Method for treating expandable polymer materials

A method for forming an article, comprising the steps of:

• mixing an expandable polymer resin with a first wettable liquid to form a mixture;
• extruding said mixture to form an extruded article;
• rewetting said extruded article with a second wettable liquid to form a wetted material;
• stretching said wetted material.

A method for forming an article, comprising the steps of:

• mixing an expandable polymer resin with a first wettable liquid to form a mixture;
• extruding said mixture to form an extruded article;
• rewetting said extruded article with a second wettable liquid to form a wetted material;
• stretching said extruded article, after said step of extruding;
• removal of said first wettable liquid before said step of stretching said extruded article;
• and
• stretching said wetted material, after said step of wetting;
• wherein said wetted material is in the shape of a tube and said step of stretching consist of stretching in a radial direction to increase a diameter of said wetted material.

A method for forming an article, comprising the steps of:

• mixing an expandable polymer resin with a first wettable liquid to form a mixture;
• extruding said mixture to form an extruded article;
• stretching said extruded article, after said step of extruding;
• removal of said first wettable liquid before said step of stretching said extruded article;
• rewetting said extruded article with a second wettable liquid to form a wetted material;
• stretching said wetted material, after said step of wetting;
• and
• calendaring said extruded material, after said step of extruding.

A method for forming an article, comprising the steps of:

• mixing an expandable polymer resin with a first wettable liquid to form a mixture;
• extruding said mixture to form an extruded article;
• rewetting said extruded article with a second wettable liquid to form a wetted material;
• stretching said extruded material, after said step of extruding;
• and
• removal of said first wettable liquid before said step of stretching said extruded article;
• applying pressure, after said step of rewetting.

A method for forming an article, comprising the steps of:

• mixing an expandable polymer resin with a first wettable liquid to form a mixture;
• extruding said mixture to form an extruded article;
• calendaring said extruded article;
• removal of said first wettable liquid from said extruded article to form a first dried material;
• stretching said first dried material;
• rewetting said first dried material with a second wettable liquid to form a wetted material;
• applying pressure to said wetted material;
• removal of said second wettable liquid to form a second dried material;
• stretching said second dried material;
• and
• sintering.

A method for forming an article, comprising:

• mixing an expandable polymer resin with a first wettable liquid to form a mixture;
• extruding said mixture to form an extruded article;
• removal of said first wettable liquid from said extruded article after said extruding;
• stretching said extruded article after said removal of said first wettable liquid;
• rewetting said extrudable article with a second wettable liquid to form a wetted material after said stretching of said extruded article;
• and
• stretching said wetted material.

A method for forming an article, comprising the step of:

• mixing an expandable polymer resin witha first wetttable liquid to form a mixture;
• ram extruding siad mixture to an extruded article;
• and
• rewetting said extruded article with a second wettable liquid to form a wetted materil.