Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
In a process for obtaining cellular materials comprising unsaturated polyester resins, optionally containing reinforcing fibers, and having a density between 0.2 and 1.0 kg/l, by molding a pre-formed liquid foam in a mold made of two half-molds cooperating to close together to mold the pre-formed foam, said pre-formed liquid foam being obtained upstream of said molding by mechanical introduction of gas by means of a turbine mixer into said unsaturated polyester resins optionally containing said reinforcing fibers with lengths less than 3 mm, the improvement wherein said pre-formed liquid foam is introduced into an open half-mold of said mold, optionally containing further reinforcing fibers, in an amount having a volume greater than the free volume of the mold when closed, the volume of the liquid foam being selected so as to achieve upon subsequent closure of the mold a pressure therein between 2 and 11 absolute atmospheres, then closing the mold by the other said half-mold so as to create said pressure within the mold, and subsequently crosslinking the resin within the mold under said pressure conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a process for obtaining cellular materials comprising unsaturated polyester resins, optionally containing reinforcing fibers, and having a density between 0.2 and 1.0 kg/l, by molding a pre-formed liquid foam in a mold made of two half-molds cooperating to close together to mold the pre-formed foam, said pre-formed liquid foam being obtained upstream of said molding by mechanical introduction of gas by means of a turbine mixer into said unsaturated polyester resins optionally containing said reinforcing fibers with lengths less than 3 mm, the improvement wherein said pre-formed liquid foam is introduced into an open half-mold of said mold, optionally containing further reinforcing fibers, in an amount having a volume greater than the free volume of the mold when closed, the volume of the liquid foam being selected so as to achieve upon subsequent closure of the mold a pressure therein between 2 and 11 absolute atmospheres, then closing the mold by the other said half-mold so as to create said pressure within the mold, and subsequently crosslinking the resin within the mold under said pressure conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a process for obtaining cellular materials comprising unsaturated polyester resins containing reinforcing fibers and having a density between 0.2 and 1.0 kg/l, by molding a pre-formed liquid foam in a mold made of two half-molds cooperating to close together to mold the pre-formed foam, said pre-formed liquid foam being obtained upstream of said molding by mechanical introduction of gas by means of a turbine mixer into said unsaturated polyester resins containing part of said reinforcing fibers having lengths less than 3 mm, the improvement wherein said pre-formed liquid foam is introduced into an open half-mold of said mold containing the remaining part of said reinforcing fibers, in an amount such that the foam has a volume greater than the free volume of the mold when closed, the volume of the liquid foam being selected so as to achieve, upon subsequent closure of the mold, a pressure between 2 and 11 absolute atmospheres, closing the mold by the other said half-mold so as to create said pressure within the mold and crosslinking the foam within the mold under said pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a process for obtaining cellular materials comprising unsaturated polyester resins containing reinforcing fibers and having a density between 0.2 and 1.0 kg/l, by molding a pre-formed liquid foam in a mold made of two half-molds cooperating to close together to mold the pre-formed foam, said pre-formed liquid foam being obtained upstream of said molding by mechanical introduction of gas by means of a turbine mixer into said unsaturated polyester resins containing part of said reinforcing fibers having lengths less than 3 mm, the improvement wherein said pre-formed liquid foam is introduced into an open half-mold of said mold containing the remaining part of said reinforcing fibers, in an amount such that the foam has a volume greater than the free volume of the mold when closed, the volume of the liquid foam being selected so as to achieve, upon subsequent closure of the mold, a pressure between 2 and 11 absolute atmospheres, closing the mold by the other said half-mold so as to create said pressure within the mold and crosslinking the foam within the mold under said pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the cross-linking in the mold takes place at a temperature between 20° C. and 150° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A process according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the cellular material, having a density of 0.34 kg/l, is obtained by applying a pressure of 2 ata in the mold to a pre-formed liquid foam having a density of 0.2 kg/l, as measured at a temperature of 20° C. and 1 ata, said mold being maintained at a temperature of 20° C. during the molding, said pre-formed liquid foam being previously produced by foaming a cellular resin having a density of 1.1 kg/l.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process according to claims 1 or 2 wherein a cellular material having a density of 0.97 kg/l is obtained by applying a pressure of 11 ata in the mold, heated at a temperature of 90° C., to a pre-formed liquid foam having a density of 0.5 kg/l, as measured at 20° C. and 1 ata, said pre-formed liquid foam being previously produced by foaming a cellular resin having a density of 1.1 kg/l.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said pre-formed liquid foam contains additives selected from the group consisting of inhibitors to prevent premature cross-linking of the resins, accelerators, silicone surfactants and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said unsaturated polyester resin contains a reinforcing amount up to 50% by weight of said reinforcing fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 7 wherein said reinforcing fibers comprise glass fibers having a diameter less than 16 microns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
Cellular material comprising unsaturated polyester resins, produced by the process according to claim 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Reinforced cellular material comprising unsaturated polyester resins produced according to claim 9, wherein said reinforced cellular material has a percentage of closed cells higher than 80%.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
Cellular materials having a minimum thickness of about 1 mm, obtained by the process according to claim 1.