Abstract:
An expansion-molded article which not only is lightweight and has excellent sound-absorbing properties but is excellent in surface properties and mechanical strength; a web and stampable sheet suitable for use in producing the expansion-molded article; and a process for producing these. The process comprises: evenly dispersing reinforcing fibers, a thermoplastic resin, and heat-expansible particles in a surfactant-containing aqueous medium containing fine bubbles to prepare a frothy liquid; forming this frothy liquid into a web by a papermaking method; subsequently heating, pressing, and cooling the web to form a stampable sheet; heating the stampable sheet to expand the heat-expansible particles; and molding and then cooling the sheet to produce an expansion-molded article of the stampable sheet. In the web formation by a papermaking method, defoaming is conducted by suction to cause the heat-expansible particles to be present on either side of the web in a higher density, whereby the heat-expansible particles are caused to be present in either side of the expansion-molded article in a higher density.
Abstract:
In a method for producing foamed moldings as a product wherein a fibrous material and an aqueous solution are kneaded, the kneaded product is foamed and the foamed product is molded into a predetermined shape, followed by drying, the improvement which comprises using, as said solution, an aqueous solution containing a binder dissolved therein having a gelatin and/or a glue of a jelly strength of 130 Bloom or more as a main component. The method allows the prevention of the formation of depressions in a poekmark form on the surface of the foamed moldings, which leads to the improvement of the yield of the product, and also the production of a product having a reduced specific gravity, and thus can be employed for producing foamed moldings such as a cushioning material excellent in elastic performances continuously, economically, and on a large scale.
Abstract:
A nonwoven web of fibrous material is made by the foam process using a manifold of a particular construction. The manifold has a casing with first and second opposite ends including an inlet for a foam-fiber-surfactant slurry at the first end, and optionally a valved outlet at the second end. A center section of the manifold casing has a (e.g. rectangular) cross-section that becomes smaller moving from an inlet toward the outlet. First and second substantially closed side walls, a porous front wall having an effective length, and a back wall opposite the front wall, are provided for the center section, the walls planar or curved. Any suitable structures are provided for introducing a second (e.g. substantially fiber-free, or a fiber-foam slurry) foam into the center section through the back wall. Pressure sensors penetrating one or both of the side walls may sense the pressure within the center section, and automatically control the introduction of slurry into the inlet, withdrawal through the outlet, and/or introduction of the second foam into/through the back wall, so as to maintain the basis weight of the foam-fiber slurry passing through the front wall substantially constant along the effective length of the front wall.
Abstract:
Method for the manufacture of low density mineral wool structure panels by frothing a dilute aqueous dispersion of mineral wool, lightweight aggregate, binder and a small amount of amine-based cationic surfactant onto a non-woven scrim cover sheet (43). The resultant froth, a mass of very well formed, uniform bubbles, are of a nature that rapidly dewater and burst to concentrate the solids in the mass. The bubbles are readily broken without loss of the uniformly voided structural configuration by a first application of brief pulses of high vacuum followed by further dewatering under vaccum and rapid drying by passing high volumes of heated air through the voided mass without collapse of the structure to result in lightweight structural mineral wool panels.
Abstract:
A hydroentangled nonwoven sheet material can be produced by a process which comprises: 0) optionally providing a polymer web on a carrier, a) providing an aqueous suspension containing short fibres and a surfactant; b) depositing the aqueous suspension on the carrier, c) removing aqueous residue of the aqueous suspension deposited in step b) to form a fibrous web, b') depositing aqueous suspension on a surface of the fibrous web formed in step c), c') removing aqueous residue of the aqueous suspension deposited in step b') to form a combined fibrous web, d) hydroentangling the combined fibrous web, and optionally e) drying the hydroentangled web, and/or f) further processing and finalising the dried, hydroentangled web the web to produce the nonwoven end material. The hydroentangled non-woven sheet material obtainable by this process has a low degree of surface irregularity and contains low residues of surfactants.
Abstract:
Method for producing a foam-formed insulation material for building constructions, wherein the method comprising the step of preparing a wet foam (3),feeding the wet foam (3) to a head box (2),distributing the wet foam (3) on a moving wire(4), such that, the wet foam (3) forms a foam web (6) on the wire (4),pressing liquid out of the foam web (6),drying the foam web (6), wherein the dried foam web has a thickness of 0.1-10mm, and bonding several foam webs (6) together to form the foam-formed insulation material, with a thickness of at least 25mm.
Abstract:
A method of producing ultra-low density fiber composite (ULDC) foam materials using natural fibers with gas injection through liquid foaming is disclosed, wherein in a particular embodiment includes also cellulose filaments. The method includes a continuous overflow foaming process and a novel apparatus to produce the ULDC materials. The disclosed ULDC composite foam produced includes moisture, mold, decay and fire resistant properties which can be used for building thermal and acoustic insulations, protection packaging, air filter products, hygiene products. The apparatus comprise a vessel, counter rotating dual impellor, a plurality of baffles and gas injection that produce.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a nonwoven web comprised of metal or refractory fibers with poly(phenylene sulfide) as a binder. The nonwoven web is prepared by forming a foam furnish by agitating the fibers in a foamed medium, and passing the foam furnish onto a screen and defoaming the furnish. It is preferred that the poly(phenylene sulfide) binder is added to the foam furnish in the form of fibers. Once the furnish is defoamed to form a nonwoven web, the sheet is heated at a temperature sufficient to melt the poly(phenylene sulfide) binder.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of producing a non-woven web of fibrous or particulate material comprising: formation of a foam slurry; deposition of that slurry onto a foraminous element having a three-dimensional mold; and formation of a web having a three-dimensional shape that is not substantially planar by removal of foam from the slurry through the foraminous element and drying the web. An apparatus therefor is also disclosed. The method may be used in production a variety of products, including automotive pleated fluid and air filters, pleated heating and/or air conditioning (HVAC) filters, shaped breathing mask filters and bacterial filters, laminated cleaning products with super-absorbent middle layers, such as a mop wipe shape to fit a cleaning mop head, and other products.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for forming a non-woven fibrous web comprised of refractory fibers which comprises forming a foam furnish by agitating the fibers in a foamed medium, and passing the foam furnish onto a screen and defoaming the furnish. The present invention employs a unique apparatus for agitating the refractory fibers in the foamed medium, the agitating means (18) being mounted for displacement within the foamed medium and including a convex leading surface (26) facing in the direction of displacement. The leading surface includes upper and lower portions converging in the direction of displacement to form a generally convex leading surface and driving means (22) for displacing the agitating means in the direction of displacement for dispersing and mutually separating the metal fibers within the foamed medium.