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US 2026/0175477 A1Published application
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.
Claims3
A system comprising:
- a polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having first and second states;
- first and second cells, included in the SMP foam, which directly contact each other;
- wherein (a)(i) the first and second cells share and directly contact a ring of struts that provide structural support for the first and second cells, (a)(ii) a membrane directly contacts the ring of struts, and (a)(iii) the membrane is partially reticulated but not fully reticulated;
- wherein the partially reticulated membrane includes:
- (b)(i) a void that forms a path configured to allow fluid to flow between the first and second cells, (b)(ii) an interface, between the partially reticulated membrane and the void, which is rough and uneven.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- coupling a polymeric-based closed cell foam to a vibrator, wherein (a)(i) the foam includes first and second cells that share a ring of struts that provide structural support for the first and second cells, and (a)(ii) a membrane directly contacts the ring of struts;
- coupling an array of needles to the foam;
- vibrating the foam with the vibrator;
- in response to vibrating the foam, (b)(i) contacting at least one of the needles against at least one of the struts, (b)(ii) decoupling the at least one needle from the at least one strut and then coupling the at least one needle to the membrane, and (b)(iii) puncturing the membrane with the at least one needle and then puncturing additional membranes, also included in the foam, with the at least one needle to form a contiguous path configured to allow fluid to flow through the reticulated membranes.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a vibrator;
- an array of needles that are superelastic at 75 degrees Fahrenheit;
- a substrate including a plurality of channels configured to receive the array of needles;
- wherein the vibrator, the array of needles, and the substrate are configured to:
- couple a polymeric-based closed cell foam to the vibrator, wherein (a)(i) the foam includes first and second cells that share a ring of struts that provide structural support for the first and second cells, and (a)(ii) a membrane directly contacts the ring of struts;
- couple the array of needles to the foam;
- vibrate the foam with the vibrator;
- in response to vibrating the foam, (b)(i) contact at least one of the needles against at least one of the struts, (b)(ii) decouple the at least one needle from the at least one strut and couple the at least one needle to the membrane, and (b)(iii) puncture the membrane with the at least one needle.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.