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US 12,558,825 B2Granted
Mechanical reticulation of polymeric-based closed cell foams
AssigneesLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Texas A&M University System
InventorsJennifer N. Rodriguez, Duncan J. Maitland, Thomas S. Wilson
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Abstract
Polymeric based closed cell foams, such as shape memory polymer foams, contain bubbles. Making these bubbles continuous is called reticulation. Disclosed are embodiments of a device and method to controllably reticulate polymer-based closed cell foams by puncturing the membranes of these polymer-based closed cell foams.
Claims14
A method comprising:
- coupling a polymeric-based closed cell foam to a vibrator, wherein the foam includes:
- (a)(i) first and second cells that share a ring of struts, the ring of struts providing structural support for the first and second cells, and (a)(ii) a membrane directly contacting the ring of struts;
- coupling an array of needles to the foam;
- vibrating the foam with the vibrator;
- in response to vibrating the foam and gravitational forces pulling at least one of the needles down through at least a portion of the foam, (b)(i) contacting the at least one of the needles against at least one of the struts, (b)(ii) decoupling the at least one of the needles from the at least one of the struts and then coupling the at least one of the needles to the membrane, and (b)(iii) puncturing the membrane with the at least one of the needles and then puncturing additional membranes, also included in the foam, with the at least one of the needles.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- coupling a closed cell foam to a vibrator, wherein the foam includes:
- (a)(i) first and second cells that share a strut, and (a)(ii) a membrane directly contacting the strut;
- coupling first and second needles to the foam;
- vibrating the foam with the vibrator;
- in response to vibrating the foam and gravitational forces pulling the first needle through at least a portion of the foam, (b)(i) contacting the first needle against the strut, (b)(ii) decoupling the first needle from the strut and then coupling the first needle to the membrane, and (b)(iii) puncturing the membrane with the first needle and then puncturing additional membranes, also included in the foam, with the first needle to form a contiguous fluid path within the foam.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.