Reclamation of thermoplastic wastes
OwnerSam W. Rayinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Thermoplastic foam is converted into useful products by simultaneously compressing and agitating particles of the foam. The particles are formed into a substantially unitary mass of hot softened material which can be immediately formed, cast or extruded into useful particles.
Claims9
A method of densifying expanded thermoplastic material without injecting external heat comprising the steps of:
- (a) confining particles of expanded thermoplastic material in a container;
- and
- (b) reducing the volume of said container and simultaneously uniformly agitating said particles until substantially all said particles form a single substantially unitary mass of softened material within said container.
A method of reclaiming thermoplastic material without injecting external heat comprising the step of:
- (a) compressing particles of thermoplastic material while simultaneously uniformly agitating all said thermoplastic material particles until a single substantially unitary mass of hot softened material is formed;
- and
- (b) forming said mass of material into a useful article while said material remains hot and softened.
A method of densifying expanded thermoplastic material without injecting external heat comprising the steps of:
- (a) confining particles of expanded thermoplastic material in a container;
- and
- (b) reducing the volume of said container while simultaneously uniformly agitating substantially all said particles until said thermoplastic material reaches a temperature of about 250.degree. C.
A method of densifying expanded thermoplastic material without injecting external heat comprising the steps of:
- (a) confining particles of expanded thermoplastic material in a cylinder;
- and
- (b) reducing the volume of said cylinder while simultaneously uniformly agitating substantially all said particles by urging one end of said cylinder toward the opposite end of said cylinder and coaxially rotating one end of said cylinder with respect to the remainder of said cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.