixer and gating apparatus includes a mixing body in which a flowable multi-constituent molding material is separated into a number of generally serpentine mixing passageways and reunited in a common mixing cavity before being conveyed through a fan-gate passageway to the mold cavity.

Abstract: A method of forming foamed fibers which comprises the steps of forming a melt of a polymer of fiber-forming molecular weight in which is admixed a blowing agent, and a closed-cell-forming additive, extruding said melt through a spinnerette, quenching said melt downstream of said spinnerette under conditions at which bubbles form in said melt, and drawing said melt as it is quenched to produce a foamed fiber having fine bubbles contained therein is disclosed. The product fibers may contain substantially only closed-cells and/or substantially uniform cross sectional area cells.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for waterproofing and gastightening a cable or tube passage (9) in a wall (11) or the like, using a foamable synthetic resin (8). A box-shaped or cover-shaped element, e.g. a cap (1, 2) is attached to one side of the wall, after which through an opening in cap (1, 2) the foamable resin (8) is supplied therein and the opening is stopped. The cap (1, 2) may consist of two parts (1, 2) and the two parts may be provided with rupturable closures or closable openings.

Abstract: A precast composite plastic reinforcement insert, method of making the reinforcement insert and method of reinforcing a structural member. The insert includes pellets which are formed of a mixture of a thermosetting polymeric resin and a blowing agent. Polymeric resins disclosed include a one-part epoxy with a thermal curing system or a thermoplastic polyester resin. The pellets in one embodiment are retained within a matrix of expanded polystyrene and in combination form the insert. The insert is formed in a mold cavity which receives the pellets and unexpanded polystyrene which is expanded during the process by heating the same within the mold cavity. The insert is used to reinforce a structural member by placing it in the structural member prior to a thermal paint curing operation.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic powder is, together with a binder, processed to a granulate. This granulate is mixed with a pearl polymer to a mixture. The mixture is pressed to a suitable shape, and then in a first firing step the binder and the pearl polymer are fired out. Preferably the first firing process is followed by a second firing step for sintering. Thereafter mechanical fabrication may take place, to give the end product its shape. The firing out of the pearl polymer results in a porous piezoelectric ceramic, with which, when used in an ultrasonic transducer, a high transducer effectiveness, sharp ultrasonic pulses with little edge radiation as well as a good electric and acoustic adaptation can be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding of plastic products in which a softened plastic material is extruded from an extruder in the shape of belts or rods, the extruded material is introduced onto a main molding roll having an outer surface with a contour of the piece to be molded and the plastic material is formed into a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the main molding roll by utilizing the fluidity of the plastic material, followed by rapid cooling, to produce a plastic product having a curved shape.

Abstract: A molded structural panel with substantially parallel major surfaces includes integrally formed thin thermosetting resin high density outer sections. Less dense thermosetting resin foam intermediate sections extend inwardly from the outer sections with the density of the intermediate sections decreasing substantially uniformly with increased spacing from the outer sections. A thin thermosetting resin high density central section is located between the intermediate sections. The high density outer sections are in a stressed state from the pressure of the foam intermediate sections thereon. Also, a method for molding the panel.Rotational molding apparatus includes a chemical supplying portion, a chemical mixing portion, a mold portion, a mold supporting portion, a mixture delivery portion and a control portion. The chemical mixing portion includes a tubular member disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation with a plurality of spaced angled deflector sections.

Abstract: A foamed thermoplastic article having an integral outer unfoamed skin layer is formed from a mixture of thermoplastic resin containing a blowing agent by removing at least a portion of the blowing agent in the die of the extruder. The blowing agent is removed, e.g., by modifying the die so that it incorporates a porous section whcih allows the blowing agent to be removed from the mixture.

Abstract: The invention is a process for making a high surface area, self-supporting catalyst suitable for use as an acid catalyst comprising:(a) at least partially polymerizing a perfluorinated monomer containing ion exchange groups convertible to an acid or salt form in a medium containing a gas-forming ingredient(s) which is present during polymerization and serves a polymerization enhancement purpose during polymerization; wherein the said gas-forming ingredient(s) is a material that will convert into a gaseous state and expand when heated; and(b) heating the polymer to a temperature sufficient to soften the polymer and sufficient to convert at least a portion of the gas-forming ingredient(s) into a gaseous state while the polymer is still in contact with at least a portion of the gas-forming ingredient(s), thereby converting the gas-forming ingredient(s) into a gas which expands the polymer and causes the formation of open and closed pores within the polymer.