Copolymer Foam With Polyamide Blocks And Polyether Blocks

Abstract

The invention relates to a non-cross-linked copolymer foam with polyamide blocks and polyether blocks, wherein: the polyamide blocks of the copolymer have an average molar mass of from 200 to 1,500 g/mol; the polyether blocks of the copolymer have an average molar mass of from 800 to 2,500 g/mol; and the weight ratio of the polyamide blocks to the polyether blocks of the copolymer is from 0.1 to 0.9. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing said foam and items manufactured from said foam.

1 . A foam of non-crosslinked polyamide polyether block copolymer, wherein:
 the polyamide blocks of the copolymer have a number average molecular weight of from 200 to 1500 g/mol;   the polyether blocks of the copolymer have a number average molecular weight of from 800 to 2000 g/mol; and   the mass ratio of the polyamide blocks relative to the polyether blocks of the copolymer is from 0.1 to 0.9.   
     
     
         2 . The foam according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the polyamide blocks of the copolymer have a number average molecular weight of from 400 to 1000 g/mol;   the polyether blocks of the copolymer have a number average molecular weight of 1000 to 2000 g/mol; and   the mass ratio of the polyamide blocks relative to the polyether blocks of the copolymer is from 0.3 to 0.6.   
     
     
         3 . The foam according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyamide blocks of the copolymer are blocks of polyamide 11, or of polyamide 12, or of polyamide 6, or of polyamide 6.10. 
     
     
         4 . The foam according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyether blocks of the copolymer are blocks of polyethylene glycol or of polytetrahydrofuran. 
     
     
         5 . The foam according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam has a density less than or equal to 800 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         6 . The foam according to  claim 1 , further containing one or more additives selected from copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, copolymers of ethylene and acrylate, and copolymers of ethylene and of alkyl(meth)acrylate. 
     
     
         7 . A method for manufacturing a foam according to  claim 1 , comprising mixing the copolymer in the molten state, optionally with one or more additives, and with an expansion agent, and foaming the copolymer and expansion agent mixture. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the expansion agent is a physical expansion agent, selected from dinitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , comprising injecting the mixture of copolymer and expansion agent in a mold, wherein the foaming of the mixture is carried out by the opening of the mold. 
     
     
         10 . An article consisting of a foam according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . An article comprising at least one element consisting of a foam according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The article according to  claim 10 , wherein the article is selected from soles of sports shoes, balls, gloves, personal protective equipment, pads for rails, automobile parts, construction parts and parts of electrical and electronic equipment. 
     
     
         13 . The article according to  claim 11 , wherein the article is selected from soles of sports shoes, balls, gloves, personal protective equipment, pads for rails, automobile parts, construction parts and parts of electrical and electronic equipment. 
     
     
         14 . The foam according to  claim 2 , wherein the polyamide blocks of the copolymer have a number average molecular weight of from 600 to 850 g/mol. 
     
     
         15 . The foam according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam has a density less than or equal to 600 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         16 . The foam according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam has a density less than or equal to 400 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         17 . The foam according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam has a density less than or equal to 300 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         18 . The foam according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam has a compression set less than or equal to 10% according to the ISO 7214 standard. 
     
     
         19 . A foam of non-crosslinked polyamide polyether block copolymer, wherein:
 the polyamide blocks of the copolymer have a number average molecular weight of from 200 to 1500 g/mol and are selected from the group consisting of blocks of polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyamide 6, polyamide 6.10, polyamide 10.10, polyamide 10.12, mixtures thereof and copolymers thereof;   the polyether blocks of the copolymer have a number average molecular weight of from 800 to 2500 g/mol and are blocks of polytetrahydrofuran; and   the mass ratio of the polyamide blocks relative to the polyether blocks of the copolymer is from 0.1 to 0.9.   
     
     
         20 . A foam of non-crosslinked polyamide polyether block copolymer, wherein:
 the polyamide blocks of the copolymer have a number average molecular weight of from 200 to 1500 g/mol and are selected from the group consisting of blocks of polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyamide 6, polyamide 6.10, polyamide 10.10, polyamide 10.12, mixtures thereof and copolymers thereof;   the polyether blocks of the copolymer have a number average molecular weight of from 800 to 2500 g/mol and are blocks of polyethylene glycol; and   the mass ratio of the polyamide blocks relative to the polyether blocks of the copolymer is from 0.1 to 0.9.