INJECTION MOLDING METHOD FOR FORMING MATERIAL USED IN FOOTWEAR AND MATERIAL MANUFACTURED BY SAID METHOD

摘要

The invention relates to systems and methods for creating a foamed part. An example method includes providing a polymer processing system (100), providing a mold (150) having at least one expandable mold cavity (152) in fluid communication with the polymer processing system (100), mixing polymeric material and blowing agent within the polymer processing system (100) to produce a unfoamed mixture, injecting a volume of the mixture of polymeric material and blowing agent from the polymer processing system (100) and into the expandable mold cavity (152), and expanding the mold cavity (152) to expand the unfoamed mixture within the mold cavity (152) and form a foamed preform. Thereafter, the foamed preform may be inserted into a compression mold to press-form the foamed preform into a finished part.