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US 2019/0292345 A1Published application
Method for producing expanded thermoplastic polymers
AssigneeHuntsman International LLC
InventorsAlexander Rene Klein, Jan Vandenbroeck, Maria Richard, Koen Kemel, Joseph Mark Brennan
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Abstract
An improved process for fabricating expanded thermoplastic polymers (eTP) starting from non-expanded TP is disclosed whereby said process has improved thermal control, uses preferably environmentally friendly foaming gasses, avoids anisotropy and sticking of the eTP during the processing and minimises the duration of the charging step.
Claims15
Method for producing expanded thermoplastic polymeric material, said method comprising at least following steps:
- a) placing a non-expanded thermoplastic polymer material in an autoclave, said autoclave being partly filled with a liquid and wherein the non-expanded thermoplastic polymer material not being in contact with said liquid;
- b) increasing the pressure in the autoclave by introducing at least one gaseous fluid at a temperature within the autoclave below the melting temperature of the non-expanded thermoplastic polymer material;
- c) allowing the non-expanded thermoplastic polymer material to reach a saturation state;
- thereby forming a saturated non-expandable thermoplastic polyurethane material
- d) submerging the saturated non-expandable thermoplastic polyurethane material into the liquid, and then
- e) decreasing the pressure in the autoclave such that the submerged saturated non-expandable thermoplastic polymer material expands to form the expanded thermoplastic polymer material.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.