Abstract: Foamed articles are made by causing the cross-linking of a thermosetting in, preferably a polyester resin, concurrently with the production of carbon dioxide by the reaction of a carbonate with an inorganic acid. The carbonate is mixed with the resin and the acid then folded in in a progressively accelerated blending operation, whereupon carbon dioxide is generated to foam the resin, the carbonate, acid and setting time of the resin being selected to obtain an appropriate match between the progress of the foaming operation and the setting of the foam. The foam may be made in a mold coated with resin impregnated glass fibers, the impregnating resin becoming cross-linked with the foam. The impregnating resin may also be cross-linked with a resin gel coat, the glass fibers forming a tough layer between the gel coat and the foam.

Abstract: A porous pipe primarily of rubber and synthetic rubber reclaimed from rubber tires, ground to a relatively small granular size, with metal removed; such as, for example, would pass through a 30-mesh screen, process-mixed through a pipe extruder, with a much smaller binder mix of primarily polyethylene, along with vinyl, ABS binder, and a trace of attaclay. The resulting product is useful as a subsurface irrigation buried pipe, having high structural integrity effectively resisting soil-loading pipe collapse, and it even resists collapse from moderately large rocks in the soil, and yet has a high degree of flexibility along its length. A pipe is provided with cross sectional area of pipe wall more than twice the cross sectional area of the pipe opening.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coaxial cable having greatly improved mechanical and electrical properties derived from a foamed dielectric having a dielectric constant in the range of 1.32 to 1.1, such cable being provided by a novel method of coating a center conductor of the cable with a dielectric with an extruded cellular polyolefin base composition which has been rendered cellular by the direct injection of a blowing agent in a liquid form into the polymer during an extrusion process. Also disclosed is an apparatus and a method of continuous wire electropolishing and pre-coating.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the manufacture of plastic sandwich element in which a first extruder is charged with essential ingredients for productions of foamed cellular plastic at a predetermined temperature. A second extruder is charged with essential ingredients for production of solid plastic at a temperature of at least 25 degrees farenheit from the predetermined temperature. The resulting sandwich is extruded through an extrusion die forming an integral plastic sandwich with the solid plastic layer controlling to a desired extent further foaming of the cellular plastic.

Abstract: A process for preparing permeable membranes which comprises kneading in the molten state two different kinds of thermoplastic synthetic resins which are partly compatible with each other, fabricating the molten mixture into a sheet, film or hollow article, treating the fabricated article with a solvent which is a good solvent for one of the component resins but is a poor solvent for the other to dissolve and remove the former resin, drying the fabricated article, and then stretching it. In place of the resin to be removed by the solvent, rubbers or oligomers having partial compatibility with the resin which remains undissolved can be used.

Abstract: Targets for high energy beams, such as laser beams, produced in laser fusion apparatus are described. The targets are porous spheres of deuterated hydrocarbon material, particularly deuterated polyethylene. The spheres are small and have diameters in the range of 50 to 300 microns. Higher neutron yields are obtained from these targets than from solid targets of similar materials, (viz, spherical targets of much higher density). Methods of fabricating the targets by forming them into solid spheres, cross linking their molecules and causing them to swell such that the resultant targets have a microscopically small sponge-like structure, are also described.

Abstract: A fiber bundle is first formed of entangled fibers by passing fibers through the tapered mole of an extruder, and then the fiber bundle is provided with at least one longitudinal groove which provides an air passage in the final product communication between the ink reservoir and the atmosphere. Subsequently, one end of the fiber bundle with the longitudinal groove is dipped into a liquid urethane prepolymer to form a nib portion by impregnating the dipped portion with the prepolymer. After removal from the liquid prepolymer it is left to stand. During this standing or setting period the reactions among the constituents of the prepolymer and the volatilization of solvent produce a set urethane nib portion having capillary passages therein, and an air passageway where the groove was formed. The fiber bundle thus produced which is called "core portion" of the pen, is machined at its impregnated end to form a nib. Thus, the product consists of a nib material portion and an ink reservoir integral therewith.

Abstract: In a process for rapidly producing a substantially uniform, elongated, cellular thermoplastic article comprising rapidly discharging from a vessel a pressurized gel of a solid thermoplastic amorphous polymer and a gaseous solvent in an amount in the range of from about 25-100% by weight of said polymer, said solvent being capable of forming a flowable gel with the polymer when subjected to superatomospheric pressure, the improvement for shaping the article comprising restraining sufficiently the speed of flow of the gel from the vessel through a die to form the desired shaped article with the gel at ambient temperature in said vessel.

Abstract: Foam blocks are continuously produced on a conveyor belt having lateral boundaries, the application zone for the mixture being adjustable in its inclination, and a feed means for the cover sheet of the conveyor belt being provided before the point at which the mixture is applied.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for producing cigarette filters comprised of a substantially open-cell foamed thermoplastic polypropylene resin wherein a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polypropylene resin, a volatile blowing agent and a nucleating agent is extruded through a die to produce a strand of foamed resin with the strand then being cut into individual filter elements. The improvement comprises employing as a primary nucleating agent from 0.1 to 40 percent by weight, based on the weight of the resin, of a particulate compound of a metal selected from Groups IIA, IIIA or IVA of the Mendeleef periodic table of elements together with from 0.01 to 5.0 percent by weight, based on the weight of the primary nucleating agent, of a synergist consisting of an organic compound having a hydrophobic group and a hydrophilic group. A particularly effective combination is the use of calcium carbonate as the primary nucleating agent and potassium benzoate as the synergist compound.

Abstract: Expanded styrene polymer sheet material is produced by extruding expandable and/or general purpose styrene polymer with a conventional blowing agent, a nucleating system and small amounts of finely divided hydrophilic silicon dioxide and alkaline earth metal oxide. The resulting product has very fine, uniformly sized pores and improved flexibility.

Abstract: Expanded styrene polymer sheet material is produced by extruding expandable and/or general purpose styrene polymer with a conventional blowing agent, a nucleating system and a small amount of finely divided hydrophobic silicon dioxide. The resulting product has very fine, uniformly sized pores and improved flexibility.

Abstract: Method of producing an entrainer for squeezing or dyeing textile fabric webs with the aid of a foulard which includes inserting a spread-out endless textile web into an annular mold both the web and the annular mold having a periphery and a width corresponding to the periphery and width of the entrainer to be formed and thereafter filling the annular mold with a material that hardens to form a sponge; and endless entrainer produced by the foregoing method.

Abstract: A hard foamed material having a small specific gravity and a high mechanical strength is produced by mixing vinyl chloride resin with a large amount of inorganic powdery substances and a solvent, heating and kneading the resulting mixture in a closed kneader at a given temperature, adding a liquefied butane with a solvent thereto, and heating and foaming the resulting mixture in a mold.

Abstract: A method of removing an article from a chamber having a reduced pressure therein by connecting the chamber to a pool of liquid by a barometric leg is disclosed. The method provides a conveyor in said barometric leg and allows said article to float up into engagement with said conveyor so that the force exerted on the article by the conveyor moves the article down into the pool of liquid and out into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing particulate microporous, open-celled polymer structures in a co-rotating twin-screw processor comprising agitating normally solid organic polymer and chlorofluorocarbon in the melt zone of said processor, cooling the resulting solution under agitation in the cooling and milling zone, extruding a snow-like mass from the cooling and milling zone, and then removing the chlorofluorocarbon from the snow-like mass to leave the polymer structures.

Abstract: An energy saving and material conserving method and apparatus are provided for expanding and molding expandable thermoplastic polymer particles. Especially significant is the ability to produce molded objects of generally uniform density in the higher density range in the order of 4-15 pounds per square inch, or greater, as well as lower density molded objects due to improved control of the particle expansion.The particles are partially expanded in a vessel in a heated substantially dry atmosphere and agitated in a manner to provide uniform heating thereof. After an initial heating period to soften and partially expand the particles they are subjected to superatmospheric pressure to substantially prevent further expansion and are discharged and conveyed to a mold for further expansion therein.

Abstract: An expanded polyvinyl chloride foam is prepared by a process characterized by admixing a polyvinyl chloride resin, which is prepared by emulsion copolymerization of a comonomer having an hydroxyl group, or a group capable of producing an hydroxyl group in the molecule under the processing conditions, with a plasticizer, a cross-linking agent, and a chemical blowing agent, introducing the admixture into a mold at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of said resin, and thereafter heating the resulting molded product to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of said resin to effect foam expansion.

Abstract: Improvements in the production of foam form film or sheeting plastic products in order to increase the flexibility characteristics thereof by reducing the size of the voids and increasing the number of voids therein without substantially changing the bulk density, production rate or product size and by reducing the rate at which such foamed products solidify after formation.

Abstract: Polymeric bodies having selected morphological properties are prepared by effecting an apparent increase in the glass transition temperature of the polymer to cause it to become glassy and manipulating the polymer while it is in the glassy state. In the preferred practice of the invention, the apparent increase in the glass transition temperature is a reversible function so that after the morphological properties of the polymer have been developed, the normal glass transition temperature of the polymer may be restored.The process of this invention finds utility in the preparation and formulation of polymers in powdered form; it provides a practical method for the formation of powders in unusual size ranges, which, in turn, makes possible the formation of shaped articles by novel processes; and it provides a simple method for making products, such as open-cell foams and surfaces in relief, that have unique physical characteristics.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of a cellular thermoplastic body, wherein solid thermoplastic material is melted under pressure in an extruder, a gaseous blowing agent is injected into the molten thermoplastic material under pressure and said molten thermoplastic material and gaseous blowing agent is passed to a zone of reduced pressure to effect the cellular expansion of said thermoplastic material by said gaseous blowing agent, and wherein said gaseous blowing agent is metered at sonic velocity at a point upstream of the injection of said gaseous blowing agent into said molten thermoplastic material.

Abstract: Filaments having a substantially increased inner surface, in particular porous filaments of filaments having a cracked, notched or nicked surface of thermoplsatic material are produced by subjecting filaments of thermoplastic material, preferably containing a pore-forming agent, to a heating medium at a temperature at least 100.degree., preferably 150.degree.C.

Abstract: A novel tube or sheet-shaped fluid transmitting porous material containing as a substrate, a polyolefin. Such porous material can be readily produced by subjecting a mixture of a polyolefin, a specific secondary polymer and a decomposition type blowing agent to extrusion moulding. The present porous material has certain unique features in its structure characterized in that there are recurring communications between cell wall openings forming a passage through which a fluid can pass. This porous material has excellent gas and liquid transmitting properties as well as an excellent filtering property and, in addition, is superior in resistance to chemicals and also has mechanical strength. Therefore, the porous material according to this invention is widely applicable in agriculture and industry as well as in the fields of synthetic leather etc.