The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 21, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2008
Hugh C. Gardner, Roswell, GA (US);
Josef Uesbeck, Gronau, DE;
Andy Rakovac, Gronau, DE;
Philippe Combier, Chattanooga, TN (US);
Kam Lui, Chattanooga, TN (US);
Hugh C. Gardner, Roswell, GA (US);
Josef Uesbeck, Gronau, DE;
Andy Rakovac, Gronau, DE;
Philippe Combier, Chattanooga, TN (US);
Kam Lui, Chattanooga, TN (US);
Propex Operating Company, LLC, Chattanooga, TN (US);
Abstract
Making foamed polyolefin tapes can include combining a polyolefin resin and a chemical blowing agent to form a mixture. This mixture can then be heated in an extruder to create a supersaturated solution of gas within the polyolefin resin. A cooling device can be positioned adjacent to a die at a set distance for receiving extruded resin and for allowing exposure of the extruded resin to ambient air between a die outlet and the cooling device. This predetermined distance or space between the cooling device and die outlet allows bubbles to grow in the extruded resin and to be shaped such that voids or empty spaces can be generated within the extruded polyolefin resin. The voids or empty spaces allow the formation of tapes which use less material but have adequate strength for various applications, such as for carpet backings, geotextiles, packaging, housewrap, bags, wire insulation, and reinforcement elements in concrete.