Abstract: Integral skin polymethane foams can be produced in a short time by impingement mixing a solution comprising polyols containing as an essential component a polyol derived from aromatic amine, a blowing agent and a special catalyst of tertiary amine salt having a hetero ring in the molecule, with a solution comprising one or more polyisocyanates, followed by injection into a closed mold and foaming and curing therein.

Abstract: A method of improving the physical properties of high density reinforced reaction injection molded microcellular or solid elastomers is disclosed. The method involves placing an inert filler material wholly in the isocyanate component of a two component reaction system where the other component contains predominantly polyol before mixing the components to effect reaction. This modification will result in an improvement in tensile strength and thermal dimensional stability when compared to placing the inert filler material in the polyol component before reaction.

Abstract: The method comprises a masking step of closing by masking tapes a gap formed between a roof rail member provided at the inner periphery of an existing roof panel and the roof panel, a linear joint portion between the roof rail and pillar inner panels, and holes provided for securing parts to the roof rail. The method also includes a step of arranging a wire harness assembly at predetermined position a lining skin member below the roof panel by securing and fitting welts provided around the periphery of the lining skin member to the roof panel. A foaming mold setting step is then carried out by mounting a foaming mold having the same shape as a final shape of the lining skin member from a compartment of the vehicle. A heating step is then performed to preheat the whole ceiling portion to a predetermined temperature and a foaming composition injecting step of injecting a foaming composition into a spaced formed between the roof panel and the lining skin member is carried out.

Abstract: A cushion material and method of making the same, in which a soft polyurethane foam is cut into a slab in a predetermined form; applied to or injected into this polyurethane foam slab at a predetermined portion thereof a bonding agent or forming keeping binder which has a property to be solidified in reaction under certain conditions; said slab is shaped as compressed in a pair of forming dies into a predetermined cubic form, or integrally bonded on a cushion layer constituted by said slab of polyurethane foam another cushion layer made of polyurethane foam chips shaped in a predetermined cubic form by chopping or comminuting soft polyurethane foam scrap into chips, applying a bonding agent to them, and compressing them in a pair of forming dies.

Abstract: A mould and method for the manufacture of a length of plastic tube within which a reinforcing wire coil is embedded, the toothed-belt-like inner side of the tube being covered by a fabric cover, the mould comprising a mould core having axial teeth, tooth notches therebetween and a mould sleeve spaced therearound. The mould core, over which the sleeve-shaped fabric cover is first of all placed, whereupon the wire coil is wound thereon, forms, with the mould sleeve, a mould cavity having the shape of a cylindrical ring, the plastic being introduced axially into the mould cavity from one end. At a face end the mould core has an non-toothed mould core portion which projects axially beyond the end of the teeth and has a holding surface, the diameter of which is reduced down to the diameter of the tooth notches.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for cutting the web remaining from a plastic sheet containing thermoformed articles into strips, loosely indexing and aligning a plurality of thermoformed articles in each strip with article punches, sequentially isolating the articles from each other so that they have complete freedom of movement in both across-machine and machine directions, exactly registering the articles with the article punches in a selected sequence, precisely trimming the articles from the plastic web, and ejecting them from the apparatus.

Abstract: A plastified mass of thermoplastic material containing an expanding agent is extruded and sliced into pieces by shaped cutting edges to produce--on expanding--elements which are shaped in a billowed manner or a double-bubble manner. The billowed elements have an inturned peripheral edge which prevents nesting and interlocking together when used in a shipping container. Similarly, the double bubble elements preclude nesting and interlocking.

Abstract: A process for producing a foamed and molded article of a polypropylene resin, which comprises pressurizing preliminarily-foamed particles of an ethylene/propylene copolymer having a melt index value of from 0.1 to 25, a latent heat of crystallization of not more than 28 cal/g and an ethylene content of from 1 to 30% by weight as a base resin with an inorganic gas or a gaseous mixture of the inorganic gas and a volatile blowing agent thereby to impart an elevated pressure to the inside of said particles, thereafter filling said particles in a mold capable of enclosing the particles but allowing escape of gases therefrom, and then heating said particles to expand them to the configuration of the mold.

Abstract: The installation comprises a rectangular, parallelepipedal, leaktight steam chamber (1) provided with a gate (2) on one of the short sides, inside which a tubular fixed mold (4) of perforated steel plate is attached at a distance from the walls of the chamber, the shape of the mold corresponding to the external shape of the panel to be obtained. A first set of fixed, parallel, perforated metal tubes (5), inside the mold (4), possesses lateral holes (9) for the passage of a second set of perforated or non-perforated metal tubes (10) firmly fixed to a movable external support (11), passing through one of the short walls of the steam chamber (1) and capable of moving perpendicular to the tubes (5) of the first set, passing through the latter. The chamber (1) is provided with inlet valves (13) for the partially expanded synthetic material, an inlet (14) for steam and an inlet (15) for a cooling fluid.

Abstract: Polymeric sheets having on one or both sides a fabric texture and, optionally, a network of elongated channels in the interior of the structural framework of the sheets are disclosed. The sheets are useful as burn coverings where they serve as synthetic, temporary replacements for damaged or missing skin. The sheets have physiologic properties similar to human skin, excellent drapability characteristics, recessed portions which provide a reservoir for wound debris and, in certain embodiments, a dermal surface which permits wound adherence by fibroblastic ingrowth.In one embodiment, laminated sheets in which only one side has a fabric texture are prepared by (1) applying one or more layers of polymer to a support surface, (2) partially embedding a sheet having a fabric texture in the layer of polymer, (3) curing or hardening the polymer to form a composite of the sheet and polymer, and (4) separating the composite from the forming surface.

Abstract: A smooth, plastic-lined corrugated pipe having an intermediate layer of plastic foam. The pipe is made by internally coating a corrugated pipe with a foaming mixture and pressing an expandable cylinder of plastic sheet liner against the foaming mixture until the foam solidifies. An expandable mandrel apparatus presses the plastic sheet liner into position.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring and controlling foam sheet blow-up in a thermoformer oven. Control of the oven operation is achieved through monitoring the measured blow-up of a material which being heated in the thermoformer oven in order to regulate the thickness of the plastic material prior to its conveyance into a molding or forming station.

Abstract: A fishing lure having a minnow-shaped foamed plastic body and a one-piece wire located in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the body. The wire has a nose loop at the forward end of the body, a body loop at the lower mid-section of the body, and a tail loop at the rear end of the body. Treble hooks are connected with rings to the body and tail loops. A generally flat lip projects forwardly and downwardly from the nose section of the body. The body is made with a mold assembly having two plates with a plurality of body cavities and loop grooves for supporting the wire along the longitudinal central plane of each cavity. The mold assembly has a plastic material inlet passage leading to the nose section of each cavity and a vent passage open to the tail sections of each cavity. A gun is used to pressure inject plastic materials into the inlet passage which reacts in the body cavity to form the foamed plastic body.

Abstract: A fibrillated strand is made by a method wherein first a mass of a powder of a high polymer is compressed into a substrate having a density smaller than that of the high polymer and having a multiplicity of gas-filled voids. Then an intense heat beam is played on the substrate to melt the high-polymer powder and simultaneously heat the gas of the voids to explosively enlarge same while the beam and substrate are relatively displaced so that the substrate is melted along a path. The substrate is cooled at least at the path after irradiation by the beam to form a porous strand extending along the path in the substrate. This strand is separated from the substrate and is then at least uniaxially stretched. The beam is a CO.sub.2 TEM.sub.oo -mode laser beam and the method further comprises the step of focussing the laser beam on the substrate. The fused strand of the substrate is cooled so rapidly that it is normally not melted all the way through from top to bottom and from side to side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of expanding styrene beads which comprises expanding said beads in the presence of a surfactant having a HLB value of 3 to 18 and showing a surface resistance less than 10.sup.14 .OMEGA./cm. By the process, blocking of beads is prevented, antistatic effect can be given to the shaped article and saving of steam used in the course of expanding is achieved.

Abstract: A process for making a pile-surfaced product comprises feeding a thermoplastic film and a backing between rollers, the roller which engages the thermoplastic being heated so as to cause the thermoplastic to adhere thereto, and subsequently separating the backing and the thermoplastic from the heated roller so that the thermoplastic is drawn into filaments. The nature of the pile is controlled by hauling off the backing and the thermoplastic over a rod or bar which fixes the point at which the thermoplastic separates from the heated roll, controls the path of the product as it moves away from the heated roll and guides a cooling fluid onto the back of the backing.

Abstract: Molding apparatus 10 or 11 supports a tough, resin ball core 15 in the center of a spherical mold cavity having upper and lower mold parts 12 and 13. Core 15 is about half the diameter of the mold cavity allowing room for foamed resin exterior 16 to form over and around core 15 filling the mold cavity and completing the spherical ball. A pin support 20 formed as a single pin 21 or a pair of identical pins 31 holds core 15 in the center of the mold cavity and is withdrawn after the ball is molded. The pin support is arranged at the mold parting plane and extends through the parts to the mold exterior thus providing full support and accurate location of the core within the mold cavity. A coupling element on pin support 20 is formed as a hook 28 or other engageable element outside the mold and is used for placing the core in the mold and also for supporting the ball for curing after molding.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing sheet-like material having a thermoplastic pile surface includes a cylindrical roll having a heated surface, a feed arrangement for feeding a foundation layer and a thermoplastic material to the heated surface of the roll with the thermoplastic material located between and in contact with the surface and the foundation layer and a withdrawing arrangement for withdrawing the foundation layer and thermoplastic material from the heated surface in a manner such that the thermoplastic material is drawn into filaments which are attached to the foundation layer. In one embodiment the laminate is withdrawn from the roll over a tube or bar and a jet is provided for directing a jet of cooling fluid from the back of the foundation layer into the area where the filaments are formed. In another embodiment the laminate is withdrawn from the roll over a rod or bar which is inter-related with a front jet so that cooling fluid is deflected into the space between the bar and the roll.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entraining gas as a blowing agent in a thermoplastic melt to provide a foamed thermoplastic extrudate wherein an annular sheet-like flow of gas under pressure is impinged on a tubular configuration of melt to entrain the gas in the melt is disclosed. Also disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for controlling the pressure in the thermoplastic melt.

Abstract: A process for producing injection molded articles of foamed thermoplastic material via injecting of a molten mass of thermoplastic material containing a foaming agent into a mold cavity is improved so as to substantially reduce production time by the utilization of a step introducing a cold compressed gas into the mold cavity internally of the injected mass of material, while it is still at least internally molten. The article produced by the process is characterized by an outer skin of tightly structured material surrounding a body of microcellular foam material having an internal void or voids bounded by material of a tightly structured nature.