Multi-layered foamed polymeric objects having segmented and varying physical properties and related methods

A multi-layer polymeric article of manufacture, comprising:

• a non-laminated multi-layer thermoplastic material object having at least one discrete outer unfoamed skin layer positioned adjacent to a plurality of discrete inner foamed layers,
• wherein the thermoplastic material object has a crystallinity gradient such that:
• the crystallinity of the plurality of discrete inner foamed layers is less than the crystallinity of the at least one discrete outer unfoamed skin layer, and
• the crystallinity of the inner foamed layer closest to the discrete outer unfoamed skin layer is more than the crystallinity of an inner foamed layer disposed further away from the discrete outer unfoamed skin layer,
• wherein the at least one outer unfoamed skin layer and the plurality of inner foamed layers are integral with one another,
• wherein each of the plurality of inner foamed layers has a thickness greater than the thickness of the outer unfoamed skin layer,
• wherein each of the plurality of inner foamed layers is populated with microcellular bubbles of about the same shape, with each layer having an average bubble size that is different than any adjacent layer, and
• wherein the at least one discrete outer unfoamed skin layer has a dielectric constant and each of the plurality of discrete inner foamed layers has a respective dielectric constant, wherein the dielectric constant of each of the outer and inner layers is different than the dielectric constant of each of the other outer and inner layers.

A multi-layer polymeric article of manufacture, comprising:

• a non-laminated multi-layer thermoplastic material object having:
• at least one first outer unfoamed skin layer having a first dielectric constant,
• at least one second discrete inner foamed layer having a second dielectric constant,
• at least one third discrete inner foamed layer having a third dielectric constant, wherein the at least one second discrete inner foamed layer is closer to the at least one first outer unfoamed skin layer than the at least one third discrete inner foamed layer,
• wherein the thermoplastic material object has a crystallinity gradient such that:
• the crystallinity of the at least one second discrete inner-foamed layer is less than the crystallinity of the at least one first outer unfoamed skin layer, and
• the crystallinity of the at least one third discrete inner-foamed layer is less than the crystallinity of the at least one second discrete inner-foamed layer,
• wherein the at least one first outer unfoamed skin layer and the second and third inner foamed layers are integral with one another,
• wherein the second and third inner foamed layers each has a thickness greater than the thickness of the first outer unfoamed skin layer,
• wherein the first dielectric constant is greater than the second dielectric constant, and
• wherein the second dielectric constant is greater than the third dielectric constant.