Claims
- 1. A polymeric foam comprising a deformable polymer having multiple cells defined therein, wherein said foam has:
(a) opposing primary surfaces; (b) at least one slit traversing and severing a primary surface while penetrating a major distance into the foam without severing the opposing primary surface; (c) a densified portion of the opposing primary surface that is proximate to said slit, including at least a portion of the opposing surface opposite to said slit.
- 2. The foam of claim 1, wherein said foam is an open-celled foam.
- 3. The foam of claim 1, wherein said deformable polymer comprises at least 50 percent polypropylene, based on deformable polymer weight.
- 4. The foam of claim 1, wherein said polymer foam comprises multiple coalesced foam strands.
- 5. The foam of claim 4, wherein said foam is open-celled and said deformable polymer comprises at least 50 percent polypropylene based on deformable polymer weight.
- 6. The foam of claim 1, wherein said foam is a board, plank or sheet.
- 7. The polymeric foam of claim 1, comprising at least two slits that sever opposing primary surfaces, provided that at least a portion of each primary surface opposite to each slit is intact.
- 8. The foam of claim 1, wherein said polymeric foam is a tubular foam structure and said first and second primary surfaces are selected from an inside surface and an outside surface.
- 9. A process for modifying a polymeric foam comprising, in any order, the following steps:
(a) introducing a slit that traverses and severs a primary surface of a foam while penetrating into said foam without severing an opposing primary surface; and (b) densifying a portion of said opposing primary surface such that, after introducing the slit, the densified portion of opposing surface is proximate to the slit.
- 10. The process of claim 9, wherein said polymeric foam is open-celled.
- 11. The process of claim 9, wherein step (b) involves softening a portion of said opposing primary surface by applying heat.
- 12. The process of claim 9, wherein step (b) includes translating the foam over a heating element that contacts the foam in the area or areas being heat-densified.
- 13. The process of claim 9, wherein said foam is a coalesced foam.
- 14. The process of claim 9, wherein said foam comprises a deformable polymer having cells defined therein, wherein said deformable polymer consists of at least 50 percent polypropylene, by weight of deformable polymer.
CROSS REFERENCE STATEMENT
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/336,277, filed Nov. 1, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60336277 |
Nov 2001 |
US |