Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming an article comprising closed-cell microfoam from thermoplastic, wherein at least one molten thermoplastic comprising a foaming agent is subjected under pressure to a forming operation and, after the pressure has been at least partially released is cooled, wherein the amount of foaming agent is substantially identical to the amount corresponding to that quantity of gas released by the foaming agent which is comprised by a close-packed structure of the foam cells having a specific foam-cell diameter, substantially uniform throughout the foam, at the pressure prevailing during cool-down.

Abstract: A pipe of thermoplastic polymer, e.g. polyvinylchloride is extruded by an extruder comprising an extrusion die (2) having a moulding end part (2a) with heating elements (11) located about said end part. The wall thickness of the pipe is controlled in order to obtain a pipe of a substantially even wall thickness. For said control the wall thickness of the extruded pipe is measured at 360 points equally distributed over the circumference and moreover the average is determined in eight measuring sectors comprising 45 measuring points per sector. The average of the measuring values of one measuring sector is compared with the circumferential average of the 360 points, the deviation of the desired wall thickness in said one sector being counter balanced by the action of the heating elements. In a preferred embodiment a polyvinylchloride pipe obtained by means of a two screw extruder presents an even wall thickness over the circumference.

Abstract: A pipe of thermoplastic polymer, e.g. polyvinylchloride is extruded by an extruder comprising an extrusion die (2) having a moulding end part (2a) with heating elements (11) located about said end part. The wall thickness of the pipe is controlled in order to obtain a pipe of a substantially even wall thickness. For said control the wall thickness of the extruded pipe is measured at 360 points equally distributed over the circumference and moreover the average is determined in eight measuring sectors comprising 45 measuring points per sector. The average of the measuring values of one measuring sector is compared with the circumferential average of the 360 points, the deviation of the desired wall thickness in said one sector being counter balanced by the action of the heating elements. In a preferred embodiment a polyvinylchloride pipe obtained by means of a two screw extruder presents an even wall thickness over the circumference.

Abstract: An electroweldable socket comprising a conducting wire or gauze near the inner wall of the socket, the socket being manufactured by feeding conducting metal wire or gauze to a transverse extrusion head of an extruder and cutting the pipe extruded from the extruder to a socket length.Conducting wire may be fed to the extrusion head after having been wound to a helical spiral, the helical spiral may also be formed in the extrusion head or supplied accommodated in an outer groove of a thin walled tube having a helically extending outer groove. The wire may also be supplied as a hose assembled from said wires.Gauze is supplied in a pipe form obtained from a strip.The wire may comprise sections of helical spirals of mutally different pitch.Windings or groups of windings may be short-circuited.The socket is provided with connections for connecting to an electrical source if a conducting wire is present.