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US 9,926,423 B2Granted
Low density foam, midsole, footwear, and methods for making low density foam
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorHossein A. Baghdadi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Foamed thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer articles are made with a combination of a supercritical fluid and a non-supercritical fluid blowing agent.
Claims24
A method for making a low density foamed article, comprising:
- combining in an extruder a molten thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer with
- (a) a chemical blowing agent and
- (b) a supercritical fluid,
- to form a mixture, wherein the chemical blowing agent (a) is present in an amount up to about 15 wt % based on total polymer weight in the mixture and the supercritical fluid (b) comprises one of about 0.1 to about 5 weight percent of supercritical CO2 based on the total polymer weight in the mixture or about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent of supercritical N2 based on the total polymer weight in the mixture, and
- injecting the mixture into a mold at an injection pressure of from 110 MPa to about 207 MPa, and molding the mixture to form the low density foamed article, wherein the mold comprises a porous tool;
- wherein the low density foamed article has a density of less than 0.3 g/cm3.
3 more elements
A method for making a low density foamed article, comprising:
- combining in an extruder a molten thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having a solid Shore A hardness of from about 35 A to about 85 A and a melt index of from about 5 to about 100 grams/10 min. as measured according to ASTM D1238 using an 8.7 kg weight and a temperature of 190° C. or from about 180 to about 300 grams/10 min. as measured according to ASTM D1238 using a 21.6 kg weight and a temperature of 200° C. with
- (a) a chemical blowing agent and
- (b) a supercritical fluid
- to form a mixture, wherein the chemical blowing agent (a) is present in an amount up to 15 wt % based on total polymer weight in the mixture and the supercritical fluid (b) comprises one of about 0.1 to about 5 weight percent of supercritical CO2 based on the total polymer weight in the mixture or about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent of supercritical N2 based on the total polymer weight in the mixture, and
- injecting the mixture into a mold at an injection pressure of from 110 MPa to about 207 MPa, and molding the mixture to form the low density foamed article.
2 more elements
A method for making a low density foamed article, comprising:
- combining in an extruder a molten polymer thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having a melt index of from about 5 to about 100 grams/10 min. as measured according to ASTM D1238 using an 8.7 kg weight and a temperature of 190° C., or from about 180 to about 300 grams/10 min. as measured according to ASTM D1238 using a 21.6 kg weight and a temperature of 200° C. with
- (a) a chemical blowing agent and
- (b) a supercritical fluid
- to form a mixture, wherein the chemical blowing agent is present in an amount up to 15 wt % based on total polymer weight in the mixture and the supercritical fluid comprises one of about 0.1 to about 5 weight percent of supercritical CO2 based on the total polymer weight in the mixture or about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent of supercritical N2 based on the total polymer weight in the mixture, and
- injecting the mixture into a mold at an injection pressure of from 110 MPa to about 207 MPa, and molding the mixture to form the low density foamed article;
- wherein the mold comprises a porous tool;
- wherein the low density foamed article has a density of less than 0.3 g/cm3.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.