Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

Yoko Shimada

Shigeo Nishikawa

Kaoru Yorita

Haruo Inoue

Michio Eriguchi

Eiichi Sugihara

Masahiro Takedachi

Akira Uchiyama

Yuichi Ito

Takanori Sueda

Ryuuji Haseyama

Masahiko Hashiba

The method of the present invention for producing a urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer composition foam comprises the steps of: The present invention can produce the urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer foam of stable quality over a range from low foamed product to highly foamed product by adding a given quantity of carbon dioxide in the molten urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer quantitatively and stably. It can also produce the foam excellent in flexibility, thermal insulation and surface appearances. It is also excellent in safety, because of use of carbon dioxide in place of the common foaming agent of fluorochlorohydrocarbon or butane, thus causing no air pollution or destruction of the ozone layer.

Foam of thermoplastic urethane elastomer composition and process for producing the foam

This invention provides a method for stably adding a predetermined amount of supercritical carbon dioxide at a fixed delivery rate into a forming machine and also a process for producing an expanded thermoplastic resin product by making use of the addition method. Carbon dioxide is charged from a liquefied carbon dioxide cylinder (,) into a predetermined amount deliverable pump (,) while allowing the carbon dioxide to remain in a liquefied state. When the carbon dioxide is pressurized and delivered by the predetermined amount deliverable pump (,), a delivery pressure of the carbon dioxide is controlled at an optional pressure within a range of from a critical pressure (7.4 MPa) of carbon dioxide to 40 MPa to deliver the carbon dioxide without any fluctuation of the amount of the delivery by setting up the pressure of a pressure control valve (,). The carbon dioxide is heated to a critical temperature (31&deg; C.) of carbon dioxide or higher to convert it into supercritical carbon dioxide. This supercritical carbon dioxide is then added to a molten thermoplastic resin in the forming machine (,).

Addition method of supercritical carbon dioxide, and production process of expanded thermoplastic resin product by making use of the addition method

A process is provided for the production of expanded olefinic thermoplastic elastomer product having good external appearance, flexibility and heat resistance. This process features using, as raw materials, a particular olefinic thermoplastic elastomer and carbon dioxide as a blowing agent.

Process for the production of expanded olefinic thermoplastic elastomer products

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Kanagawa, Japan

Yoko Shimada