METHOD FOR PRODUCING A THERMOPLASTIC SYNTHETIC MATERIAL AND IMMOBILIZATION ELEMENT PROVIDED THEREWITH

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a thermoplastic material, wherein a thermoplastic base material is chosen which is admixed with at least one filler in the form of microspheres to obtain a foamed thermoplastic material having specific mechanical strength and flexibility, the obtained mixture being subjected to at least one further processing step, in particular extrusion. The invention also relates to a thermoplastic immobilization element for immobilization of a part of the body, which comprises a layer made from an intermediate produced by means of said method for (para)medical applications, orthopaedics, rehabilitation, for the purpose of supporting, replacing or fixating a part of the body, in radiotherapy and radiology and as an armouring protecting element in sport and the like.

Description: METHOD FOR PRODUCING A THERMOPLASTIC SYNTHETIC MATERIAL AND IMMOBILIZATION ELEMENT PROVIDED THEREWITH Field of the invention The present invention relates to a method for producing a thermoplastic material for immobilization and/or protection of a part of the body, wherein a thermoplastic base material is chosen which is admixed with at least one filler. Background of the invention Various applications are possible in this con¬ text, in particular for immobilization purposes in medical and paramedical applications, for protective purposes in sport and for use in the production of shoes. In the fields of application of orthopaedics, physical rehabilitation land sports medicine large amounts of plaster are still being used. Furthermore, in this context as in radiotherapy and radiology, a whole series of immobilization and fixation materials are employed such as thermoplastic plate materials and thermosetting bandaging materials. Prior art In the light of the abovementioned applications, the existing materials have the drawback of having a relatively high density. This high density results in two significant troublesome problems with respect to the abovementioned applications: the materials have a relatively high weight which limits user comfort and which may even trouble the user, and the therapeutic use of the materials used is diminished. This may even lead to a medical problem, owing to the user being forced to greater exertion as a result of the greater weight. The high density makes it impossible, in radio- therapy applications, in particular those employing low- energy sources, to transmit radiation through such dense materials without this having an adverse effect on the skin of the patient. The materials in moulded form are placed on the skin of the patient and fixed to a baseplate in order to put the patient in an immobile and reproducible position. These materials do not sufficiently transmit the radiation of, in particular, low-energy sources, as a result of which the radiation builds up immediately below the plastic material and can thus damage the skin. In radiology, the relatively high density of most existing materials or intermediates constitutes a problem in that they do not sufficiently transmit the types of radiation and thus produce interferences on the image which may diminish the visibility of details on the image or may even cause distortion. Object of the invention It is an object of the invention to provide a solution to the abovementioned problems. Exposition of the invention To this end, according to the invention, there is added, as the filler, a specific percentage of micro- spheres, said percentage being such that a foamed thermoplastic material is obtained which exhibits a specific mechanical strength and flexibility, said microspheres forming a foaming agent, and the obtained mixture of thermoplastic material and foaming agent is subjected to at least one further processing step. Thanks to the invention a framed intermediate is obtained which is sufficiently strong and aore user- friendly than existing intermediates, owing to which the invention primarily has a lower density and consequently a lower weight and better transmissivity for radiation sources which are used in radiotherapy and in radio- diagnostics and thus makes the invention further suitable for immobilization and/or protection of a part of the body. In this context, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the microspheres contain a lightweight gas which, when exposed to a specific tem- perature, causes the microspheres to expand within the mixture which is thus likewise subjected to an expansion process which makes it possible to effect a significant reduction in weight of the intermediate. In particular, said foaming agent is added in accordance with a percentage which is within the range from 0.1% to 10%, it thus being possible to achieve a reduction in density of the material of between 1 and 60%. Thus, in the course of the plastic being processed into an intermediate, the density of the plastic is lowered by a percentage of between 1% and 60%. Furthermore, the lighter an immobilization, fixation or protection material, the more pleasant it is for the user. According to a generally advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mixing of said base material and said foaming agent is effected by subjecting said mixture to a step involving a set temperature and a set residence time of the mixture in the extrusion means. In particular, during the extrusion step the temperature is set to such a value that an expansion process of the mixture is started under the influence thereof. More in particular, said residence time of said mixture is set, during the extrusion step, within a time interval between a minimum value t m _, which is defined by a low time threshold, below which no expansion of said foaming agent takes place, and a maximum value t TM which is defined by a high time threshold, beyond which combustion of said mixture may take place. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the expansion process of said mixture is tailored to the extrusion step and takes place completely within the latter, the expansion process being stopped, at the latest, when the extrusion step is stopped. If it isn't, the process continues during the processing of the intermediate, which leads to undesirable effects. According to a further advantageous embodiment, said mixture is subjected to a multiple extrusion step, a multiple, in particular double, extrusion being carried out in the same step on said mixture. Thus better dispersion is obtained of the two components of the mixture, base material and foaming agent. Moreover, very accurate control of the processing temperature is thus accomplished. This ensures, not least thanks to accurate control of the further extrusion parameters, in parti¬ cular residence time, that the expansion process can be adequately controlled in order to arrive at a serviceable end product, owing to the foaming agent being well dispersed in the matrix base material. In particular, in this case the base material chosen is a low-temperature thermoplastic which exhibits a processing temperature which is less than 100°C, prefer¬ ably between 40°C and 90°C, more preferably between 50°C and 80°C. Alternatively it is also possible, in this context, for the base material chosen to be a high- temperature thermoplastic which exhibits a processing temperature which is greater than 100°C, preferably between 120°C and 180°C. This is further assisted by the foaming agent being added in the form of a powder, in particular in a percentage within a range between 0.5 and 5%, preferably between 1 and 4%. According to a yet further advantageous embodi- ment of the invention, said mixture is subjected to a two-dimensional extrusion, said foaming agent in particular being blended into resin granules or a so- called masterbatch, and said foaming agent is added in the form of the said resin granules. Thanks to this it was found that the foaming agent in the form of a masterbatch can be readily dispersed in the matrix base material. It was consequently possible to make the various base materials into a plate having a relatively smaller thickness, for example approximately 3 mm, while maintaining its advantageous properties according to the invention. Further, the microspheres have expanded uniformly in the polymer base material matrix, with a considerable reduction in density and likewise with a uniform distribution therein. In the process, foaming agent is added in a favoured manner at a percentage in the range between 2 and 6%, preferably between 3 and 5%, more preferably approximately 4%. Hard foam materials based on thermosetting polyurethane do exist. This type of foam must, in order to provide sufficient mechanical strength, be used in a relatively thick layer which makes it inappropriate for applications in radiotherapy and in radiology. Moreover, this type of foam must be prepared by the user him/- herself at the time of application, on the basis of a 2- pack product which produces a chemical reaction. This process considerably reduces the user-friendliness of this type of foam. Moreover, it may also give rise to environmental problems. In the case of hard foams based on poly(vinyl alcohol) the same problem of adequate mechanical strength arises, as a result of which it cannot be used, particularly in radiotherapy and radiological applica¬ tions, as an immobilization or fixation material. Owing to the great layer thickness of the intermediates, these cannot be used on existing base fixation plates which are in circulation for these applications. It is also possible, in accordance with alternative embodiments, for said mixture to be subjected to an injection-moulding process or to a pressure-moulding process, respectively. In a supplementary manner it is further poss¬ ible, after the completion of said at least one further processing step, in which an intermediate is obtained, for said intermediate to be subjected to a perforation. According to a more specific embodiment, there is applied, to at least one of the two sides of the intermediate produced by means of said at least one further processing step, at least one further layer of plastic material having closed cells, to protect the surface against various external influences such as humidity and UV rays. In particular in this context, said at least one further layer is applied by means of a coextrusion step and it is further possible for each said further layer to have a different composition and/or structure. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, one of said further layers is applied as the outer layer (of the intermediate) which in this case is not foamed. This, surprisingly, proves successful in safeguarding the stiffness of the intermediate for a specific wall thickness while at the same time reducing the total weight of the intermediate with respect to an intermediate which consists entirely of a non-foamed material. The present invention also relates to a thermo¬ plastic immobilization element for the immobilization of a part of the body, which is remarkable in that it com¬ prises a layer consisting of an intermediate which has been produced by means of a method as expounded herein- above. Further characteristics of the thermoplastic immobilization element according to the invention a:° defined in the subordinate Claims 25 to 32 inclusive. The invention further also relates to the u. of the abovementioned thermoplastic immobilizatic element as a rotective layer of a part of the body, i. particular a b, which is subjected to repeated frequent and. accelerated movements, and of footwear, in particular a shoe having a heel and a tip, a thermoplastic immobilization element therein being provided as a stiffener thereof. The known materials which are presently used in the manufacture of shoes to stiffen the tips and the heels are relatively heavy, compared with the invention. Particularly in the case of sports shoes it is important that the weight remain as low as possible. The lower the weight of the component, the more efficient it is for the user. The invention additionally also relates to an appliance whose characteristics are defined in the subordinate Claims 35 and 36. Description A few tests are described here. All tests have so far been done on extrusion machines. In the first instance, a test was carried out on a laboratory extruder for making narrow ribbons. A first test was carried out employing, as the base material, polypropylene having a melting point higher than 100°C. (Use in so-called high-temperature thermoplastics, primarily in the orthopaedics sector; less energy required for the activation of such materials than in the case of low-temperature thermoplastics, i.e. melting temperature below 100°C) . The added foaming agent had the form of a powder. A first subtest was carried out with the addition of almost 3% of foaming agent and a second subtest with the addition of almost 6% of foaming agent. These experiments produced the following observations: the combination of polypropylene and the foaming agent can be processed on conventional extrusion machines, and the result according to the invention can consequently be achieved by means of ordinary classical apparatus; the temperature at which the extrusion occurs is a very important parameter for this process, because it is the initiator of the expansion process; the residence time of the product in the extruder is likewise very important, since said residence time also the temperature absorption affects the foaming agent [sic] . It was noted that if the residence time is too short, the foaming agent does not expand and if the residence time is too long, combustion of the material occurs; and - the percentage addition of the foaming agent to the base material further also plays an important part. Production according to the invention takes place by a specific percentage of microspheres being added to the base material. These microspheres include a lightweight gas which, under the influence of tempera¬ ture, increases in volume. Owing to this increase in volume, the microspheres take up a larger percentage of the volume of the intermediate. Since the expanded microspheres have a lower weight than the base material to which they were added, the weight of the intermediate is reduced as a result, the volume of the intermediate remaining the same. For sports applications, the weight of the materials used is of primordial importance. Particularly in those applications, where provision of therapeutic immobilization or protection matters, the invention has a considerable advantage with respect to existing materials, in view of its low weight. Whilst already foamed materials employed for this purpose do exist, such as softer foams based on polyolefins and polyurethane, these foams are too soft to be capable of an immobilization or fixation function and are therefore used exclusively as a comfort-creating element. They are therefore not eligible for the intended applications where immobilization or fixation is required, in contrast to the invention. After the extrusion tests, the intermediates obtained were tested by heating them in an oven and forming them in accordance with the conventional tech¬ niques which are used in the respective fields of application. This showed that it is necessary for the expansion process to take place in its entirety during the extrusion. If this does not happen, the process continues during processing of the intermediate, which leads to undesirable effects. The extruded samples were studied under an electron microscope, which showed that the foaming agent in powdered form had indeed expanded but that it had nevertheless not dispersed entirely satisfactorily in the matrix base material. Therefore, advantageously, in the second instance tests were carried out on a laboratory twin- screw extrusion machine. By means of such a machine, better dispersion is obtained of the two components of the mixture of base material and foaming agent. Moreover, this machine provides very accurate control of the processing temperature. In this test, the base material used comprised two thermoplastics which have a processing temperature below 100°C, in particular polycaprolactone and a blend of polycaprolactone and thermoplastic polyurethane. In each case, 1% and 3% foaming agent was added in the form of a powder. The result of the tests was that, given accurate control of the extrusion parameters, in particular temperature and residence time, the expansion process can be adequately controlled in order to arrive at a serviceable end product, provided that the foaming agent is sufficiently dispersed in the matrix base material. A third test was carried out, this time on a production machine, viz. an extruder having a flat female mould of a width of approximately 120 cm for the production of flat plates. Again, various base materials were used as the matrix, viz. low-density polyethylene, polycaprolactone, and a blend of polycaprolactone and thermoplastic polyurethane. In this test, the foaming agent was added in the form of a so-called masterbatch, viz. resin granules which had already been blended with the foaming agent. In each case, approximately 4% of masterbatch were / PC17BE95/00092 11 added . These tests showed that the foaming agent in the form of a masterbatch is readily dispersible in the matrix base material. Consequently it was possible to make the various base materials into a plate having a thickness of approximately 3 mm. After the extrusion tests, the plate materials were studied under an electron microscope, which showed that the microspheres had expanded evenly in the polymer matrix. Moreover it was observed, when the test plates were weighed, that the density had decreased by from 27 to 33%. Advantageously, the plastic material according to the invention is also used in sports, where, in particular, materials to protect human limbs and for protecting the legs of horses in equestrianism are required. In the shoe industry likewise the plastic materials according to the invention are used for making stiffeners in a shoe. The uses of the above-described invention are numerous, in particular for the use of a foamed thermo¬ plastic material as an immobilization or fixation material of a part of the human or animal body in medical applications; for the use of a foamed thermoplastic material in orthopaedics and/or physical rehabilitation, said material serving for the purpose of supporting, replacing or fixating a part of the human body; and for the use of a foamed thermoplastic material in radio-therapy and radiology, where a part of the body is immobilized and positioned during the therapeutic treatment or the diagnostic investigation. It would also be possible, according to a further advantageous application of the present invention, to combine the thermoplastic immobilization element described here with that described in the European Patent No. 0401883 of the same Applicant, this being incorporated by reference.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for producing a thermoplastic material, wherein a thermoplastic base material is chosen which is admixed with at least one filler, characterized in that there is added, as the filler, a specific percentage of microspheres, said percentage being such that a foamed thermoplastic material is obtained which exhibits a specific mechanical strength and flexibility, said microspheres forming a foaming agent, and in that the obtained mixture of thermoplastic material as the base material and foaming agent is subjected to at least one further processing step. 2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the microspheres contain a lightweight gas which, when exposed to a specific temperature, causes the microspheres to expand within the mixture which is thus likewise subjected to an expansion process. 3. Method according to any one of Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that said foaming agent is added in accordance with a percentage which is within the range from 0.1% to 10%. 4. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 inclusive, characterized in that the mixing of said base material and said foaming agent is effected by subjecting said mixture to an extrusion step with a set temperature and a set residence time of the mixture in the extrusion means. 5. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that during the extrusion step the temperature is set to such a value that an expansion process of the mixture is started under the influence thereof. . Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the temperature is set within a temperature range between 100°C and 200°C, preferably 160 and 180°C as the activation temperature for foams in the case of low-temperature thermoplastics. 7. Method according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 inclusive, characterized in that said residence time of said mixture is set, during the extrusion step, within a time interval between a minimum value t min , which is defined by a low time threshold, below which no expansion of said foaming agent takes place, and a maximum value t max which is defined by a high time threshold, beyond which combustion of said mixture may take place. 8. Method according to any one of Claims 4 to 7 inclusive, characterized in that the expansion process of said mixture is tailored to the extrusion step and takes place completely within the latter, the expansion process being stopped, at the latest, when the extrusion step is stopped. 9. Method according to any one of Claims 4 to 8 inclusive, characterized in that said mixture is sub¬ jected to a multiple extrusion step, a multiple, in particular double, extrusion being carried out in the same step on said mixture. 10. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the base material chosen is a low- temperature thermoplastic which exhibits a processing or melting temperature which is less than 100°C, preferably between 40°C and 90°C, more preferably between 50°C and 80°C. 11. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the base material chosen is a high-temperature thermoplastic which exhibits a processing or melting temperature which is greater than 100°C, preferably between 120°C and 180 β C. 12. Method according to the preceding claim. characterized in that foaming agent is added in the form of powder. 13. Method according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 inclusive, characterized in that said foaming agent is added in a percentage within a range between 0.5 and 5%, preferably between 1 and 4%. 14. Method according to any one of Claims 4 to 13 inclusive, characterized in that said mixture is sub¬ jected to a two-dimensional extrusion. 15. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said foaming agent is first blended into resin granules (masterbatch) and that said foaming agent is further added in the form of said resin granules. 16. Method according to the preceding resin claim, characterized in that the foaming agent is added in a percentage in the range between 2 and 6%, preferably between 3 and 5%, more preferably approximately 4%. 17. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mixture is subjected to an injection-moulding process. 18. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mixture is subjected to a pressure-moulding process. 19. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after the completion of said at least one further processing step, in which an intermediate is obtained, said intermediate is subjected to a perforation. 20. Method according to any one of Claims 4 to 19 inclusive, characterized in that there is applied, to at least one of the two sides of the intermediate produced by means of said at least one further processing step, at least one further layer of plastic material having closed cells. 21. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one further layer is applied by means of a coextrusion step. 22. Method according to any one of Claims 20 or 21, characterized in that each said further layer has a different composition and/or structure. 23. Method according to any one of Claims 20 to 22 inclusive, characterized in that one of said further layers is applied as the outer layer (of the intermedi- ate) which in this case is not foamed. 24. Thermoplastic immobilization element for immobilization of a part of the body, characterized in that it comprises a layer made from an intermediate produced by means of a method according to any one of the preceding claims. 25. Thermoplastic immobilization element according to the preceding claim where this depends on Claim 10, characterized in that said base material contains at least one thermoplastic such as polycaprolactone. 26. Thermoplastic immobilization element according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said base material contains at least one further base material such as thermoplastic polyurethane which forms a blend with said base material. 27. Thermoplastic immobilization element according to Claim 25, characterized in that said base material contains at least one further base material such as poly(vinyl chloride) or 1,4-trans-polyisoprene, which forms a blend with said base material. 28. Thermoplastic immobilization element according to any one of Claims 24 to 27 inclusive, characterized in that it comprises at least one further layer produced according to any one of Claims 20 to 23 inclusive. 29. Thermoplastic immobilization element according to Claim 24 where this depends on Claim 11, characterized in that said base material is formed by an ionomer or an ethylene vinyl acetate. 30. Thermoplastic immobilization element according to Claim 24 where this depends on Claim 11, characterized in that said base material is formed by a polypropylene. 32. Thermoplastic immobilization element according to any one of Claims 24 to 31 inclusive, having the characteristics from Claims 1, or 2 or 3, respectively, of EP-0401883. 33. Use of a thermoplastic immobilization element according to any one of Claims 24 to 32 inclusive as a protective layer of a part of the body, in particular a limb, which is subjected to repeated, frequent and/or accelerated movements. 34. Use of a thermoplastic immobilization element according to any one of Claims 24 to 32 inclusive for footwear, in particular a shoe having a heel and a tip, the thermoplastic immobilization element therein being provided as a stiffener thereof. 35. Appliance for implementing the method according to any one of Claims 9 to 13 inclusive, characterized in that it comprises a twin-screw extrusion machine. 36. Appliance for implementing the method according to any one of Claims 14 to 16 inclusive, characterized in that it comprises an extruder haying a flat female mould having a certain width for fabricating flat plates. 37. Method according to Claim 11, where this depends on Claim 5, characterized in that the activation temperature for the foaming in the case of a high- temperature thermoplastic is set within a temperature range which is between 180 and 250°C, preferably between 200 and 220°C.

Inventors: CUYPERS STEVEN, CUYPERS, STEVEN
Applicants: CUYPERS STEVEN, ORFIT IND, CUYPERS, STEVEN, ORFIT INDUSTRIES
Application year: 1995
Main classification: C08J9
IPC codes: A43B21, A43B23, C08J9