Abstract: A method for the continuous production of foam materials, wherein the foaming and/or foamed synthetic starting material is passed through the pressure zone (4) of a continuously operating press (1), and in which method at least a part of the heat required for foaming is produced in the synthetic starting material itself as dielectric heat of an electromagnetic high-frequency condenser field, wherein production of this heat in the starting material takes place at least to its greatest part within a high-frequency condenser field which is arranged in the direction of passage (8) of the material through the press (1) in front of the pressure zone (4), and that in order to supply additional heat into the foaming and/or foamed starting material or in order to prevent or delay its surface cooling, at least one of the electrodes (10, 11) between which prevails the high-frequency field and/or at least one of the pressure surfaces of the press may be heated.

Abstract: A decorative packaging film comprises a base film of a synthetic polymeric material (an olefinic polymer) containing a highly light absorbent pigment, for example carbon black, and at least one surface layer of a second synthetic polymeric material, which is light transmittable and which contains a solid particulate material, for example calcium carbonate, having a particle size of from 0.1 to 10 microns and present in an amount from 1 to 40% by weight, the combination having been stretched to cause the formation of voids in the surface layer or layers at the sites of the particles of the particulate material. The appearance of the film varies from an intense opalescence to a lustrous metallic appearance.

Abstract: Polymer materials having viscosities ranging from about 50,000 up to above 1,000,000 centipoises are mixed with a gaseous foaming agent to provide a polymer/gas solution under pressure such that when the polymer/gas solution is subsequently dispensed at atmospheric pressure the gas is released from the solution and becomes entrapped in the polymeric material to form a homogeneous polymer foam. Mixing is accomplished by force feeding the gas and polymeric material into and through a low energy input disk mixer with a low pressure drop across the mixer such that premature foaming or reaction of the polymeric material is avoided. The disk mixer includes a tubular housing, one or more driven shafts extending along the length of the housing, and a series of disks spaced along the shafts. The foaming gas enters into solution in the polymer in the compartments between the rotating disks.

Abstract: In the invention, reaction raw-materials composed of a plurality of liquids are sequentially scraped with spiral grooves of one line or more provided in the peripheral face of the rotation shaft rotating within the cylinder wall with the discharge openings being formed therein. The reaction raw-materials are uniformly mixed within the grooves by shearing force or twist force through the rotation of the shaft. The reaction raw-material, if small amount, may be precisely mixed uniformly and is sequentially discharged after the mixing operation. This is suitable for reaction raw-materials which are short in the gelatin condition time from the mixing from the hardening. Some mixtures which are discarded without being used after the mixing may be reduced.

Abstract: A method for applying a high pressure liquid jet or stream to a web of polymeric film while the film is supported on a moving forming structure to produce a novel microbubbled substantially fluid-impervious web exhibiting substantially the same consumer preferred soft and silky tactile impression and reduced noise generation levels heretofore only achievable in microapertured, and hence substantially fluid pervious polymeric webs. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the microbubbled polymeric web exhibits a fine-scale pattern of discrete mushroom shaped surface aberrations, each of said surface aberrations having its amplitude oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface in which the surface aberration originates. Apparatus for producing microbubbled webs either in "planar" or "macroscopically expanded" form are also disclosed.

Abstract: An expansion-molded article of a polypropylene resin is produced by filling pre-foamed particles of the polypropylene resin, which have a crystalline structure featuring an inherent peak inherent to the polypropylene resin and a high-temperature peak on the temperature side higher than the temperature corresponding to the inherent peak on a DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry of the pre-foamed particles and a bulk density of 0.04 g/cm.sup.3 or higher and require melting energy of 8-12 J/g at the high-temperature peak, in a mold without applying any pretreatment to the pre-foamed particles to build up an internal pressure therein, and then heating the pre-foamed particles, whereby the pre-foamed particles are caused to expand into the expansion-molded article conforming with the mold. The pre-foamed particles may alternatively have a bulk density lower than 0.04 g/cm.sup.3 and require melting energy of at least 8 J/g.

Abstract: A process for producing porous ceramics with controlled microstructure. Colloidal suspensions of polymeric microspheres of a selected size and shape, and aluminum oxide particles are consolidated to form a compact. The compact is heated to decompose the microspheres to leave pores, and to sinter the compact, to form a porous ceramic body with a plurality of pores preferably substantially the same size and shape, where the pores are substantially spherical and are evenly distributed and noncontiguous throughout the ceramic matrix and with strength comparable to its dense state.

Abstract: A process for preparing a porous random fiber polymeric composite sheet through the addition of a cellulose ether which is selectively soluble or insoluble to a random fiber composite slurry under conditions such that the cellulose ether is insoluble, forming the slurry into a sheet, fusing the organic polymer component of the sheet and heating the sheet to solubilize the cellulose ether whereby voids are formed in the sheet. Before the sheet is treated to remove the cellulose ether, it may be combined with other sheets and densified under heat and pressure. Before removing the cellulose ether, the densified sheet may be heated under reduced pressure to expand or loft the sheet in a direciton normal to the plane of the sheet. A random fiber polymeric composite sheet, a densified sheet and a lofted sheet, each comprising a binder, fusable organic polymer, reinforcing material and a cellulose ether are also provided. The same sheets after removal of the cellulose ether are further provided.

Abstract: A material for diagnosis by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging is provided. The material comprises a hydrogel having a high water content. The hydrogel is prepared by the steps of casting an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution into a mold, cooling the case aqueous solution to obtain a cooled frozen mass and thawing the cooled frozen mass. The cooling and thawing steps may be repeated up to eight cycles. The hydrogel is also prepared by subjecting the cooled frozen mass to a partial dehydration step in vacuum.

Abstract: A process for producing a microcellular cast resin product, by casting a water-in-oil emulsion of polymerizable components which will gel and partially polymerize by an exothermic reaction, and placing the partially polymerized casting in a fluid medium maintained at a temperature and pressure such that evaporation of water and monomers is inhibited but sufficient to promote complete polymerization while retaining dispersed water within a microcellular structure. The water content of the emulsion can range from about 1% to about 90% by weight, and the microcellular structure may be either the open cell or the closed cell type.

Abstract: Pipes or pipelines for transporting sewage, water, slurries, liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons, and the like are interlined with flexible composite tubular lining material. The lining material is matched to the crosswise dimension of the pipe and is adapted to be insertable thereinto and to fit snugly against the inner wall thereof. The lining material comprises a flexible matrix member having a netlike open-meshed configuration, thereby being adapted to receive into its interstices foamable material adapted to expand outwardly upon foaming, into and about irregularities in the wall surface, and to solidify there. The matrix member preferably is extensible lengthwise, and thus reducible in size crosswise, when under axial tension. When released from axial tension, the matrix member recovers to its previous dimensions, except as it may be confined, as against an inside wall of a pipe or pipeline.

Abstract: A plastic pipe with a hard outer shell lined with an inner shell of soft resilient plastic foam with a smooth central axial passageway adapted to be a conduit for liquid. A method of manufacturing this pipe which comprises simultaneously extruding the material for the outer shell and the foamable material for the inner shell into a pipe forming die.

Abstract: A method for hydraulically deforming a web of polymeric film while the film is supported on a moving forming structure to produce a novel microbubbled substantially fluid-impervious web exhibiting substantially the same consumer preferred soft and silky tactile impression and reduced noise generation levels heretofore only achievable in microapertured, and hence substantially fluid pervious polymeric webs. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the microbubbled polymeric web exhibits a fine-scale pattern of discrete mushroom shaped surface aberrations, each of said surface aberrations having its amplitude oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface in which the surface aberration originates. The method may also be utilized to produce fluid pervious microapertured webs which are known in the art. Apparatus for producing microbubbled and/or microapertured webs either in "planar" or "macroscopically expanded" form are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method for the manufacture of a porous membrane by the steps of causing a polymer solution to flow and spread in a uniform thickness on a substrate and solidifying the formed layer of the polymer solution in a bad solvent, the improvement which comprises using a fluorinated hydrocarbon as the bad solvent and optionally carrying out the removal of a good solvent mingling into the fluorinated hydrocarbon during the course of the solidification by the technique of extraction from water, and repeating the fluorinated hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A process for producing molded articles, especially molded polyurethane foam articles, wherein the mold is treated with an aqueous release agent or a concentrate of one or more release-active substances in organic solvent. The release agent is preheated, e.g. by an atomizer supplied with hot pressurized air, prior to being applied to the mold. The process enables the efficient use of water-base release agents and thus reduces the emission of harmful organic solvents into the atmosphere.

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 thermoplastic 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: In order to compound organic materials which are crystalline under standard conditions, these materials, in the pulverulent and/or molten state, are processed in a self-purging, twin-screw extruder in which the screws rotate in the same direction, ejected through one or more narrow passages into a low pressure zone, cooled and comminuted to give particles. In order to improve the pourability and shelf life, the materials are completely crystallized by the time they reach the end of the screws, and are heated during discharge through the narrow passage, in order to form a melt film. Dust-free granules havig a smooth surface can be produced in this manner.

Abstract: A decorative speaker cover and a method for fabricating a speaker cover for use in a ceiling or wall comprising panels, the speaker cover having an appearance which blends with other panels so that it conceals the presence of a speaker system while providing satisfactory transmission of sound from the speaker system. The decorative speaker cover is fabricated by first forming a mold liner suitable for generating a facsimile of a ceiling or wall panel. Next, the mold liner is placed in a molding container and a closed cell expandable foam system is uniformly spread over the mold liner so that the foam rises vertically. The thickness of the resulting cast is reduced to a dimension below which acoustic transmission loss is not discernable by human ears.

Abstract: The reactive injection molding of a urethane-based resin composition according to the invention is performed by admixing the polyol compound as one of the reactants of the urethane-based resin with a specific organopolysiloxane as an internal mold release agent so that the molding process can be performed without application of an external mold release agent to the metal mold. The organopolysiloxane is characterized by two types of substituent groups bonded to the silicon atoms, of which the first type is --C.sub.x H.sub.2x OR', R' being a monovalent hydrocarbon group of 8 to 30 carbon atoms free from chain end unsaturation and x being 0-4, and the second type is --C.sub.y H.sub.2y (OC.sub.n H.sub.2n).sub.m OH, y being 1-4, n being 2-4 and m being 0-45.

Abstract: Method for obtaining a plastic water-heater body, wherein(1) a plastic shell is used which is intended to form the interior of the water heater and also serves as an internal molding wall, the said shell having at least one orifice,(2) the said shell is positioned inside a mold consisting of two parts, while providing a space between the outside of the shell and the inside of the mold, the mold having an opening,(3) water is introduced into the internal shell via the said orifice,(4) a liquid mixture consisting essentially of a polyester resin composition capable of foaming and polymerizing is cast via the said opening of the mold, by cooling the outside of the mold to a temperature of approximately 10.degree. to 15.degree. C. during casting of the resin, so as to obtain a skin effect on the surface of the foam which comes into contact with the mold during polymerization of the said foam, by controlling the temperature of the expanding and polymerizing resin so that it does not exceed approximately 40.degree.