Foam compositions and uses thereof

A method of manufacturing a cushioning element for an article of footwear, the method comprising:

• impregnating a molten first thermoplastic composition with a blowing agent comprising a supercritical fluid, wherein the molten first thermoplastic composition comprises a first thermoplastic copolyester elastomer to form an impregnated molten first thermoplastic composition;
• inserting a bladder into a mold cavity, wherein a second thermoplastic composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the bladder;
• injecting the impregnated molten first thermoplastic composition into the mold cavity containing the bladder to form an injected molten first thermoplastic composition;
• in the mold cavity containing the bladder, physically foaming the injected molten first thermoplastic composition into a first foam by expanding the supercritical fluid to nucleate foam cells in the molten first thermoplastic composition, the molten first thermoplastic composition having a foaming temperature during the physically foaming;
• during the physically foaming, contacting the second thermoplastic composition of the at least a portion of the exterior surface of the bladder with the molten first thermoplastic composition;
• while in the mold cavity, solidifying the first foam and forming bonds between the first thermoplastic composition and the second thermoplastic composition where the second thermoplastic composition and the molten first thermoplastic composition came into contact during the physically foaming step to form a solidified and bonded first foam and bladder;
• removing the solidified and bonded first foam and bladder from the mold cavity, forming the cushioning element;
• wherein the first foam of the cushioning element is a physically-foamed thermoplastic multicellular foam.