Abstract: A laminate product comprising a foam core having a pair of opposed major surfaces and a cover layer secured with respect to each major surface is described. The cover layer comprises a polymeric substrate having disposed therein a plurality of reinforcing fibrous material. It has been found that it is possible to produce a foam laminate product having improved stiffness if a lower amount of reinforcing material is used for a given amount of polymer substrate. In particular, it has been found possible to provide an improved foam laminate product having a relatively high ratio of stiffness to weight of reinforcing fibrous material. It has been further discovered that the stiffness of the resulting foam laminate product can be increased when the polymer substrate and the reinforcing fibrous material are present in a weight ratio of greater than 2.5. This is believed to be the result of improved encapsulation of the reinforcing fibrous material by the polymer substrate.

Abstract: A laminate product particularly useful in vehicular applications is described. The laminate product comprises a foam core having a first major surface and a second major surface. One or both of the major surfaces comprises a fibrous layer and an adhesive layer adhering the fibrous layer to the foam core. The process for producing the laminate product involves exposing an initial laminate product to infrared radiation. A portion of the adhesive layer between fibers in fibrous layer being ablated. The foam laminate product has improved sound absorption properties and while maintaining desirable strength and stiffness properties. In addition, in certain cases, the peel strength of the fibrous reinforcing layer to the foam core is significantly improved in the present foam laminate product compared to the conventional approaches.

Abstract: A laminate product comprising a foam core having a pair of opposed major surfaces and a cover layer secured with respect to each major surface is described. The cover layer is essentially free of fibreglass and comprises a polymeric substrate having disposed therein a plurality of porous material layers. It has been found that the use of fibreglass as a reinforcing material (and other sheet materials having a tensile modulus of greater than or equal to about 0.5 GPa when measured pursuant to ASTM D 5034) in a foam laminate product can be avoided by using a porous material layer in place of the fibreglass. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the porous material layer has a tensile modulus less than that of fibreglass mat yet can be used to produce a foam laminate product having significantly higher strength properties.

Abstract: A laminate product particularly useful in vehicular applications is described. The laminate product comprises a foam core having a first major surface and a second major surface. One or both of the major surfaces comprises a fibrous layer and an adhesive layer adhering the fibrous layer to the foam core. The process for producing the laminate product involves exposing an initial laminate product to infrared radiation. A portion of the adhesive layer between fibres in fibrous layer being ablated. The foam laminate product has improved sound absorption properties and while maintaining desirable strength and stiffness properties. In addition, in certain cases, the peel strength of the fibrous reinforcing layer to the foam core is significantly improved in the present foam laminate product compared to the conventional approaches.

Abstract: A laminate product comprising a foam core having a pair of opposed major surfaces and a cover layer secured with respect to each major surface is described. The cover layer comprises a polymeric substrate having disposed therein a plurality of reinforcing fibrous material. It has been found that it is possible to produce a foam laminate product having improved stiffness if a lower amount of reinforcing material is used for a given amount of polymer substrate. In particular, it has been found possible to provide an improved foam laminate product having a relatively high ratio of stiffness to weight of reinforcing fibrous material. It has been further discovered that the stiffness of the resulting foam laminate product can be increased when the polymer substrate and the reinforcing fibrous material are present in a weight ratio of greater than 2.5. This is believed to be the result of improved encapsulation of the reinforcing fibrous material by the polymer substrate.

Abstract: A laminate product comprising a foam core having a pair of opposed major surfaces and a cover layer secured with respect to each major surface is described. The cover layer is essentially free of fibreglass and comprises a polymeric substrate having disposed therein a plurality of porous material layers. It has been found that the use of fibreglass as a reinforcing material (and other sheet materials having a tensile modulus of greater than or equal to about 0.5 GPa when measured pursuant to ASTM D 5034) in a foam laminate product can be avoided by using a porous material layer in place of the fibreglass. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the porous material layer has a tensile modulus less than that of fibreglass mat yet can be used to produce a foam laminate product having significantly higher strength properties.

Abstract: An isocyanate-based polymer foam comprising an isocyanate-based polymer foam matrix having disposed therein a particulate material having an enthalpy of endothermic phase transition of at least about 50 J/g. A process for producing the foam is also described. During the process, the particulate material acts as a heat sink and will undergo an endothermic phase change by absorbing a significant portion of the heat of reaction liberated during the process. This improves the safety of the process by lowering the maximum exotherm experienced by the foam and/or improves product properties.

Abstract: An isocyanate-based polymer foam comprising an isocyanate-based polymer foam matrix having disposed therein a particulate material having an enthalpy of endothermic phase transition of at least about 50 J/g. A process for producing the foam is also described. During the process, the particulate material acts as a heat sink and will undergo an endothermic phase change by absorbing a significant portion of the heat of reaction liberated during the process. This improves the safety of the process by lowering the maximum exotherm experienced by the foam and/or improves product properties.

Abstract: An isocyanate-based polymer foam comprising an isocyanate-based polymer foam matrix having disposed therein a particulate material having an enthalpy of endothermic phase transition of at least about 50 J/g. A process for producing the foam is also described. During the process, the particulate material acts as a heat sink and will undergo an endothermic phase change by absorbing a significant portion of the heat of reaction liberated during the process. This improves the safety of the process by lowering the maximum exotherm experienced by the foam and/or improves product properties.

Abstract: An isocyanate-based polymer foam comprising an isocyanate-based polymer foam matrix having disposed therein a particulate material having an enthalpy of endothermic phase transition of at least about 50 J/g. A process for producing the foam is also described. During the process, the particulate material acts as a heat sink and will undergo an endothermic phase change by absorbing a significant portion of the heat of reaction liberated during the process. This improves the safety of the process by lowering the maximum exotherm experienced by the foam and/or improves product properties.