Abstract: A method for spray-coating substrate surfaces, in which (a) a thermoplastically processable material is molten and thus liquefied in an extruder in a first step; (b) the molten material is pressurized by means of a carrier gas or vapor; (c) a mixture formed from said molten material and said carrier gas or vapor is pressed through one or more nozzles, optionally supplying a spraying gas having a temperature at least as high as the melt temperature to the spraying jet in the region of the discharge opening of the nozzle; and (d) the obtained spray jet with the molten material is directed onto the substrate surface, wherein the material impinges in drops in a flowable state onto the substrate surface, forms a continuous coating on the substrate surface, and subsequently solidifies.

Abstract: A method for producing a foamed granulate, wherein a thermoplastic synthetic material is placed in an extruder, the synthetic material is melted, a pressurized expanding agent is fed through one or several injection nozzles, the molten material enriched with the expanding medium is foamed as it exits through a perforated plate arranged at the outlet of the extruder and is granulated by a cutting device arranged behind the perforated plate. Also disclosed is a device for implementing the method and the foamed granulate.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for producing TPE foam profiles, material is heated up in a conveying zone at a temperature of 180.degree.-210.degree. C. and a pressure of 100-200 bar. The melt then passes through a two-stage shear process consisting of two spaced shearing sections separated by a homogenizing section in which the melt and water are intimately mixed, with the melt being exposed to a further homogenizing section in which the melt is intensively mixed and homogenized prior to being extruded through a profile die.

Abstract: A method of producing a foamed thermoplastic plastics material wherein the plastics material is mixed with a pulverulent nucleating agent and is then fused in an extrusion device. A gaseous nucleating agent, generally nitrogen, is then injected into the fused mixture in an amount of from about 0.1% to 0.5% by weight. Thereafter, a liquid propellant is injected into the fused mixture in an amount of from 0.5% to 6.0%, preferably 0.5% to 5.0%, by weight. The mixture is then conveyed to an extrusion head and extruder whereupon foaming occurs.

Abstract: A method of extruding a foamed thermoplastic plastics material wherein the thermoplastic plastics material, together with a pore regulating agent, is introduced into an extruder and is fused. Gaseous nitrogen, in an amount of 0.2% to 0.5% by weight, and an incompletely halo-substituted hydrocarbon, in an amount of from 0.5% to 2% by weight, are sequentially injected into the fused mixture. The injected material then enters an extrusion head in which the mixture is maintained at a pressure in excess of 55 bar and the temperature thereof is maintained above a temperature pre-determined in dependence upon the nature of the plastics material. The material foams as it leaves the extrusion head.