Patent ID: 7456228

Claim:
A method of making a durable, open-cell foam comprising the steps of: (1) generating a stable, aqueous froth comprising a) one or more copolymers or interpolymers of ethylene and/or 1-propene with or without other monomers selected from C 4 to C 10 olefins and having an ethylene or 1-propene content from about 2-98 weight percent; b) water; c) a frothing surfactant; and d) a gas; where the components comprise about: a) 35 to 75 percent, b) 35 to 75 percent and c) 1 to 6 percent of the combined weight of a), b) and c), and d) is present in an amount such that d) comprises at least 80 percent of the total volume of all components present in the froth; (2) thereafter subjecting said froth to at least one drying energy source to provide a durable, open-cell foam, in a fashion such that the volume of said resulting foam consists of not less than 70 volume percent of the volume of said froth; and (3) thereafter recovering the durable, open-cell foam.