Patent ID: 6702976
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: B29C,B29K

Abstract:
A method of selective compaction, storage, deployment and rigidization of a sandwich construction object having a thermoplastic polymer foam core and skins, comprising the steps of:heating the object to at least 20 degrees C. above the softening transition temperature Tg of the foam core; compacting the object to reduced volume while maintaining the temperature in excess of the softening transition temperature Tg of the foam core; lowering the temperature of the compacted object to at least 20 degrees C. below the softening transition temperature Tg of the thermoplastic polymer foam core and maintaining this lowered temperature throughout storage; heating the stored compacted object to at least 20 degrees C. above the softening transition temperature Tg of the foam core for deployment; and lowering the deployed object temperature to at least 20 degrees C. below the softening transition temperature Tg of the foam core for object rigidization.