LOW TEMPERATURE PROCESS FOR INTEGRATING A POLYMERIC FOAM WITH A POLYMERIC BODY

摘要

A low temperature process which comprises several steps to integrate polymeric foams with at least one polymeric body in order to obtain a final body with improved properties is provided; the process being performed at a low temperature in order to avoid deformations in the polymeric body which compromise the functionality and other properties of the final body. The process comprises the steps of selecting the materials involved to guarantee the adhesion between them, the processability, their use and/or recycling, among other properties; impregnating the polymeric material to be foamed with a gas; generating the foam; and integrating the foam with the at least one polymeric body.

主权项

1. A low temperature process for integrating a polymeric foam with at least one polymeric body which comprises the steps of:
a. Selecting at least one material for at least one polymeric body; b. Selecting at least one polymeric material to be foamed, wherein the polymeric foam material has a crystal melting temperature for a crystallizing material, or a glass temperature for a non-crystallizing material; c. which is lower than the temperature at which residual stresses are liberated from the at least one polymeric body; d. Providing at least one polymeric body; e. Providing the polymeric material to be foamed at a temperature between the glass transition temperature and the crystal melting temperature for a material that crystallizes, or at a temperature below the glass transition temperature for a material that does not crystallize; f. Contacting the polymeric material to be foamed with a gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure for a time sufficient such that the polymeric material to be foamed incorporates at least 0.1% gas by weight; g. Exposing the polymeric material to be foamed to a pressure less than the pressure used in the previous step for a time so that the stability of the following steps is not affected; h. Exposing the polymeric material to be foamed to a pressure greater than the pressure used in the previous step and a temperature greater than the crystal melting temperature for a material that crystallizes, or the glass transition temperature for a material that does not crystallize, and lower than the temperature at which residual stresses are liberated from the polymeric body; and i. Contacting the foamed polymeric material with the at least one polymeric body at a pressure lower than that used in the previous step.