Liquid To Gas Phase Change Patents (Class 264/53)
  • Patent number: 7919538
    Abstract: Polymer foam containing styrene-acrylonitrile and containing one or more infrared attenuating agents achieves surprisingly high dimensional integrity at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Chau V. Vo, Lawrence S. Hood
  • Patent number: 7914698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Barbara Haviland Minor, Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao, Donald Bernard Bivens, Deepak Perti, Mark Steven Baunchalk
  • Patent number: 7914718
    Abstract: Porous ceramic articles may be produced by using a gas as a pore former, where the gas is injected into a ceramic precursor batch material and mixed. Pressure is then applied to mixture such that the gas liquefies. The pressure is maintained during formation of a green body, maintaining the gas in a liquefied state. After formation of the green body, the pressure is removed whereby the gas returns to a gaseous state, creating pores in the green body. The green body may then be fired to produce a porous ceramic article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin Robert Brundage, Robert Leonard Bush, Roger A Rose, Yuxin Tang
  • Publication number: 20110068499
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a foamed polymer sheet comprises: a polymeric material and cells located in the polymeric material. The cells have a size distribution, D90 of greater than or equal to 300 ?m and the sheet has a light transmission of greater than or equal to about 5%. In another embodiment, the cells have an average diameter, as measured along a major axis, of about 1 mm to about 4 mm, and the sheet has a light transmission of greater than or equal to about 5%. In another embodiment, a method of making a foamed polymeric sheet comprises: combining a blowing agent with a polymeric material to form a mixture, nucleating bubbles in the mixture, and cooling the mixture. The mixture is at a sufficient temperature and the cells have a sufficient cell size such that the sheet has a light transmission of greater than or equal to 10%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.
    Inventors: Jonas Erik Borgsten, Rene de Nooijer, Christianus Johannes Jacobus Maas, Eelco van Hamersveld
  • Patent number: 7906037
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Barbara Haviland Minor, Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao
  • Publication number: 20110034580
    Abstract: An article of furniture includes a carbon-negative bio-plastic and a non-hazardous blowing agent for expanding the bio-plastic in a mold to produce the article of furniture having a negative carbon footprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: ATI Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart B. Smith
  • Patent number: 7879253
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Barbara Haviland Minor, Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao
  • Patent number: 7871549
    Abstract: A polymer solution (21) is prepared by dissolving poly-.?.-caprolactone and amphipathic polyacrylamide in an organic solvent. The polymer solution (21) is cast from a casting die (25) onto a casting belt (26) to form a casting film (40). Air (35) from a blowing and suctioning device (34) is sent to the casting film (40) to generate droplets (44). The relative speed of drying air (37) to the moving speed of the casting belt (26) is adjusted at 5 m/min in parallel flow. The water in the drying air (37) is condensed in the casting film (40) to form the droplets (44). The droplets (44) are evaporated after evaporating the organic solvent in the casting film (40), so that a honeycomb-structure film (12) can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Yamazaki, Koju Ito
  • Patent number: 7862740
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Barbara Haviland Minor, Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao
  • Patent number: 7862742
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Barbara Haviland Minor, Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao
  • Patent number: 7862741
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Barbara Haviland Minor, Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao
  • Publication number: 20100267851
    Abstract: A method for forming a fire resistant material is disclosed. The method comprises providing a plurality of expandable beads of a polymeric material. The beads are coated with an exfoliable graphite. The exfoliable graphite is adhe red to the beads with a resin having a solubility parameter of the polymeric material. The beads are thereafter caused or allowed expand and fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: SYNBRA TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventor: David Charles Aslin
  • Publication number: 20100233457
    Abstract: To provide a dustproofing material having superior dustproofness and having such superior flexibility as to fit in a further minute clearance typically of 0.10 to 0.20 mm. Disclosed is a foam dustproofing material which is a dustproofing material including a foam having a thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 mm, in which the foam has a micro cell structure with an average cell diameter of 10 to 65 ?m, has such characteristic properties as to give a load against repulsion of from 0.010 to 0.100 MPa upon compression to a thickness of 0.1 mm, and has an apparent density of 0.01 to 0.050 g/cm3. The foam preferably has a closed cell structure or semi-open/semi-closed cell structure. The foam dustproofing material may further include a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one or both sides of the foam. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is preferably present above the foam through a film layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NITTO DENIKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazumichi Kato, Hiroki Fujii, Itsuhiro Hatanaka, Takio Itou, Shinya Nakano, Junji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7794618
    Abstract: The present invention provides azeotrope-like compositions of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245cb) with either the Z isomer of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene (HFO-1225yeZ) alone or with mixtures of the E and Z isomers of 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene (HFO-1225 yeZ and HFO-1225 yeE) and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, and aerosol propellants, and in process for separating azeotrope-like mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Hang T. Pham, Ryan J. Hulse, Rajiv R. Singh
  • Publication number: 20100133169
    Abstract: A hollow-fiber porous membrane, comprising a hollow fiber-form porous membrane of vinylidene fluoride resin providing: a ratio F (L=200 mm, v=70%)/Pm4 of at least 7×105 (m/day·?m4), wherein the ratio F (L=200 mm, v=70%)/Pm4 denotes a ratio between F (L=200 mm, v=70%) which is a value normalized to a porosity v=70% of a water permeation rate F (100 kPa, L=200 mm) measured at a test length L=200 mm under the conditions of a pressure difference of 100 kPa and a water temperature of 25° C. and a 4-th order value Pm4 of an average pore size Pm. The hollow-fiber porous membrane has an average pore size smaller than before leading to an improved ability of removing fine particles, while suppressing the lowering in water permeability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tada, Takeo Takahashi, Toshiya Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20100097883
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a static mixer in an injection molding process includes the steps: injecting a polymer melt containing a foaming agent into a passage at an injection point at an injection pressure of less than 500 bar; filling the passage with the polymer melt containing a foaming agent; at least partial foaming of the melt containing a foaming agent in the passage, with the ratio of flow path length to height amounting to at least 10. The installation body is made up at least partly of foamed plastic and has a ratio of longitudinal dimension to diameter larger than 1 and a ratio of longitudinal dimension to wall thickness of at least 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventor: Sasan Habibi-Naini
  • Patent number: 7655705
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an open-cell foam, and to a process for producing this open-cell foam by melting a thermoplastic, or a mixture comprising a thermo-plastic, giving a melt, mixing the melt with at least one blowing agent under pressure, and foaming the melt comprising the blowing agent via extrusion into the free atmosphere, the temperature of the melt during the foaming process being greater than the melt temperature at which a closed-cell foam is formed, and/or adding a pulverulent solid, and/or adding a foreign polymer. The present invention further relates to the use of the foam of the invention for sound deadening or for producing materials by sound deadening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dietrich Scherzer, Hanns-Jörg Krautschneider, Franz-Josef Dietzen
  • Publication number: 20100022674
    Abstract: Expandable polystyrenic resin particles having superior resistance to cracking of a molded foam product, having superior retention of blowing agent and maintaining expandability over a long period of time, a production process thereof, and a molded foam product are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: SEKISUI PLASTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuo Morioka, Yasutaka Tsutsui, Hideyasu Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20090321975
    Abstract: The apparatus for the production of foams includes an extrusion device for the plastification of a polymer melt, a heat exchanger for the cooling of the polymer melt, and also a connection piece for the connection of the extrusion apparatus to the heat exchanger. The connection piece contains a metering device for the introduction of a foaming agent into the polymer melt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Christian Schlummer
  • Patent number: 7615170
    Abstract: Injection molding and blow molding systems that include screws having low L:D ratios are provided. The systems are capable of producing microcellular polymeric materials. In some cases, the systems may be formed by retrofitting conventional polymer processing systems. Retrofitting may involve changing (e.g., machining or replacing) existing components of the conventional system, as well as, adding new components to the system. For example, retrofitting generally involves replacing the conventional polymer processing screw with a new screw designed to satisfy conditions needed for processing microcellular materials. In other cases, the systems may be newly manufactured. The retrofitted or newly manufactured systems of the invention are considerably less expensive than newly manufactured microcellular processing systems having higher L:D ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Trexel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingyi Xu, Juan C. Cardona, Levi A. Kishbaugh
  • Publication number: 20090222091
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a porous structure from a first material. The method comprises the acts of mixing the first material with a second material to form a mixture, the first material having a melting point which is lower than the second material, heating the mixture under pressure to a temperature between a melting point of the first material and a melting point of the second material, cooling the molten mixture until it hardens and removing the second material from the first material. The method may also include a subsequent annealing step. There is also described a material suitable for implant, illustratively vertebral or spinal implants, comprising a rigid biocompatible polymer such as PEEK comprising a plurality of interconnected pores. The polymer illustratively has a porosity of between 50% and 85% by volume and in a particular embodiment is able to withstand pressures of up to 20 MPa. The porous PEEK material may also have a minimum thickness in any dimension of one (1) inch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: PPD MEDITECH
    Inventors: Daniel Morrissette, Patrick Croteau
  • Patent number: 7569170
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Barbara Haviland Minor
  • Patent number: 7560498
    Abstract: A process of producing a foamed molding, wherein expanded, substantially non-crosslinked polypropylene-based resin beads are heated in a mold to fuse-bond the beads together into a unitary body. Each of the expanded beads has been surface-modified with an organic peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Sasaki, Akinobu Hira, Keiichi Hashimoto, Hisao Tokoro
  • Patent number: 7556756
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a polyurethane foam molded article from a polyisocyanate compound, a polyol mixture containing polyol, a catalyst and a crosslinking agent, and a blowing agent, said method comprising continuously injecting the polyisocyanate compound, the polyol mixture and the blowing agent into a mold, using a molding machine capable of separately supplying the polyisocyanate compound, the polyol mixture and the blowing agent, while the timing of starting to inject the blowing agent is delayed after the start of injecting the polyisocyanate compound and the polyol mixture. The inventive method produces, in a single stage, a polyurethane foam molded article having the skin or high density portion selectively formed on portions of the molded article actually requiring them, where the proportions of the skin and the high density portion and the foamed core can be varied freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Bayer MaterialScience AG
    Inventors: Masafumi Nakamura, Hiroshi Ikuta, Masaru Suzuki, Hitoshi Maeda
  • Patent number: 7540985
    Abstract: A method of producing a polyurethane molded article is provided, in which one molding machine which can provide distinctly polyisocyanate component(s) and two kinds of polyol components is used, and prior to completion of the feed of a first polyurethane mixture liquid containing a polyisocyanate and a polyol component without a blowing agent into a mold, a second polyurethane mixture liquid containing a polyisocyanate and a second polyol component with a blowing agent is fed into the mold. The method produces, in a single stage, a polyurethane foam molded article having the skin or high density portion selectively formed on portions of the molded article actually requiring them, where the proportions of the skin and the high density portion and the foamed core can be varied freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Bayer MaterialScience AG
    Inventors: Masafumi Nakamura, Masaru Suzuki, Hitoshi Maeda
  • Publication number: 20090134553
    Abstract: A polymer solution (21) is prepared by dissolving poly-.?.-caprolactone and amphipathic polyacrylamide in an organic solvent. The polymer solution (21) is cast from a casting die (25) onto a casting belt (26) to form a casting film (40). Air (35) from a blowing and suctioning device (34) is sent to the casting film (40) to generate droplets (44). The relative speed of drying air (37) to the moving speed of the casting belt (26) is adjusted at 5 m/min in parallel flow. The water in the drying air (37) is condensed in the casting film (40) to form the droplets (44). The droplets (44) are evaporated after evaporating the organic solvent in the casting film (40), so that a honeycomb-structure film (12) can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Yamazaki, Koju Ito
  • Publication number: 20090029143
    Abstract: A method of molding a foam-molded product is provided which includes foam-molding a thermoplastic elastomer composition with a gas or a supercritical fluid, the composition containing 10 to 93 parts by mass of (1) an ethylene/?-olefin copolymer, 3 to 30 parts by mass of (2) a crystalline polyethylene resin, 3 to 30 parts by mass of (3) a hydrogenated block copolymer formed by hydrogenating a specific block copolymer, and 1 to 30 parts by mass (4) an ?-olefin resin having three or more carbon atoms (provided that the total amount of the components (1), (2), (3), and (4) is 100 parts by mass), and having a melt flow rate at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 10 kg of 5 g/10 min or more and a melt tension at a temperature of 210° C. and a take-up speed of 2 m/min of less than 3.0 cN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: JSR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentarou Kanae, Minoru Maeda, Yutaka Abe, Masato Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7479238
    Abstract: Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-chloropropene and methyl formate and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, solvent, and aerosol propellants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Arkema Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Chen, Philippe Bonnet
  • Publication number: 20080311377
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a polyolefin foam having a higher temperature resistance and comprising a polypropylene and/or polyethylene, which process comprises first mixing and melting one or more polyolefins having a melting range, measured by means of differential scanning calorimetry at a heating rate of 10° C./min, within the range of 95 to 170° C. and optionally other polyolefins and/or additives so as to form a homogeneous mixture having a melt temperature within the range of 120 to 160° C., melting said homogeneous mixture in an extruder, mixing said molten mixture with a physical foaming agent and subsequently cooling said mixture so that the molten mixture transfers from the liquid phase into a semi-crystalline phase, and expanding the cooled mixture into a foam. The invention further relates to an insulation foam produced with said process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Emanuel Joseph Herman Marie Van Der Ven, Hendrik Willem Bout, Humphrey Reginald de Bell, Cornelis Henricus Johannes Maas, Gerrit-Jan Baars
  • Patent number: 7442321
    Abstract: Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-chloropropene (HCFO-1233zd) and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (TDCE) and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, solvent, and aerosol propellants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Arkema Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Bin Chen, Philippe Bonnet, Brett Van Horn, Maher Y. Elsheikh
  • Patent number: 7438826
    Abstract: Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-chloropropene (HCFO-1233zd) and methyl acetate and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, solvent, and aerosol propellants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Arkema Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Bin Chen, Philippe Bonnet
  • Patent number: 7438825
    Abstract: Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-chloropropene (HCFO-1233zd) and dimethoxymethane and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, solvent, and aerosol propellants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Arkema Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Bin Chen, Philippe Bonnet
  • Publication number: 20080255241
    Abstract: A method is provided for sterilizing a collagen preparation and for production of self-sterilized, antiseptic collagen preparations. The preparations may be used for producing collagen products, such as sponges, films or gels, especially for medical and/or cosmetic purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Lohmann & Rauscher GMBH & Co KG.
    Inventors: Corneliu Julian Alupei, Marius-Thomas Gorka, Peter Ruth, Christian Rohrer, Helmut Leuprecht
  • Patent number: 7431872
    Abstract: A low-pressure CO2 tank or an air compressor with a refrigerated air dryer is attached to the vent zone of a standard twin-screw extruder. During extrusion, the gas is dissolved in the wood-plastic melt. The CO2 expands which foams the wood-plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: David F. Dostal, Michael P. Wolcott
  • Patent number: 7390446
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of foamed supramolecular polymers characterized in that the foaming of the supramolecular polymer is carried out in the presence of blowing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Huntsman International LLC
    Inventor: Bruno Dejolier
  • Patent number: 7390445
    Abstract: A method of producing a composite sheet having a foam layer of a first polyolefin-based resin and a surface layer of a second polyolefin-based resin provided on at least one side of the foam layer and containing a polymeric antistatic agent. The method includes coextruding through die a first melt containing the first polyolefin-based resin and a physical blowing agent and a second melt containing the second polyolefin-based resin, the polymeric antistatic agent and a volatile plasticizer to obtain the composite sheet. The amount of the polymeric antistatic agent is 4 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the second polyolefin-based resin and the amount of the volatile plasticizer is 5 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of a total amount of the second polyolefin-based resin and the polymeric antistatic agent. The second polyolefin-based resin has a crystallization temperature of Ta [° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Morita, Satoshi Iwasaki, Shinpei Arita
  • Patent number: 7364677
    Abstract: The invention provides in-mold decorated articles and methods to form the articles. The in-mold decorated articles include a polymeric portion having a substrate material adhered to a surface of the polymeric portion. The substrate material may be, for example, a film or a fabric. In some embodiments, the polymeric portion may be a foam and, particularly, a microcellular polymeric material. The articles are formed by injecting a mixture of blowing agent and polymeric material into a mold cavity in which the substrate material is disposed, so that the substrate material is forced against a wall of the mold cavity. The blowing agent, which in certain preferred cases is a supercritical fluid, decreases the viscosity of the polymeric material and, therefore, enables reductions in injection pressures and temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Trexel, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Vadala, Jr., Levi A. Kishbaugh, Kevin J. Levesque, David E. Pierick
  • Patent number: 7361294
    Abstract: Injection molding systems and methods useful for making microcellular foamed materials are provided as well as microcellular articles. Pressure drop rate and shear rate are important features in some embodiments, and the invention provides systems for controlling these parameters in an injection molding system. Another aspect involves an injection molding system including a nucleator that is upstream of a pressurized mold. Another aspect involves an extrusion system with the reciprocating screw for forming a single phase solution of non-nucleated blowing agent and polymeric material. Another aspect involves very thin walled microcellular material and very thin walled polymeric material. Another aspect provides a method for producing high weight reductions in very thin-walled parts with surfaces that have no noticeable differences from non-foamed parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Trexel, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Pierick, Jere R. Anderson, Sung Woon Cha, Liqin Chen, James F. Stevenson, Dana E. Laing
  • Patent number: 7332214
    Abstract: Biodegradable molded articles; a process for producing the same: and compositions for foam molding packed in a packaging film bag to be used in the production. A bowl-type container(10a), which is one of the biodegradable molded articles as described above, consists of a bowl body(11a) comprising starch as the main component and a coating film(12) having at least hydrophobic properties and comprising a biodegradable plastic as the main component which is bonded to the surface of the bowl body(11a). This bowl body(11a) is formed by steam-foaming molding a material to be molded which is in the form of a slurry or a dough containing starch and water. The coating film(12) is closely bonded to the surface of the bowl body(11a) either directly or via an adhesive layer. Compositions for foam molding packed in such packaging film bags can be easily stored and molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Nissei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Ozasa, Akihisa Hashimoto, Rumi Shinohara, Shinji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7329374
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing resin films includes steps of mixing PU resin and hydroxyl compound to become a first-kind first-phase mixture, and of mixing a pigment with a foaming agent to become a second-kind mixture, of injecting the first-kind mixture into a kneading device to get mixed and kneaded to become a first-kind second-phase mixture, of sending the first-kind second-phase mixture into a second kneading device to get a first-kind third-phase mixture, and the second-kind mixture and the first-kind third-phase mixture both sent into a conveyer to get a third-kind mixture, and the final step is to send the third-kind mixture into a coating device for coating the third-kind mixture on a substrate cloth to get a resin film of an original color and fresh brilliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Inventor: Lung-Wen Chou
  • Publication number: 20080012166
    Abstract: In a molding method for producing a molded foamed resin product in which an expandable resin containing a resin material containing a foaming agent is charged into a cavity between a stationary mold half and a movable mold half and core-backing is then performed by setting the movable mold half back from the stationary mold half to extend the cavity to a volume corresponding to the size of the molded foamed resin product, the core-backing speed is controlled to be higher in a latter core-backing term than in a previous core-backing term, thereby providing a good-appearance molded foamed resin product having a skin layer over the entire surrounding surface and a homogeneous foam structure under the skin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Toshiki Miyachi, Mitsuharu Kaneko, Junichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7309459
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions of cyclopentane, and a compound selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, or fluorinated sulfur compounds. Specifically these compounds may be selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethane, hexafluoropropane, pentafluoropropane, tetrafluoropropane, trifluoropropane, difluoropropane, octafluorobutane, hexafluorobutane, pentafluorobutane, nonafluorobutane, difluorobutane, trifluoro-2-methoxyethane and bis(pentafluoroethyl)sulfide. The compositions, which may be azeotropic or azeotrope-like, may be used as refrigerants, cleaning agents, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethanes, aerosol propellants, refrigerants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids, polymerization media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents or displacement drying agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: E. I. duPont deNemours and Company
    Inventor: Barbara Haviland Minor
  • Patent number: 7300612
    Abstract: Prepare a foam structure that includes hollow coalesced foam strands and, optionally, solid coalesced foam strands using an extrusion die block equipped with apertures that promote forming the hollow strands and, optionally, the solid foam strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav D. Grinshpun, Michael E. Schaller, Martin H. Tusim, Andrew R. Brush, Jonathan D. Park
  • Patent number: 7294295
    Abstract: While steam is supplied to flow channels to heat inner cavity surfaces to a temperature equal to or higher than the heat distortion temperature of a molding resin, the resin mixed with a supercritical fluid is injected from an injection molding machine into a mold cavity. When the injection of a predetermined quantity of the resin is completed, the supply of the steam to the flow channels is stopped, and cooling water starts to be supplied to the flow channels. The inner cavity surfaces are thus quickly switched from a heated state to a cooled state, cooling and solidifying the resin into a molded product of good appearance which is free of broken cell marks on its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Ono Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakamoto, Taiko Uno
  • Patent number: 7244380
    Abstract: A process for an extruded resin foam, comprising extruding a foamable composition comprising a melted polystyrene resin and a physical blowing agent through a die to obtain a polystyrene resin foam having a thickness of at least 10 mm and a transverse cross-sectional area of at least 50 cm2, wherein said extrusion is performed so that the ratio Mz/Mn of a Z average molecular weight Mz of the polystyrene resin foam to a number average molecular weight Mn of the polystyrene resin foam, each measured by gel permeation chromatography, is 8.0 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Naochika Kogure, Teruyuki Akiyama, Noritoshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 7222380
    Abstract: SEEPS gel and gel foam molded shape articles for use in medical and sport health care, such use include therapeutic hand exercising grips, dental floss, crutch cushions, cervical pillows, bed wedge pillows, leg rest, cushions, mattress, bed pads, elbow padding, dermal pads, wheelchair cushions, helmet liner, cold and hot packs, exercise weight belts, traction pads and belts, cushions for splints, slings, and braces, cushions for the hand, wrist, finger, fore, knee, leg, clavicle, shoulder, foot, ankle, back, rib, soles for orthopedic shoes, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Elastomerics, Inc.
    Inventor: John Y. Chen
  • Patent number: 7169338
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a foam-molded article by molding between molds a parison with a foam layer formed by extruding an expandable molten resin composition, obtained by melt-kneading a polyethylene resin and a physical foaming agent, to an area of low pressure from a die, wherein the polyethylene resin is selected from those having a melt flow rate of 0.1 to 25 g/10 minutes and a melt tension of not less than 1.5 cN, and wherein the apparent density of the foam layer in the foam-molded article is about 0.04 to 0.3 g/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Imanari, Masayasu Okuda, Naochika Kogure, Masato Naito
  • Patent number: 7169320
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising pentafluoropropane, a second component selected from the group consisting of decafluoropropane, perfluorobutyl methyl ether and combinations of these, and a third component selected from the group consisting of methanol, 1,2-trans-dichloroethylene and combinations of these. The present invention further provides for refrigerants, blowing agents, foam compositions, polyol premixes, closed-cell foams, sprayable compositions, and the like, comprising the present compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Guillermo J. Hitters, Kane D. Cook, Gary M. Knopeck, Hang T. Pham, Ian R. Shankland, Rajiv R. Singh
  • Patent number: 7166248
    Abstract: A method for producing an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam structure that comprises melting at least one alkenyl aromatic polymer resin. An effective amount of blowing agent mixture is dissolved in the at least one alkenyl aromatic polymer. The blowing agent mixture comprises at least one VOC blowing agent and acetone. The majority by mole percent of the VOC blowing agent is selected from n-butane, iso-butane, propane and combinations thereof. An extrudate is formed comprising the at least one alkenyl aromatic polymer resin, the at least one VOC blowing agent, and acetone. The extrudate comprises less than about 2.7 wt. % of the at least one VOC blowing agent. The extrudate is transferred to an expansion zone and permitted to expand to produce the foam structure. The foam structure has an extruded density less than about 7 lbs/ft3 and a basis weight of less than about 20 grams per 100 in2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Francis, Wen P. Wu
  • Patent number: 7166348
    Abstract: Description is made of an open cell polystyrene resin foam having a content of organic volatile matters of less than 100 ppm. The open cell foam is suitable as a core material for a sound insulating material or a vacuum heat insulating material. The open cell foam can be produced by melt-kneading a polystyrene resin having a content of organic volatile matters of 100 ppm or higher together with water in an extruder, sucking out the organic volatile matters as an azeotrope with water through a vent, injecting a blowing agent and kneading the injected mixture, and extruding the mixture into a lower pressure area to cause the resin to foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Naito, Hiroyuki Gokuraku, Daisuke Imanari, Noritoshi Nishiyama