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US 2017/0246776 A1Published application
Foaming die and method of use
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJeffrey P. Kalish, James M. Jonza, Brian L. Koster, Bryan C. Feisel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Foam slabs and methods and apparatus, including foaming dies, for making and using foam slabs.
Claims27
A foaming die for extruding a molten foamable composition, comprising,
- a working face comprising a plurality of laterally-aligned die orifices spaced along a lateral axis of the foaming die so as to define a die width and a die height,
- wherein the die orifices each exhibit an elongated shape with a long axis that is oriented at least substantially orthogonal to the lateral axis of the foaming die and that is at least substantially aligned with a height axis of the foaming die,
- wherein the die orifices each exhibit an orifice height to orifice width aspect ratio of at least about 4:1.
(canceled)
4-5. (canceled)
(canceled)
A method of making a unitary foam slab, comprising:
- continuously emitting molten foamable extrudate flowstreams through at least selected die orifices of a plurality of die orifices of a foaming die,
- wherein the die orifices are laterally-aligned and are spaced along a lateral axis of the foaming die so as to define a die width and a die height,
- wherein the die orifices each exhibit an elongated shape with a long axis that is oriented at least substantially orthogonal to the lateral axis of the foaming die and each exhibit an orifice height to orifice width aspect ratio of at least about 4:1;
- and,
- allowing the molten foamable extrudate flowstreams to foam and to coalesce and solidify as a unitary mass so as to form a unitary foam slab with a slab width and a slab thickness.
2 more elements
28-33. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.