Abstract: A process for producing a molded article involves providing a thin-walled, gas-permeable shell; filling the shell with a foamed pelletized material composed of a polymer; and welding the foamed pelletized material to obtain the molded article. Molded articles are obtainable or obtained by such a process, and can be used as a footwear sole, part of a footwear sole, a mattress, a seat cushion, an underlay, a grip, a protective film, a component in automobile interiors and exteriors, a gymnastics mat, a body protector, a trim element in automobile construction, a sound insulator, a vibration damper, a cushion, a bicycle saddle, a toy, a tire or part of a tire, a covering for a track and field surface, a covering for a sports hall or a pathway, a damping layer or a damping core in a sandwich element, or a packaging.

Abstract: A process for producing foam particles composed of thermoplastic elastomers having polyamide segments, comprising the steps: (a) production of a suspension of pellets of the thermoplastic elastomer in a suspension medium, (b) addition of a blowing agent, (c) impregnation of the pellets with the blowing agent by heating of the suspension in a pressure vessel to an impregnation temperature IMT at an impregnation pressure IMP, depressurization of the suspension by emptying of the pressure vessel via a depressurization device and work-up of the foam particles obtained, and also foam particles obtainable by the process.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polyamide can be obtained through the reaction of at least the components (i), (ii), and (iii), where a catalyst having a Lewis base component is used in the reaction. Component (i) is a composition containing a polymeric compound having two carboxylic acid moieties; component (ii) is a dicarboxylic acid composition containing at least one dicarboxylic acid; and component (iii) is a diisocyanate composition containing at least one diisocyanate. A process can be used for producing the thermoplastic polyamide and a method for the use thereof. A tandem reactive extruder can be used for the reaction.

Abstract: A process for coating particles of an expanded thermoplastic elastomer involves a1) bringing the particles into contact with a water-based binder, resulting in at least partly coated particles, and a2) drying the coated particles. A process for the preparation of a shaped body involves b) coating the particles of the expanded thermoplastic elastomer, wherein before a2) the particles are brought into the shape of the shaped body, or wherein after a2) the particles are brought into the shape of the shaped body and contacted with a solvent, preferably a water-based solvent, or by subjecting the particles to heat. A shaped body is obtainable by such processes. A water-based binder is useful for the preparation of a shaped body, wherein the shaped body is formed by particles of an expanded thermoplastic elastomer and wherein the particles are at least partly coated with the water-based binder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a thermoplastic polyurethane reacting at least one thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU-1) or a polyurethane mixture comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU-1) with at least one compound (V1) comprising two hydroxyl groups to obtain a mixture (G-a) comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU-2) and the reaction of the mixture (G-a) with a mixture (G-b) comprising an isocyanate composition (ZI) comprising at least one diisocyanate and optionally and a polyol composition (ZP) comprising at least one polyol (P2) to obtain a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU target), wherein the proportion of the employed components (ZI) and (ZP) is matched to the hard segment content of the employed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU-1), (V1) and the hard segment content of the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU target).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a flexible polyurethane foam thermally recyclable by fusion, and to hybrid materials made of flexible polyurethane foam and compact thermoplastic elastomer and/or expanded thermoplastic polyurethane.

Abstract: Coated shaped articles contain at least one shaped article with foamed beads containing at least one polyurethane (A) and at least one coating containing at least one polyurethane (B), wherein polyurethane (A) and polyurethane (B) are each constructed from at least one polyol and at least one polyisocyanate and wherein not less than 50 wt % of the polyol component used for constructing polyurethane (A) and polyurethane (B) is identical and not less than 50 wt % of the at least one polyisocyanate component used for constructing polyurethane (A) and polyurethane (B) is identical. Processes for producing the coated shaped articles and the method of using the coated shaped articles for various applications can be utilized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bead foams made of thermoplastic polyurethane and polystyrene produced moldings, to processes for the production of the bead foams and moldings, and also to the use of the moldings for shoe intermediate soles, shoe insoles, shoe combisoles, or cushioning elements for shoes.

Abstract: A process for welding porous membranes, the process containing i) providing first and second porous membranes; ii) at least partially superimposing the first and second porous membranes to obtain an at least partial superimposition region; iii) welding the first and second porous membranes at least in a portion of the at least one superimposition region at a temperature in the range from 100 to 300° C. to obtain an at least partially welded composite of the first and second porous membranes, wherein the first and second porous membranes are made of at least one thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane elastomer, a polyester elastomer, a polyetherester elastomer, a polyesterester elastomer, a polyamide elastomer, a polyetheramide elastomer, a polystyrene elastomer, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate elastomer, and wherein the first and second porous membranes have pores having an average pore diameter of less than 2000 nm.

Abstract: A composite material contains a nonwoven layer (i) which contains fibers formed from a first thermoplastic elastomer having meshes with a mesh size in the range from 10 to 100 ?m, and a membrane layer (ii) which contains a second thermoplastic elastomer and having a layer thickness of less than 30 ?m. The membrane is either pore-free (ii.1) or is porous and has pores with an average pore diameter of less than 2000 nm (ii.2). The membrane (ii) is at least partially in direct contact with the fibers of the nonwoven layer (i) and covers the mesh openings in the nonwoven layer (i) at least partially. The fibers of the first nonwoven layer (i) and the membrane (ii) in the contact area are at least partly joined to one another in an interlocking manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite comprising (1) a bottom layer comprising expanded thermoplastic elastomer particles; and (2) a surface layer on the bottom layer, and the use of such composites in flooring surfaces sports, sports hall floorings, swimming pool hall floorings, running tracks, sports facilities, playgrounds, kindergartens, park walkway and pavements.

Abstract: A process for producing a molded article involves providing a thin-walled, gas-permeable shell; filling the shell with a foamed pelletized material composed of a polymer; and welding the foamed pelletized material to obtain the molded article. Molded articles are obtainable or obtained by such a process, and can be used as a footwear sole, part of a footwear sole, a mattress, a seat cushion, an underlay, a grip, a protective film, a component in automobile interiors and exteriors, a gymnastics mat, a body protector, a trim element in automobile construction, a sound insulator, a vibration damper, a cushion, a bicycle saddle, a toy, a tire or part of a tire, a covering for a track and field surface, a covering for a sports hall or a pathway, a damping layer or a damping core in a sandwich element, or a packaging.

Abstract: Molded articles contain a foam composed of a thermoplastic elastotner (TPE-1). The foam has a storage modulus (G modulus) at 25° C. and 1 Hz within the range from 0.01 to 0.5 MPa, a molding density within the range from 20 to 400 kg/m3, and a comfort factor of greater than 4. A process produces molded articles of this kind, and the molded article can be used for producing floors, mattresses, seating furniture, bicycle saddles, car seats, motorcycle seats, components of a shoe, shoe inserts, packaging, shock absorbers, protectors, fall protection mats, elastic insulating material, or sealing material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elastic membrane comprising an elastomer having an elongation at break of greater than 150% measured according to DIN 53504, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer (P1) comprises a polyurethane elastomer based on the following components: 11 % to 79% by weight of a mixture of at least one diol (D1) and at least one isocyanate (I1), 21% to 89% by weight of at least one compound (C1) having at least two isocyanate-reactive groups.

Abstract: A composite material contains a nonwoven layer (i) which contains fibers formed from a first thermoplastic elastomer having meshes with a mesh size in the range from 10 to 100 ?m, and a membrane layer (ii) which contains a second thermoplastic elastomer and having a layer thickness of less than 30 ?m. The membrane is either pore-free (ii.1) or is porous and has pores with an average pore diameter of less than 2000 nm (ii.2). The membrane (ii) is at least partially in direct contact with the fibers of the nonwoven layer (i) and covers the mesh openings in the nonwoven layer (i) at least partially. The fibers of the first nonwoven layer (i) and the membrane (ii) in the contact area are at least partly joined to one another in an interlocking manner.

Abstract: A process can be used for producing a thermoplastic polyurethane, where the process at least involves converting at least one isocyanate composition and a polyol composition, to obtain a prepolymer having isocyanate groups, and reacting the resulting prepolymer with at least one chain extender. The at least one isocyanate composition contains an isocyanate selected from naphthylene 1,5-diisocyanate (NDI), diphenylmethane 4,4?-diisocyanate (MDI), p-phenyl diisocyanate (PPDI), o-tolidine diisocyanate (TODI), ethylene diphenyl diisocyanate (EDI), or mixtures thereof. The polyol composition contains a polytetrahydrofuran or a derivative thereof. A thermoplastic polyurethane obtained or obtainable by such a process is useful, and a foamed pellet material can be produced containing such a thermoplastic polyurethane. The foamed pellet material of the invention can be used for production of a molded article.

Abstract: Expandable thermoplastic polyurethane comprising blowing agent, wherein the Shore hardness of the thermoplastic polyurethane is from A 44 to A 84.

Abstract: A foamed pellet material contains a composition (Z1) that contains a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU-1) and at least one plasticizer (W). The composition (Z1) has a Shore hardness within a range from 15 A to 43 A. A process can produce a foamed pellet material of this kind. The foamed pellet material can be used for the production of a molded article.

Abstract: Expandable thermoplastic polyurethane comprising blowing agent, wherein the Shore hardness of the thermoplastic polyurethane is from A 44 to A 84.

Abstract: Expandable thermoplastic polyurethane comprising blowing agent, wherein the Shore hardness of the thermoplastic polyurethane is from A 44 to A 84.