Absorbent polymeric foam for shoe insoles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11078343-B2
Application number	US-201715727245-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2017
Priority date	Oct 6, 2017
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

The present invention relates to a polymeric foam, and a process for making the polymeric foam comprising the steps of a) providing a monomeric solution consisting of a polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing one or more acid groups, water and one or more crosslinkers having more than one polymerizable group per molecule; b) introducing a blowing agent to the monomer solution; c) treating the monomer solution with an ultrasonic treatment; d) introducing one or more initiation agents to the monomer solution; and e) polymerizing the monomer solution.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for making a polymeric foam comprising the steps of a) providing a monomeric solution consisting of an acrylic acid, it salt or solutions thereof, water and one or more crosslinkers having more than one polymerizable group per molecule; b) introducing a blowing agent to the monomer solution; c) treating the monomer solution with an ultrasonic treatment in a duration of less than 1 minute, and adding the energy to be transmitted into the monomer solution between 0.01 and 3 kJ/kg monomer solution; d) introducing one or more initiation agents to the monomer solution; e) polymerizing the monomer solution; f) polymerizing the monomer solution into a polymeric foam sheet; and g) cutting or forming the polymeric foam sheet into a shoe sole insert shape, or comminuting the polymeric foam sheet into particles.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the blowing agent is a carbonate or a bicarbonate based compound or carbon dioxide.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein treating the monomer solution with an ultrasonic treatment comprises introducing energy by an ultrasonic probe or an ultrasonic transducer driven surface.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the blowing agent is further applied prior to gelation of the monomer solution during polymerization.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein ultrasonic radiation is further applied prior to gelation of the monomer solution during polymerization.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic treatment produces one or more of the following changes in the polymeric foam when compared to the same process except without ultrasonic treatment: a) a 10% reduction in average pore diameter; b) a 10% reduction in Young's modulus; c) a 10% reduction in vortex time; and d) a 10% increase in the Free Swell Rate (FSR).

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic treatment is in a duration of less than 30 seconds.

Assignees

• Evonik Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Fischer Steffen
• Schmidt Diedrich
• Smith Scott
• Yang Xinyuan

Classifications

• B01F25/40

  Static mixers (colloid-mills B02C; mixing valves F16K11/00) · CPC title

• A43B17/003

  characterised by the material (made of wood A43B17/12, made of sponge, rubber or plastic materials A43B17/14) · CPC title

• C08J9/22

  After-treatment of expandable particles; Forming foamed products · CPC title

• A43B13/04

  Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre · CPC title

• C08J2207/00

  Foams characterised by their intended use · CPC title